Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28

will do something that will make her
angry-grab her in my arms or some
thing!'
Betsey remembered how she had been
affected when Cooper had told her of the
conference in the church.
Precisely" she said to Selkirk. when
1 see him there this mornin' in that red
flannel undershirt, jest ached to squeeze
him till he hollered fire.
Il don't know what to do said Selkirk.
too much absorbed in his own confession
to note the unusual details of Miss Betsey' s
way of looking at the passion of her heart.
This campaign will make it harder yet.
I'll have to be here every day, and see her
all the time
He had voiced a problem which had pes
tered Betsey. She had wondered, too. how
she could stand the daily sight of Cooper.
There was a delicate augmentation of the
color in her face, and for a moment she
sewed busily. Then she looked at him.
His problem was so absurdly simple as
compared to hers
You say you don't know what to do
about it?" she commented Have you
ever stopped to think there's one thing
most young fellows do when they're in
your condition."
No said he. What is it?' He seemed
quite eager. The thing that I'm afraid of
is impulsiveness. I'm always sudden. It's
a part of my profession, l suppose-the
without much thought. On impulse. That 8
what I've been afraid that 1 would do.
I've been afraid that l would act on i'm
pulse"
Betsey looked at him with scorn.
You're jest about as sudden as snail
laid up with rheumatic she said.
But her sarcasm had no effect on him
whatever. She doubted If he even knew
that she had spoken. He was merely using
her, she saw. as a lay figure. safe to talk
to. She held her gravity grimly. You
don't know how you sprise me when you
tell me that you're reilly thinkin' specially
about Mercy" she went on solemny. And
Caleb! He'll be took aback. Jest took
own entertainment. why, Mercy and me
was speakin of you jest this mornin' and
l says to her says I: L reckon that Jack
Selkirk would like to make up to you a
little bit, says l.
And what did she say?" asked Selkirk,
anxiously.
"Oh, she blushed," said Betsey, land she
says. says she: 'Shucks-an'-go-she emf
she says to me, he's busy with the cam
paign, says she, and he amt no time to
think about poor girl like me, she says"
This falsehood gave Selkirk comfort for
he said:
And do you think that I-have any
chance?'
What you comm to me about it for?''
asked Betsey. II amt her maj!
No" said Selkirk, Il know you're not,
yet-but-'
Betsey sat suddenly up in her chair after
this remark. She looked earnestly at the
young man, wondering If what he had said
had been founded on her recent whimsical
confession If he had some other cause
for it. A thought occurred to her that filled
her with embarrassed agony. Had people
noticed the devotion she had sought to
hide?
Jack selkirk.'' she said, what do you
mean?"
"Why-why-" Jack began, but stumbled
in hts speech and stopped.
The embarrassment had been transferred
from him to her, now, or, to speak more
accurately. 1t enveloped both. But it did
not tie her tongue as it did his.
Don't set there gappin' like a caught
fish, She said. What do you mean? Do
you mean that there's any talk around
this town about me and Caleb Cooper?
Any talk that I'm likely to be her mar"
Selkirk evidently feared she might resent
what he had said, and answered quickly:
why no, nothing much. People will
talk, you know. You know they will
Betsey's establishment was very real and
very great.
well, for the lands saker' she said.
Who ever would have thought it!'
But as she sewed silently and vigorously
for few moments her soul rose in revolt
against this situation. Were all folk to
have their hearts desire except herself?
She acknowledged boldly to herself as she
sat there that she wished there was real
reason for that talk. Hitherto She had
loved in patient hopelessness. But why
should she? And this political business. II
Caleb got the nomination, If Caleb were
were elected. he would go to Washington
Could she stand 1t to be left behind? She
looked up suddenly and said.
lack Selkirk, be you a square man?'
The question surprised him.
why. yes" he said n think SO. What
makes you ask7
well" Betsey began. but stopped there
and. throwing her apron over her head, she
laughed. She saw the. joke again.
Seikirks eyes were opening slowly. Tho
red had begun to come into her cheeks be-
fore the exertion Of her laughter had given
warrant for it. Could 1t be possible that il
had really been sentimental blush? Al
last he was deeply interested
Several times she took her apron from
her face long enough TO glance quickly al
MIN. but each time she tapped 1t back
again and shook beneath It. until finally