The Lambertville record., 1904-12-07
WITHOUT
ANTECEDENTS
BY 0THo b. SENGA
Cop, right, 1894, by Ohio Il. sensa

ut Il picnic. watching the clouds drift
ing and changing above them.
Its like Il picture gallery" said Miss
Faric softly
80 il is assentcd the Young ranch
man heartily. Lets ehonse pictures.
as the children do. See. there's beau
tiful maiden rohcd in white. she's
mine"
Very well. You SAW her first Look,
there's Il house That's mine"
HIS Il ranch house, then decidedly
See how low and spread out il is;
plenty of land, you see"
Its all full of hooks and corners"
dreamilN, and there are broad piazzas
with vines growing all over them"
OF course With prompt assent,
that's the ideal house for II ranch
Look there, Miss Fairlic! See what is
coming up to your piazza" us II smaller
cloud rolled up unanimously.
''Fhat'S II horse and rider MIR Rob
orts. eNcitcdlN.
Sure it is You, Just starting out for
en- yonr hat
She laughed With almost childish en-
joNmcnt of the rhild's play at make
believe.
There's another rider now. Let's see
who that Is"
They eazed earnestly at the passing
cloud
4 thought So" cried the man trlum-
phantly its me with dashing dis
regard Of grammar. ITS me on san
cho. We're going together over om'
ranch
The woman's hand reached out In
stlnctiNcly as if TO brush The clouds
away and the hand wus promptly
caught and held in larger. stronger
one
Lets make II true" he whispered
ea9ea|F Don't 20 bacl, east again.
Stay here and mike il true
She shool, her head half y.
You don't like il here i couldn't
make The sacrifice
III isn't that do like L Ike ey-
crYthing about il. | meyer tslt SO near
the Sky before never before so real
lied tie warmth and comfort of the
earth. TO me the breadth af vision Is
fascinating But my work lies else
where"
What work. gravcly
"Why. my work my huslness.=my
life work
Il suppose you mean yar writing
your editorial work."
'tcrtainly have no other
That is what you are doing for u
livelihood because you are brainy
enough to be successful nj it, But Is
that really your lifc work the work
to satisfy a wnman's heart and bring
rest and pence into her lifcf Look.
dearest. TINT pretty knoll of there Is
just the place to build the rambling
stone house, with hooks aud corners
and vines and plazzas f'lo land Is
mine rs far as you can see ON each
side. You may have II dozen houses
If vou like"
81 should know you are i"Lsh." with
defensive evasion such impetuoe-
ilY"
My mother was Scoto'," smiling
winninslY and you lsnp err naeity
Is prcdomnating cha . oFistlc of
the Scottish people. fit ,ine that
with my Irish impetuosit'
ITS Il formidable hination."
with movement TO arise
"We'rc not going yet, utting out
dctaming hand; we toing to
watch the sunset and tail bout our
house and plan about on wedding
don't need TO tell you int love
you dear"
Put but you've known me only
month
"Thats long enough to know that
/ love you"
"And know nothing or your-your
nntccedcnts.' hesllatingly.
q haven't any" shortly
Tn New England" slowly, "one's
nniccedcnts count for good deal"
The mqn laughed bitterly and then
lis face grew grave.
"Pleasc sit down again. Miss Fair
lie fnresce Il conflict between your
eastern pride and prelud'en and my
western Independence and Tolerance.
and am not equal to II - uling'
She yielded, not unwlllie =.
~ man without antecc1.1ts" she
began
In this section Of Cod country"
he interrupted firmly. ~ II n stands
for just what lie IS. No one cares who
his rclativcs are If he Is square and
white and does the right Thing here
Never mind my 'anteccdenti.' Agnes
Don't you love me-"
He put out his hand and softly
touched fold Of her riding habit. She
trcmblcd nj the suggestion OF eareHs
IN the tender touch
81 wish you'd 90 away" she Pleaded
won't Won go away while think il
all OUT"
Tho odd. boFIsh abruptness that had
so often amused her came back again
"Ge Hwayt Not much, I'll stay
right here may be Of great assist
ancc - you in making up your mind "
She sat In troubled silence
Presently ne began speaking again
low and tenderly. You have not said
that yoii love me. Agnes. but believe
that you do
81 am afraid that | d." with
something very Ike sob IN her voice
~ have often won lrred how 1t would
seem 10 10 carc 90 much f1r some one
as 10 wish 10 be with him always
Now ! know"
He controlled the Wild i"oulses of
his mpetuous heart and 1nly said
ronlly, Il believe can make you
lappy"
There are some things, she inter
ruptcd, speaking slowly ana with
painful effort, that it Is on'y right you
should know. ] | think am older
than you
Yes" lie asscnted calmly Il knew
that"
You after a pause YOU are not
more than thlfty-hve| queslionngly.
I'm awfully sorry, dear, lnt you've
got to cnt off ten years III be TWEEN
tv.Uxq ut.Yf fIburaflavf' -