Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04
sTUMBLINGLY HE KNELT.

a desperate attempt to seem indifferent.
| 'Oh. well, it doesn't matter. Well let 1t
pass-well let it pass
She looked at him in silence and with
much distress. He broke the pause by
saying unintelIgently that the fight for the
nomination would be heated. She stamped
her foot.
Jack selkiri," she exclaimed, what ara
you talking about?'
And there was also more disturbance
from the kitchen. 1t worried him. He
glanced like a nagged hound at the door
which led into the noisy room of cook stove
and tin pans. Then he stared into the air
his eyes ranging quite above Mercy's red
dened face, and said, in a somewhat in
jured tone:
oh what I am talking about doesn't
matter in the least Don't give it sec
end thought I'm sorry that you don't even
| think me worth an answer, but don't take
any trouble in the matter"
| AT this point he almost choked.
| '1ts-itS very good of you he contin-
| ued, mot to say the old things to me.
| Youve-yOu been considerate. l dare
| say shall get over it in time-some timer
Don't say what old things to your ask
| ed the now flushed and iustered Mercy.
| Why, about being a sister to me, and all
! that, you know. I've printed that joke in
the Express several times. OF course,
though, I know you would not say it as a
| joke; but 1 never really cared to have a
sister"
Jack Selkirk," said Mercy, with convic-
| ton, Il believe you are crazy
| And almost instantly there came a
muffied roar of poker rafting against
| tin.
| There's not the least doubt about it," he
! admitted, as soon as the noise would let
| his voice be heard. Then he added quickly,
! as if a new and hopeful thought had come
! to him: But don't let that stop you. l
| don't believe that it would be the hereditary
| kind
| An unusually riotous demonstration from
| Aunt Betsey saved him, and he realized
| that it had come just in time. This time
| he looked gratefully toward the half-open
| door.
| But 1 know how you feel he added;
| ITS a very serious thing
DO you mind telling me what 1t is that
| Is so serious?' Mercy asked eXasperated.
| Marriage" said Jack, briefly.
| If there had been any real doubt in
MeTcy's mind as TO what troubled the
| young man. this, Of course, dispeled 1t.
| The mischief which was in her came to the
| runt and she pretended horror.
Jack Selkirk," she exclaimed, you
| haven't been trying to get Aunt Betsey
Bobbin TO marry you, have you?
Aunt Betsey." he exclaimed with much
| amazement. mo-"
The bang from the kitchen which fol-
| lowed this emphatic statement had in 1t
, some of the elements of protest at his
| VeheInence.
With an effort Mercy kept her face
| straight while she said:
! well, that's good. If you should do
| that | think that you would get y0ufsei
| into trouble with my father. He"
| At this instant Aunt Betsey's face peep
ed in, with an intensely interested look
| upon ii. but the young folk did not see 1t.
| Jack spoke up eagerly.
| Does lie think of it?' he asked "Oh,
that's good. 1t will please herr
| But the fact that this remark did not
| was evidenced by the look of horror which
| flashed into Betsey Bobbin's countenance.
( s. Il Cd IN
J door and the noise of pounded tin became
continuous. But he added:
I'm glad to hear that It's just what
| she said she wanted.
! WHAT" exclaimed Mercy.
And the foolish Jack was rot to be de-
| tered now that he had found lead on
| which he could talk without quite chok-
| ing With that strange idiocy which
| comes to men at other times quite sensi-
| bic when they are in love. he continued
quite true. / promised to help her
along with Mr.. Cooper, and she prom
Used to help me along with you He
smiled namely. That's why she's been
whanging those things about there in the
kitchen. It's to give me courage l want
ed her to ask you for me, or, at least stay
in the room while l did It, but she
wouldn't"
Mercy's Jaw had dropped. and she was
gazing at him with look of almost total
vacancy, when he continued with lock
of such resignation as a strong man shows
when Fate has buffeted him almost I'M
bearably:
well. / suppose that she has done her
part. But she'll be surprised. She dida'i
think that you'd refuse me, but dola'i
suppose 1t would be fair to say she held
out many hopes"
She didn't think ] would refuse your
Mercy said. well, of all thingsl Didn'i
she, indeed / like her impudeneei"
NO" said Jack, '.she said she thought
that all III need would Just be boldness.'
He had struck conversational tone, and
was talking OF it as If Mercy were some
outside party with no especial interest.
I'm dreadf1lly afraid of you, you know