The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-01-13
WITHOUT
ANTECEDENTS
By OHIO B. SENGA
Copyright, 1901, by Ohio B. senga

They sat on the ground like children
at a picnic, watching the clouds drift
ing and changing above them.
It's like a picture gallery" said Miss
7'airlie softly
so it is assentcd the young ranch
man heartily. Lets choose pictures,
Is the children do. See. there's beau
tiful maiden robed in white She's
mine"
Very well. You saw her first. Look,
there's Il house. That's mine"
It's Il ranch house. then" decidedly.
See how low and spread out it is;
plenty of land, you see
It's all full Of hooks and corners"
dreamily, ''and there are broad piazzas
with vines growing all over them"
"Of course with prompt assent,
that's tie ideal house for a ranch
Look there. Miss Fairlie. See what is
coming up to your piazza" as a smaller
cloud rolled up unanimously.
That's horse and rider, Mr.. Rob
ertS- cXcitedly
Sure, it is You. just starting out for
ride over your ranch! See the veil
on your hat:"
She laughed with almost childish en-
joyment of the child's play at make
believe"
There's another rider now. Let's see
who that is
They gaZed earnestly at the passing
cloud.
Il thought So" cried the man trium-
phantly, its me-" with a dashing dis
regard of grammar, Its NEON San
che. We're going together over our
ranch"
The woman's hand reached out in
stinctively as if to brush the clouds
away, and the hand was promptly
caught and held in Il larger, stronger
enc.
Lets make it true" he whispered
earnestly. Don't go back east again.
Stay here and make it true"
She shook Ter head half sadly.
You don't like it here. You couldn't
make the sacrifice
1T isn't that | do like it. l like ey-
erything about it. | never felt so near
the sky before-never before so real
lied the warmth and comfort of the
earth. To me the breadth of vision is
fascinating. But my work lies else
where"
'What work." gravely.
"Why, my work-my business-my
life work.
Il suppose you mean your writing
your editorial work.
"Certainiy. I have no other"
'That is what you are doing for n
livelihood. because you are brainy
enough to be successful at it. But is
that really your life work-the work
to satisfy woman's heart and bring
rest and peace into her life: Look.
dearest, that pretty knoll off there is
Just the place to build the rambling
stone house, with hooks and corners
and vines and piaZZas. The land is
mine as far as You can see on each
side. You may have a dozen houses
if you like"
Il should know you are IRISH" with
defensive evasion. Such impetuos-
ityv'
My mother was Scotch" smiling
winnin@ly. land you know pertinacity
is Il predominating characteristic of
the Scottish people. Combine that
with my Irish impetuosity"-
Its Il formidable combination"
with movement to arise
"We're not going yet" putting out
OBTAINING hand; we're going to
watch the sunset and talk about our
house and plan about our wedding.
I don't need to tell you that 1 love
you, dear"
"But-but you've known me only a
month
That's long enough to know that
love YOU
"And | know nothing Of your-your
antecedents," hesitatingly.
81 haven't any" shortly.
TN New England" slowly, zones
antecedents count for good deal"
The man laughed bitterly and then
his face grew grave.