Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-12-31
WITHOUT
ANTECEDENTS
By OHIO B. SENGA
Copyright. 1904. by Ohio B. Senga

$50 il is. assented the young ranch
man heartily Lets choose pictures
as the children do See. there's Il beau
tiful maiden ROBBED in white. She's
mine
Very well. You saw her first Look,
there's house That's mine"
Its Il ranch house. then decidedly
Sec how low and spread out it is;
plenty of land. you see
Its all full of hooks and corners"
dreamly. and there are broad piaZZas
with vines growing all over them"
"Of course" with prompt assent.
that's the ideal house for ranch
Look there. Miss Fairlie. See what is
coming up To your piazza" as smaller
cloud rolled up unanimously.
That's Il horse and rider. Mr.. Rob-
erts." cXctetlly.
Sure. il is YOU. just starting out for
ride over your ranch. See the veil
on your hat
She laughed with almost childish en-.
joymcnt of the child's play ut make
believe"
There's another rider now Let's see
who that is
They gaZed earnestly at the passing
cloud
Il thought So" cried the man trium-
phantly. Its me-" with dashing dis
regard of grammar. Its NEON San
cho. We're going together over our
ranch
The woman's hand reached out in
stinctively as If to brush the clouds
away. and the hand was promptly
caught and held i'm larger. stronger
one.
LETS make ii true" he whispered
earnestly. Don't go back east again
Stay here and make il true
She shook her head half sadly
You don't like II here You couldn't
make the sacrifice
1T isn't that. do like it, like ev-
erything about ii. | never felt so near
the sky before-never before so real
lied the warmth and comfort Of the
earth. To me the breadth of vision Is
fascinating. But my work lies else
where
'What work" gravely.
"Why. my work-my business-my
life work.
Il suppose you mean your writing
your editorial work.
't'ertainly have no other"
THAT is what you are doing for a
livelihood. because you are brainy
enough Ia he successful at it. But Is
that really your life work-the work
to satisfy woman's heart and bring
rest and peace into her life? Look.
dearest. that pretty knoll Off there is
stone house. with hooks and corners
and vines and piaZZas. The land is
mine as far as you can see on each
side. You may have a dozen houses
II you like"
II should know you are Irish" with
defensive evasion. ''Such impetuos-
ity-'
MY mother was Scotch" smiling
winningly. land you know pertinacity
is a predominating characteristic of
the Scottish people. Combine that
with my Irish impetuosity"-
Its formidable combination"
with a movement to arise.
"We're not going yet" putting out
OBTAINING hand; we're going to
watch the sunset and talk about our
house and plan about our wedding.
I don't need to tell you that I love
you. dear
"But-but. you've known me only a
MONTH
THAT'S long enough to know that
love you"
"And / know nothing or your-your
antecedents." hesitatingly.
81 haven't any" shortly.
'In New England slowly. zones
antecedents count for good deal"
The man laughed bitterly and then
his face grew grave.
"Please sit down again. Miss Fair
lie. foresee conflict between your
eastern pride and prejudice and my
western independence and intolerance.
and / am not equal to it standing"
She yielded. not unwillingly.
A man without antecedents"- she
began.
'In this section Of Gods country
he interrupted firmly. "a man stands
for just what he is. No one cares who
his relatives are If he is square and
white and does the right thing here.
Never mind my 'antecedents.' Agnes.
Don't yOu love me-"
He put out his hand and softly
touched fold of her riding habit. She
trembled ut the suggestion of caress
I'm the tender touch
81 wish you'd go away" she pleaded
won't you go away while I think II
all out?'
The odd. boyish abruptness that had
SO often amused her came back again
600 away? Not much. I'll stay
right here may be of great assist
ance to You in making up your mind
She sat I'm troubled silence
Presently he began speaking again
low and tenderly. You have not said
that you love me. Agnes. but believe
that you do
III am afraid that I do with
something very like sob in her voice