Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-19

would. No one SHOULD toucn her I'm
rough carelessness.
|. THANK you. 1t was rather trying In
there" she said and looked up into his
eyes with a divine gratitude.
PLEASE don't do that" he answered
In low voice.
do whatr'
Look like that"
She not only looked like that, but
more so. Young man, young man."
,, she said, Il fear you're wishful of turn
Ing girls head"
The throng was thick around them,
garrulous and noisy. but they two were
more richly alone together, to his appre-
citation, than If they stood on some far
satellite OF Mars. He was not to for
get that moment. and lie kept the pic
ture of her, as she leaned against the
big blue tent pole there, In his heart;
the clear. gray eyes lifted to his. the
piquant face with the delicate flush
stealing back to her cheeks and the
brave little figure that had run so
straight to him out of the night shad-
ows. There was something about her
and In the moment that suddenly
touched him with a saddening sweet
ness too keen to be borne. The forget
me-not finger Of the flying hour that
could not come again was laid on his
soul, and he felt the tears start from
his heart on their journey to his eyes
He knew that he should always remem-
Der that moment. She knew ii too.
She put her hand to her cheek and
turned away from him little tremu-
lousy. Both were silent
They had been together since early
morning. Piattville was proud Of him.
Many a friendly glance from the folk
who jostled about them favored his
suit and wished both of them well, and
many lips, opening, to speak to Hank
less in passing, closed when their own.
ers, more tactful than Mr.. Bardlock,
looked a second time.
Old Tom Martin. still perched alone
on his high seat. saw them standing by
the tent pole and watched them from
under his dusty hat brim II reckon
it's ben three or four thousand years
sence 1 was young" he sighed to him.
self. Then. pushing his hat still farther
down over his eyes. II don't believe I'd
ort to rightly look on at that" He
sighed again as he rose and gently
spoke the name of his dead wife: Mar
jie, / reckon you're mighty tired wait
in for me. It's ben lonesome some
tines
do you see that tall old man up
there?' said Helen holding her head
toward Martin. II think | should like
to know him. I'm sure like him."
"That is old Tom Martin"
81 know"
81 was sorry and ashamed about ali
that conspicuousnesS and shouting. 1t
must have been very unpleasant for
you. 1t must have been so for stran-
ger. Please try to forgive me for let
ting you In for it,
But l liked Il. 1t was all In the
family and it was so Jolly and good
natured. and that dear old man was so
bright Do you know" abe went on In
a low voice, IL don't believe I'm so
much a stranger-I think l love all
these people n great deal-in spit. IT
having known them only two days"
At that a wild exhilaration possessed
him. He wanted 20 shake hands with
every soul In the tent, TO tell them all
that he loved them with his whole
heart: but, what was vastly more i'm
portant, she loved them n great deal
In spite OF having known them only
two days.
He made the horses prance on the
homeward drive. and once. when she
told him that she had read good many
Of his political columns in the Herald.
ne ran them into fence. After this
it occurred TO him that they were near
Ing their destination and had come nj
n perverscly sharp gait. so he held the
roans down 10 Il Snails pace Qf IL he
true ihat snai's natural gait Is not a
troD for the rest OF the way. and they
talked OF Tom Mc,,Gi,h and books and
music, and discovered that they diff
fered widely about IhScn.
They found Mr. FlSbee in the yard
talking TO Judge HriScoe AS theS
drove up and before the horses hat
quite stopped Hem leaped to the
ground and ran to the old scholar with
both her hands outstretched to him.
he looked timidly at her and took the
hands she gave him; then he produced
from his pocket yellow telegraph en-
velope, watching her anxiously as she
received Ii. However. she seemed to
attach no particular importance to II.
and instead of opening it leaned to-
ward him. still holding one OF his
hands.
These awful old menu HAIRLESS
groaned inwardly as he handed the
horses over to the judge. al dare say
he'll kiss her too" But when the ed
itor and Mr.. Willetts had gone 1t was
Helen who kissed Fisbee.
They're coming out to spend the
evening, aren't they?" asked Briscoe,
nodding to the young men as they set
off down the road.
"Lige has to come whether he wants
to or not" Minnie laughed rather con-
sciously. Its his turn tonight to look
after Mr.. Harkless."
II guess he won't mind coming" sa,d
the judge.