The new enterprise., 1905-05-25

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obviously.
They stood by the farmhouse door.
You might dry your feet as we'll"
he pursued, slowly, "and then could
put you on the lane myself. Polly's out
for the day-that's the worst Of It. But
come in, miss"
And George crossed the threshold,
1t was quite a charming little adven-
ture TO Rose Carol, and, desirous of
seeing it through, she followed the big
farmer without demur.
He drew a snug chair to his hearth,
and threw bashful glance at her feet;
then he brought forth a pair Of capa.
cious slippers.
you might get four feet into them,
at pinch" he Caid. humorously! and
plunged into the business of breakfast.
With a restrained ripple of girlish
laughter, Rose changed her sodden
boots and placed them to dry. This
done, she sat and watched the man
filling the breakfast table.
She was quick to guess his single
blessedness (D--Polly must be his SER
want. 1t was very amusing to see this
big man "doing for himself"-and a
guest But when he started TO slice
a new loaf Of bread she could contain
herself no longer 1t was awkward,
moving in those ridiculous slippers, but
she got to the table without mishap.
ALLOW me to help you," she said,
with smile.
lie surrendered the knife with alac-
rity.
I'm no hand at that sort o. thingw
in disgust
George had never felt the want Of
a wife until that moment, until he saw
Rose preside at his table; then his
heart was filed with passionate long
ing.
They SIT down to breakfast for all
the world like man and wife. Suddenly
the woman burst out irrepressibly.
George, with full mouth, looked
up gulltily.
ut is so eXqulsitely funny" laughing
tears in her eyes.
what isl" self-consciously.
"All Of it, POaching! Capture!
Prosecutlon-almost Oh, dear. OH,
DEAR | say, Mr. look you, l am ig-
norant even Of your name"
"Meadowson-George Meadowson."
"Ar, --" gravcly.
"Gcorge,-eyerybody calls me George,
young and old"
George, '-shyly-"do YOU consider
this at all proper-quite the thing, you
know-being here, alone? Don't you
think ought to go?"
NO"
There was something embarrassing
in the farmers decisive negative. Her
lashes dropped, and she fdgcted ner-
vously with her teaspoon.
You might tell me your name. miss.
said George, after a space. with a bold
ness that surprised himself.
She murmured it very softly.
And Rose was my mothers name"
he cried,
There seemed destiny In this roman
tic meeting. lie stood up in n sort Of
triumph; his heart was drumming, and
bis blue eyes beamed.
"ROse,' he said, impetuously. Then
be sat down, looking ridiculous, and
ashng his presumptuous heart with
scorn. What a mad fool he was!
They stood in the lane. Rose put out
her hand, and it was buried in a big.
warm grasp.
"What sort Of a bear do you take me
FOR, Miss Carol?"
well, rather a nice sort Of bearw
do you know,"-abruptly-"I've |
come to think, all at once, that ought |
10 get married.
The imprisoned hand made an effort |
.owNrds freedom.
You want a woman in the house."
Rose granted.
"Polly's neither one thing nor the |
Dther" hopelessly.
How old are you" curiously,
"Old enough to be your father, I
You're not too old to marryw pro-
'okingly, "Nil desperandum! You may |
get married some day, there's no tell |
ng. I'm" $500 carelessly- ly-"siX-and-twen |
""
Not much difference" meditatively.
"I must gow-hastily. But you've |
lot told me how wicked you think me?"
Rose tenderly, "I'm just thinking |
'ou're about wicked enough to make |
ne a good wifew
"Oh" and the little woman drew |
lose.
you're so higW she murmured.