Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-09-01

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noted, hopefully, that they seemed go
ing in the direction Of the farm. He
was giving it up2 No, mol To her
CONSERVATION, they finally came out
IN the broad road, headed for the
village.
You're Just scotching me, she
complained.
"Well, you've scotched me often
enough" he growled.
Being so near the noon hour they
had seen few people, but now, down
the road crowded wagonette whirled
toward them, the tennis party from the
village. She jerked her bonnet over
her face and tumbled fat on the hay,
moaning:
"Oh, wouldn't have them see me
for million dollars !"
When they had passed, with gay
banter at him for deserting them, she
Strengthened up with blazing cheeks
and the FIRE of battle in her eyes.
ats the silliest, the most ridiculous
thing I ever heard of And you're
the meanest, meanest man alive |
should think you'd hate yourself to
death =
II don't aspire to great wisdom or
perfection" he returned, serenely,
driving on.
You know how I've looked for
ward to this afternoon, and what
plans we've made for it !"
"If you hadn't systematically dis
arranged SO many of my plans |
might be more considerate of yours.
"Its so contemplate, your trapping
me like this
you came voluntarily. I've a
right to market my hay when l please.
"You don't mean" But they
were entering the village. and she
crouched down again out OF sight.
He did not stop, and when they had
left the last house behind, she began,
piteously:
81 was never so hungry in my life
I'm positively faint T.
"You know how to sympathize with
the poor, then" he suggested.
"You don't care how much you
make me suffer, and you profess to
-" She broke of in some confusion,
conscious that she was too near the
brink.
Eyes, l profess to love you, be
finished for her. "I've never tried
to hide it-and l suppose, after all,
there is little need of words. | ought
to have understood without having it
said. You've shown me plain enough
that it is useless, and yet" he halt
ed, meditatively. Some intuition with
in him declared that she was not 80 In
different as she had assumed to be.
"No," he continued, ~ will have
it in words Dora, you know l love
you devotedly, with all my heart
will you be my wife ?" He turned to
her with deep tenderness in his face
and a shining light in his serious eyes.
Cousins can't marry" she evsded.
"My step.mother's niece isn't a
very close cousin" he commented.
"But l ought to thank you" he went
on, presently, with a rather wan
smile, "You might have been more
harsh in your refusal Of me"
He turned the horses about, saying
"You will not be very late at the
game" Then he turned his back to
her in stolid silence. If he suffered
she should not see it.
The minutes passed slowly as the
horses logged along the hot, dusty
highway. The sun poured down III
scorching rsys. Nat sat at his post
like a craven image, oblivious alike
to the bliqtering heat and the pres
snce of his pretty and unwilling pas
senger.
The silence was suddenly broker
BY storm Of sobs from Dora. HI
wri.hed an1iOusly, until he cOult
bear it no longer, and burst "ut
Don't cry, Dora, darling I'm 4
brute, a perfect beast l don't know
how to treat a girl. even when l low
her so-you did right to refuse me !
"But-but-I haven't refused.
you II said cousins co-could
mt marry didn't say"
Dora" he spoke sternly. "Yo'
must not play with me any longer,
can't bear it "
I'm not playing now. But
you-yOu don't want TO understand
or if you-you think I'm going to a.
'YesI' any pI-plainer-'
She Sobbed the rest on his shoulder