The Opelousas courier., 1904-07-02

know, and l do love them -, and
and" she concluded. rather Iamslv
she 1ants to marry you very much
John Harding had walked 10 the
Window and back again IS she spoke
Now he came to Augusta aud regard.
ed her anxiously. you're not quite
we'll today, are you, de2r?" he asked
gently. How long is it sikae you
we're sick? You're a little feshish,
think" f
He took Augustus hand anil TT for
the pulse in her thin wristA.xHster a
moments earnest scrutiny Ef9ds"ept
his hand and his HHuDtly
away. XXI
say it? Now is the tig1saNt:"
Say WHAT" said Ffahg, in%rou-
bled bewilderment, {" IN.
"What?' She wAksher book u
him furiously, "Whf9hat you shou!'
say!" she cried. #se1Iy; why
don't you speakGry onr5elf, Angus
ta?' What eiseRSuId You say?'
Inc Gtof VIZ &Y""PSu "Poh ~
rpened simultDsously. "Well, good
people" said Kfresh young voice. 81
have come NJ, my runaway. It's
time for lA medicine. Have
The younglRl paused. startled at the
sight of ding's face. Why, what
is the Mgr?" she asked.
Augx2br broke in upon Har@tng's
hesita "oh, Cousin Molly, he is
so stupid" she cried, sharply. 81
have done it quite right. Bessie
said if wanted to stay here | should
marry Mr.. Harding, and have asked
him just the way John Alden did, ex-
actly. l told him you wanted TO mar
ry him-I thought I'd rather say you
than Bessie-and that you had sent
me to ask him, and
"Augusta," cried Cousin Molly. Her
voice pleaded, commanded. Her pref
ty face flushed from chin to brow.
Augusta rushed on unanimously.
"And he didn't say it at all" she
cried Indignantly. why don't you
speak for yourself, Augusta?' Not
once. Wait, "I1l show it to you"
She threw herself on the floor with
the book and turned the pages rap
idly. Harding made an embarrassed
step toward the girl. Il don't think
she is quite we'll" he said, lamely.
II beg Of you"
He stopped abruptly, at the sight
of the misery in the girls face, the
un5hed tears in her eyes. A sudden
binding shock of revelation seemed
to show him, III a moments space, a
new heaven and a new earth.
Molly" he cried. 81 never hoped
l hardly dared pray l am so old,
so unworthy, Moily!!" He lifted her
hands reverertIy in his.
Let me 60" she sobbed. cob, let
me go!"
She made a trembling step toward
the door, but Augusta, triumphant,
barred the way.
Look" she exulted. Here it is
just as l said: Why don't you speak
for yourself, John?' That was what
Priscilla said. Why don't you speak
for yourself, Augusta?' That was
what he should have said" She star
ed reproachfully at Harding.
wait a moment" he said.
He took MoIly's hand in his and
led her to the big chair beside the
window. 'Will o wal; a moment-
just one?" he whispered. at means
so much to me. MOLLY, I beg of
you"
The girl nodded, bending Ter flush
ed, agitated face against the cool
pane of the window above the lily
blooms.
Harding went swiftly back to Au-
gusta. She noticed, without compre
hending, the new light in his trans
figured face. He took the book from
her hand and read the title with moro
than a twitching of his lips. Miss
Augusta" he said gravely. Il apollo
gize for my stupidity. 1t is 50 long
since I received a proposal that |
had almost. forgotten the approved
method. Needless to say, you have
made me very happy. l can honestly
assure you of that. But before I give
my final decision let me make a pro-
position. Would you rather go home
on Thursday and in, say, ten years
time-you're eleven now, aren't you?
come back and marry mel think
we could arrange it by then-or would
r1fhoy c+or m nNJy- with lnIC1n
Molly for another month";"
Augusta regarded him earnestly.
"a whole month";" she echoed.
Il stake my honor that you shall"
said Harding, land have now-this
instant-a box of observation-disclosures,
creamy ones"
Augusta interrupted him. "a big
box?" she inquired.
Pounds" be said.
Tiled with ribbons?" she asked,
cautiously.
Yards of it," said Harding.
with a fat pair of tongs on top?"
she demanded, breathlessly.
Three pair, if you like" said
Harding, promptly.
Augusta hesitated no longer. "Ill
take the chocolates" she said.
Harding drew something from his
pocket and handed it to her. "You
know the store" he said. Get them
yourself"
Augusta was off on the instant, like
the colt she resembled. Her slim legs
twinkle over the threshold. The