The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-07-28
abe whispered to herself. But she was

undeceived in q momont
my dear young lady. aren't you
J ashamed OF yourself to have kept me
ont Of your conf1dence?" said the ma.
jor, shaking a ponderous forefnger In
her direction.
( Then Jack has told your
"Of course he has But why on
| earth did he make so much ado about
| telling me? Jack came into my office
| with face as long as though he was
| going to be hung instead Of married.
and blurted out that you had promised
to marry him in much the same man.
ner as though he had lost a near and
dear relative"
Spicer Belle was as much taken
aback as it is possible for a self-pos-
sessed young lady to be, and could
| only look up with a little amazement
| and say:
1--WE thought thought-that is
o, major, and you are not angry at
Jack, after all?"
"Angryl Why, my dear child, I
| nearly squeezed his hand Off congratu-
lating him. And you can't guess what
I am going to give you two as a we'd
| ding present"
mo, l can't"
"Well, Congressman Ralph has
promised TINT 1 should have the ap-
pointment OF the collector and the dep
| uty collector for this district"
"And you are going to make Jack
the deputy collector? Why, the salary
| will! be twice what he is getting now.
You are a dear!"
mo. l am not going to make Jack
the deputy collector: His appointment
as collector will be announced next
| week."
"And to think that Jack and were
afraid-Oh, major! can't thank you
enough!'
you don't have to thank me, my
| dear little girl, except by being just a.
happy as ever you can. But tell VI
what Jack and you were afraid Of
that would think him too young to
| marry"
"No--yes, that was it. You don't
think he is too young, do your"
"Of course l don't. Young men
ought to marry just as soon as they
can support a wife. Jack need have
no fear about that, and then, you
know, have little bit of money my
self that will 60 to you when l am
dead. But you can't deceive me az
you are trying to do; tell me what IL
was you were really afraid OFF,
Don't ask me, major. can't tell
you. L" and here great big blush
sped all over her cheek.
In the light Of this blush under
standing seemed to come to the major.
He gazed for an instant as though I'm.
conprehending, and then he smiled,
| checking himself with an Unborn fear
| Of being ungallant.
"Of course, l understand, my child.
50 no one ever told you-Ah! it is pos
sible that no one ever knew, not even
sher'
'Knew what? Not even who?" ask
ed Spicer Belle In breath.
The major had turned, and was
looking out of the window. The emile
had gone from his face and he looked
very sad for the moment.
As though impelled by sudden reso-
luton he turned again suddenly and
faced her.
He took his watch out Of his pocket.
opened tho back and extended it to the
girl. She took it and saw, let into tho
back, an old-fashioned miniature. She
gazed ut it moment and then lifted
her eyes to the picture Of a beautiful
woman which hung on the wall.
my mother" she questioned. There
were tears in her eyes and in her
voice.
"Yes, your mother" The majors
voice was harsh and dry, and all the
color seemed gone from his face.
"And she never knew?"
IL cannot say as to that; do not
think she did. 1 was only q friend
she loved your father"
Closing the watch the girl came clos
er to the major and handed it to him.
He replaced it in his pocket silently.
Then, without word, the girl,
reaching upon tiptoe, drew the majors
head down and kissed him-with q
kiss of which Jack could not have DOS
sibly been jealous.-Utica Globe.
Emigrate in Solid Mass.
There is In NORWAY q curious little