Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-07-04

At the Hilton gate he refined in the
horses and called out to Tom on the
front lawn: Anybody here who wants
to go to the picnic?"
why, yes; you are a godsend, true
as live" cried Tom, springing to his
feet. The girls want to go awfully
bad, and wouldn't mind an invitation,
too, if there's room"
All right" smiled Ben. 81 am at
your service"
Right in the middle of a dissertation
on the old-fashioned Fourth" Jack
Kennedy passed them. He lifted his
cap to the Misses Hilton and bowed to
Ben as h went by. But Grace Phillips
was with him!
"Why!--I-thought- and Rose Hill
tons partner on the front seat was so
astonished that he did not finish the
sentence.
You did not expect to see them to-
gether," said she, nodding toward the
Kennedy turnout. 20, yes they made
up weeks ago and are to be married in
September" and she smiled, amused st
Ben Easton's perplexed face.
I-didn't-know," stammered he.
finally, looking straight over the horses
heads and feeling that the earth must
be spinning good bit faster than usual.
We'll, | know" rejoined Rose, ''for
have part in the festivities. But, my!
don't look as if you had seen a ghost,
Mr. Easton; it is no uncommon thing
for lovers to make up, is it? l notice
they generally get married then, silly
things! l should never be caught that
way. If a man will quarrel before mar
riage, rest assured he will after; and
I'd as lief live with a Hottentot as a
jealous husband"
Miss Hilton made telling shot, but
Ben covered up his wounds and made no
sign. He was wondering if his indie
pendence was not on the wane some
what. He wished he knew what Mile
was doing; and he tried to imagine, If
Miss Hilton preferred Hottentot to
one like himself, what Miles opinion
could be by this time. He was afraid
the trick he meant to show her was only
a mean, sneaky one, after all.
Along in the afternoon the Hiltons
had excused him again and gone for a
row on the water; and while he sat dis
consulate and lone he saw Mile drive
on to the grounds in the Hilton phaeton.
The horses looked jaded and she seemed
weary and troubled. If he had not been
such brute, how he would now fly to
her comfort. But boy took the horses
and she sought seat under the trees.
Il ought to go to her" he said, look
ing longingly her way. but I'm TO see
this cursed blunder to the end. Heav-
ems! might as we'll end 1t now, while
those COMPOUNDED Hiltons are not by"
He came and stood before her peni-
tently. She looked up. Il have been
brute" he said; have suffered all
day, too, for it, VIII you forgive me,
Miller"
81 have been sorry all day, too" she
said
But you haven't done anything. he
replied,
She looked reproachfully and said;
shall tell now why could not come
with you this morning: would you be-
lieve me?"
you need not explain; II Is all right
and you would not do wrong, Mile, =
He spoke with eager assurance, and
she smiled little,
"Your faith in me Is like a mush-
room, grew In a night she said. ~and
may perish IN a day
'Millie," said he, desperately, "T.l 90
and hang myself If you make fun OF
mel"
mot on the Fourth" she objected
Independence day, you know
1T is a travesty on independenoel-
he almost groaned.
mo, yon are the traVesty,- che cor
rected, muslngiy.
1--WE been called hard names to-day
he returned bitterly; "a Hottentot, =
tory and a--travesty.S
Il have beard OF triple characters,-
she answered, smiling Jelly; but where
are the Hlltons?" looking out over the
water. They came with you"