Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-08-11

l hope for it? May l look forward to
it-spme day."
"Oh, but l cannot tell you'll cannot
tell you now," she said, in the same
breathless way. 81 am sorry if | have
given IN pain-any anxiety-but-some
other time | will try to talk to you-or
my papa will tell you-but not now-you
have always been so kind to me that l
ask it from you"
She stole away in the gathering dark
ness, her head bent down; she had not
once turned her eyes to his. And he re-
manned there for a time, scarcely know
ing what he had said or what she had
answered; but vaguely and happily con-
scious that she had not, at all events, re-
fused him.
Yolande's self-confdence seemed to
have strangely forsaken her that even
ing. When they were air up on deck,
taking their coffee in the red glow shed
by the lanterns, she got hold of her
father and drew him aside into the dark
ness.
what is it, Yolande?" said he, in sur
prise.
She took hold of his hand; both hers
were trembling.
II have something to tell you, papa
something serious"
Then he knew; and for a moment his
heart sank; but he maintained a gay de-
meanor Had he not reasoned the whole
matter out with himself? He had fore
seen this crisis; he had nerved himself
by anticipation.
"Oh. l know. I know already, Yo-
lande," said he, very cheerfully. "Do
you think | can't spy secrets? And Of
course you come to me, with your hands
trembling; and you think you have some
thing dreadful TO confess; whereas it is
but the most ordinary and commonplace
thing in the world. You need not make
m confession. Young Leslie has spoken
to me-quite right; very right; / like
frankness; 1 consider him a very fine
young fellow. Now, what have you got
to sayVonly l won't listen If you are
going to make a fuss about it and destroy
my nervous system, for tell you it is the
simplest and most ordinary affair in the
world"
"Then you know everything-you ap-
prove of it, papa-it is your wish?" she
said bravely.
my wish?' he said; what has my
wish to do with it, you stupid creature!"
But then, he added, more gently: "Of
curse you know, Yolande, l should like
to see you married and settled. Yes, I
should like to see that; l should like
to see you in n fixed home, and not liza
BILE to all the changes and chances of the
life that you and | have been living. 1t
would be a great relief to my mind. And
then it is natural and right. 1t is not
for a young girl to be a rolling stone like
that; and, besides, it couldn't last; that
idea about our always going on travelling
wouldn't answer. So whenever you think
of marrying; whenever you think you
will be happy in choosing a husband
just now, tomorrow, or any time-don't
come to me with a breathless voice, and
with trembling hands as if you had done
some wrong, or as if l was going to OBJ
ject, for to see you happy would be hap.
piness enough for me; and as for our
society together, well, you know, l could
pay the people of Slagpool a little more
attention, and have some more occupa
ton that way; and then you, instead OF
having an old and frail and feeble per.
son like ME to take care of you, you
would have some one whose years would
make him a filter companion for you, as
is quite right and proper and natural
And now do you understand"
"Oh, yes, l think so, papa" said she
quite brightly; and she regarded hin
with grateful, loving eyes. And yor
would be quite happy, then?"
"If you were, l should be-" said he.
n,,;Dn tho ract of Tho arn,;,, A.,
Master of Lynn, seeing that Yoland,
seemed no longer In any trouble, KEEP
near her, with some vague hope that sh,
would herself speak, or that he might
have some chance of reopening the sub
ject that engrossed his mind. And in
deed, when the chance arrived, and h,
timidly asked her if she had not a wore
of hope for him, she spoke very frankly
though with some little nervousness, NJ
doubt. She made n little apology, in very
pretty and stammering phrases, for no
having been able to give him an answer
but since then, she said, she had Spoken
to her father, without whose approva
she could not nave decided.
"Then you consent, Yolande-you vii
be my wife" he said, in a low and cage
tone, upsetting in his haste all the con
!, tinuity of those hesitating sentences.
But is it wiser said she, still will
her eyes cast down. Perhaps you vii
regret"
He took her hand into his, and held i
tight.
This has been a lucky voyage TO,
me-" said he, and that was all that h,
) had a chance of saying just then; but i
was enough.
Ito he continued.>