The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-07-28

~undece1ved in a momont.
MY dear young lady. aren't you
ashamed OF yourself to have kept me
out Of your conhdence?" said the ma
jor. shaking a ponderous forehnger IN
her direction.
Then Jack has told you'll"
"Of course he has. But why oil
earth did he make SO much ado about
telling me? Jack came into my office
with a face as long as though he was
going TO be hung instead OF married,
and blurted u that you had promised
TO marry him in much the same man
ner as though he had lost a near and
dear relative"
Spicer Belle was as much taken
aback as It is possible for a self-pos-
sessed young lady TO be. and could
only look up with a little amazement
n say:
ave thought thought-that is
o, major, and you are not angry at
Jack, after allf"
Angry Why. my dear child. I
nearly squeezed his hand OF eongratu-
laung him. And you can't guess what
am going TO give you two as a we'd
ding present"
"No. l can't"
"Well, Congressman Ralph has
promised that | should have the APP
polntment OF the collector and the dep
uty collector for this district"
And you are going 10 make Jack
the deputy collector; Why. the salary
viii. be twice what he Is getting now.
You are a dearr'
"No, | am not going to make Jack
the deputy collector. His appointment
as collector will be announced next
week"
"And to think that Jack and I were
afraid-oh. majorl l can't thank you
enough"
You don't have TO thank me, my
dear little girl. except by being just ns
happy as ever you can. But tell US
what Jack and you were afraid Of
that l would think him too young TO
marryY"
Moves, that was IT. You don't
think he is too young. do your"
'Of curse | don't. Young men
ought 10 marry Just as soon as they
can support a wife. Jack mead have
no fear about that. and then. you
know. | have a little BIT OF money my
self that viii 20 to you when | am
dead. But you can't deceive me as
you are trying to DO; tell me what IL
was you were really afraid Off"
Don't ask me. major. I can't tell
you i" and here a great big blush
sped all over her cheek.
In the light OF this blush under
standing seemed to come to the major.
He gazed for In instant as though I'M
comprehending. and then he smiled,
checking himself with an Unborn fear
being ungallant.
"of course, I understand. my child.
so no one ever told you-Ah. II Is POS
sIble that no one eve knew. not even
Knew what? Not even who?" ask
ii Splcer Belle In a breath.
The maJor had turned. and was
out Of the window. The smile
zone from his face and he looked
Tery sad for the moment.
As though impelled by a sudden reso-
ution he turned again suddenly and
her.
He took his watch put OF his pocket.
'pened the back and extended IL to the
She took II and saw. let into the
Jack. an old-fnshloncd miniature. She
at II n moment and then lifted
Icr eyes to the picture Of n beautiful
woman which hung on the wall.
MY motherT" she questioned. There
vere tears In her eyes and In her :
.
'Yes. your mother" The majors :
dice was harsh and dry. and all the !
DIOR seemed gone from his face. '
And she never knew .
II cannot say as to that: I do not !
mink she did. I was only a friend !
he loved your father" :
Closing the watch the girl came clos n
70 the major and handed IL TO him. n
Ie replaced Il In his pocket silently. /,
Then. without a word. the girl.
upon tiptoe. drew the majors :
down and kissed him-with n
ss Of which Jack could not have pos