The Irish standard., 1904-11-26
p !. ura a ssru;un I,s YES,

THAI points the way to the governors
breast"
Ro21d and round the little company
circ.ea. still singing, all alive to the fun
OF tie occasion except Marion; she
alons, shy and uneasy.
GO 10 the east. so TO the west,
Go choose the tne that you love best;
| If she's not here to tale your rart
Go choose another With all your heart"
| AS these words were surg. Tom. as il
by hint from one Of the elder girls,
pointed to Marion. who slowly. shrink
ingly, took her place n the center at his
side. Persistentiy the song vert on to
! its inevitable end:
Down or this carpet you must kneel
AS sure as the grass grows in the field.
So kiss your bride and kiss her sweet.
And now you may rise upon your feet"
When the last words We're sung by the
gleeful little crowd Marion was seized
by Tom and kissed-hissed there before
them all! This was more than she could
stand. and with tears of wounded pride
filling her eyes. ma ing her stumble as
Sue "cill, S1!S liul !SN IlO4l4S. ilaL W 81
an insignificant incident and evidently
quite forgotten by all concerned, but in
the mind of Marion it remained and
ranked.
So Tom was home. Did she care?
She wondered if she did. and was just
going to admit that she believed she did
"a little,-when the gate opened and up
tho Sf % n N-bero cha
swung in the big hammock under the
trees, walked the very one of whom she
was thinking, Tom Patterson. And in
that moment she admitted TO herself that
she cared-a great deal.
She rose and smiling welcome, came
to meet him. why. Tom, how you've
grown. You hardly look the same to
me-"
But I am the same to you, Marion,
if you would only believe it,"
Toms glance said more than his
words. Marion blushed and seated her.
self in the hammock, while Tom flung
himself with careless grace on the grass
at her feet.
why should believe it, Tom?
You've been saying pleasant nothings
to me ever since | was a little girl.
Why should believe you now any moro
than in those other days?" And Marion
began to swing lightly to and fro, look
ing at Tom with a half-mocking smile.
but thinking at the same time what
line fellow he was and how glad she felt
that he had come back, if it was but for
visit.
But Tom was speaking, and when she
recovered her thought she discovered
with thrill that he was answering her
mocklng question with serious delibera-
ton. THE reason. Marion, why you
should believe me now. is that this time
| mean it. No, that's hardly what I
mean. I've always meant it, but never
dared say anything very serious. Now
that | have shown that can earn
enough to make home, | have come to
ask the only girl in the world if she will
share it with me.
"Why, Marion, I've loved you ever
since that day-of course you don't re-
member-a day when you were little
girl and a year or two older. We were
playing King William and l was it,
There was far away look in his eyes,
SO Marion had chance to steal a glance
at him before he turned again toward
her.
1T was your first game. and someone
suggested you as good one to choose.
| didn't need to be told that. however,
for | had you all picked out; | had
chosen you the minute got in the
game. OF course they didn't know. so
when | caught you and had that first
kiss'-he paused .gniticantly-"they
thought it great joke.
Il felt dreadfuly sorry when YOU felt
so bad, and cried; and wouldn't play
any more that day. But | said 10 my
self then, and have said it many times
since, that some time was going to
have another: though of course
wouldn't want it if it should affect you
as that first one did" He looked for
some sign from her but Marion did not
stir All this time she had sat with
face turned away. her eyes shining and
her cheeks rosy.
At last Tom began to grow fearful OF
the PROLONGED silence and broke it with:
Now have dared. have come. Dent
send me away. for | have always wanted
YOU"
Send you away? wouldn't dare"
Marion turned toward him face all
smiles. but eyes dmmed with tears. 81
wouldn't dare because. well-bec cause
We always loved You, too. Tom at least
since that day we played King William
and YOU gave me my first kiss"
And then Tom had his second and
another. and an. But that's beyond
our pale: we were to stop at the second,
National Magazine.