The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-01
ROBIhA-ARNE


Now / wonder" said Robina-Anne;
land again l wonder" Robin2-Anne
had a soft. round chin with a dimple in
it. She has soft, round eyes and an in
1initely sly and captivating habit of look
ing sideways out of them. She looked
in this fashioB-now at her young man.
4 should ike TO know she said, be-
ginning quite afresh, III you really love
me. Charley. or only think you do?'
why, Robina-Anne, what question.
Haven't we been engaged a whole six
months?'
oh. yes said Robina-Anne, looking
down. = an taking it for granted that
you thought you loved me six months
ago
I loved you he corrected her.
III grant you that" she said Il was
only wondering about the present, you
see, Charlie"
And I wonder what gives you such
strange thoughts. Robina-Anne?'
having nothing better to think about
<perhaps, Charlie
Put you have girl You have, dear.
Aren't We going 10 be married in a month
from now? When we've been married six
=
all the-the trials and things they warn
US about, you know-wih be time enough
TO start wondering if my love has stood
the-the strain and all that; but now
He was a good youth, and handsome
but not fluent
Robina-Anne, however, seemed to I'M
derstand him.
Il know Charlie" she said. l quite
know. But in sixty years of married life
we should become so very used to each
other, everything would be so inevita bic,
as it were. that to begin, really begin
analyZing our feelings then, would seem
a little Unnecessary; it couldn't make
many years difference anyhow. could l.?
And so. if ever we got sa far as sixty
years together. my advice. utterend now
for the benefit Of the pair of old Stiles
we should have become would be, leave
1t alonc-and think of better things. Of
course. But I think the present might be
worth deciding about"
we decided it," the lad said, stoutly
''siN months ago"
We decided six months ago for-for
six months ago." said Robina-Arine. We
thought a great deal about it, and OH
and we certainly talked great deal
about it, and ! believe We were both
quite honest Charlie. she broke off to
say in tone that was an odd misfit with
the evenness of the rest Of her speech
Charlie YOU meant every word you said
then, didn't YOU, dear?'
Every blessed word of it"
Yes" she went on, we decided quite
comfortably for then. But one changes
q
WHAT the lad cried roughly Selling
her delicate wrists trying to read her
look. What do YOU mean?"
Il mean | have seen you changing
seen you grow
A gasp escaped him, wordless cry.
He let go her wrists.
Take hold of Rly hands again. Charlie
Look into my eyes! l have seen it all
and it does not hurt" ended Robina-Anne
With steady play she watched the play
Of emotions on his face. Relief first of
an and amazement and appreciation of
herself, but quite new appreciation, and
over everything and beoynd everything
again-relief, clearing from his troubled
brow, that was the index of his simple
mind. a multitude of doubts. and making
room for a new and everlasting joy.
SO we shan't be married in a month.
Charlie-or ever said Robina-Anne She
drew her hands from his, and then. with
out a backward look. she left him alone,
as he longe5 to he. that he might slowly
realize and take unto himself this unex-
pected good-ycs actually good fortune
that had come to him,
For. incredible as 1t seems. this young
man who might have had, in one short
month, Rob.na-Anne to wife-Robina-
Anne with thousand tricks. thou
sand sracees; with a dimrled chin. and
soft. round eyes that could look-how in
nccent: that could looll-how sly, with
laugh that set you laughing you knew
not. cared not wherefore; with a soft
sweet wheedling tongue, and a tender,
impetUous ways. her childish trickery-
who might. strange. strange young man..
have kept for his lifelong charming this
bundle Of sweet charms. had vet grown
in short six months into believing he
loved better a young woman as duh and
heavy as himself, She had. it is true.
some money Of her own, but what is a
triiins sum Of money to compare with
so much? lie was prudent young man
and well-meaning, but sadly devoid OF
taste.
Robina-Anne had a rosy mouth with a
delicate upward curve at either corner.
God made il for her to laugh with and