The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-06-09

treeSf Don't you ba5e thai il must
be spt"
SIZE opened her lips to protest but
he gave her no chance to speak
Nov, pnt Yourself i'll the place Of
these people here Suppose e man
aged to fling a word of teasing sar-
easm into his words suppose, for in
stance that |, here and now. should
tell you that love YOU that I've loved
yon since the day we met for the first
Vine; that | cannot and viii not live
without you; that
lie stopped abruptly in order to take
fresh start. Something-ur ear
nest, appealing crowded the mock
cry out of his voice 1t had the ring of
appeal. 1t sounded far too much In
earnest He called the mockery to his
aid once more and resumed.
What IL | should tell you that |
would rather have your love than the
power of king or the wealth of a
Croesus; that | should count 1t fine
and wonderful beyond all imagining. a
moment to die for, If | could read In
your eyes that you love me, that some
day you will be my wife?"
His voice had become proyokingly
husky. 1t was a full second before he
could recover his vein of light ralllery.
Suppose that l should say all this
and much more that | can think Of to
you, here and now, to the accompani-
ment Of this bewitching music. Could
you sit and listen unmoved2 Wouldn't
there be some change In your express
sion and In mine by which a curious
person who was looking on might dis
cover that all the world loves7 And
would we care very muchY"
He was leaning forward, his strong,
muscular hands clasped loosely before
him, whimsical smile on his lips
With thrill of triumph he saw that
she was not listening unmoved even
to the supposition. But she kept a
bold front.
do l seem to be melting?" she In
quired, with a touch of defiance which
eomported Ill with the tumutuous
beating Of her heart and a most an
noying feeling Of tremulousness about
the lips. 1t was too absurd. But at
least he should not know how embar-
raised she was.
Then he proceeded calmly with his
odious suppositions.
But that was not all. Suppose that
| should tell you that, though l love
you as man can love but once,
though you are to me the scent Of the
roses, the sweetness of music, the dear
est JOY of life, | am honor bound to
another. Would there be anything to
show that you caredP
Slowly the color faded from her face
She realized 1t, but she could not help
1t, for she felt still and cold and motion
less. Then, almost piteously, her eyes
sought his. Triumph and gladness
were visible there. His look was a
caress. The place, the music, the peo-
pie momentarily vanished from her
consciousness. She felt as If they were
alone in the world-a fuller happier
world than she had ever before dream
ed OF.
His low, pleased, tantalizing laugh re-
called her. Her cheeks went scarlet
and her eyes blazed.
agnes, Agnes" he admonished,
using her first name without a sign
of apology, precisely as If he intended
using 1t always In the future BE
ware my dear girl! If those others, =
nodding toward the couples whom she
had so lately criticised, were less alb
sorbed In their own affairs, am afraid
they would be justified in thinking that
we are having lovers quarrel"
You wretch she said at last 1t
really seemed the only thing to do
to smile and make the best of It, Then
her glance strayed to the others. 1t
was trite more sympathetic than be
fore. O'Donohue, as they had named
him, sat silent, uncomfortable happy.
The godling and the blue eyed girl
were talking, but were perhaps saying
more with their eyes than with their
lips,
might | have the honor of your at
tentionP pleaded Richardson's voice
meekly.
She turned toward him. trying hard
to look serious, but the corners of her
mouth wavered.
"Suppose"-the voice was bit breath
less-"suppose | We're to tell you that
the first part was true-terribly true
the part about my caring for your" he
questioned. THE rest, of course, was
nonsense"
Little waves Of color swept over her
face and disappeared in the duskiness
of her hair She gave him one quick
glance. and her lids covered her eyes
and shut out their message.
In the convenient shadow of the
chair his big brown hand closed over
hers with tOuch-gentle, firm, su-
preme.
There were three pairs Of lovers but,
alas, no audience,
Stories of Artemus Ward.
When ArtemuS Wards business man