Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-01-19
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breast"
Round and round the little company
circled, still singing, all alive to the fun
Of the occasion except Marion; she
alone, shy and uneasy.
"Go to the east, go to the west,
Go choose the one that you love best;
II she's not here to take your part,
Go choose another with all your heart. "
AS these words were sung, Tom, as II
by hint from one of the older girls,
pointed to Marion, who slowly, shrink
ingly, took her place IN the center at his
side Persistently the song went on to
It's inevitable end;
Down on this carpet you must kneel
AS sure as the grass grows In the field.
SO kiss your bride, and kiss her sweet,
And now you may rise upon your feet. 4"
When the last words were sung by the
gleeful little crowd, Marion was seized
by Tom and kissed-kissed there before
them all! This was more than she could
stand, and with tears Of wounded pride
filing her eyes, making her stumble as
she went, she hurried home. That was
an insignificant incident and evidently
quite forgotten by all concerned, but In
the mind Of Marion 1t remained and
ranked.
So Tom was home. Did she care?
She wondered if she did, and was just
going to admit that she believed she did
"a little,-when the gate opened and up
the long path, straight to where she
swung in the big hammock under the
trees, walked the very one Of whom she
was thinking, Tom Patterson. And In
that moment she admitted to herself that
she Garcia great deal.
She rose and smiling a welcome, came
to meet him. why, Tom, how you've
grown. You hardly look the same to
me-"
But l am the same to you, Marion,
If you would only believe It,"
Toms glance said more than his
words. Marion blushed and seated her.
self in the hammock, while Tom flung
himself with careless grace on the grass
at her feet.
why should I believe It, Toni
You've been saying pleasant nothings
to me ever since l was a little girl.
Why should believe you now any more
than in those other days?" And Marion
began to swing lightly to and fro, look
ing at Tom with a half-mocking smile,
but thinking at the same time what a
fine fellow he was and how glad she felt
that he had come back, II it was but for
a visit.
But Tom was speaking, and when she
recovered her thought she discovered
with thrill, that he was answering her
hooking question with serious delibera-
ton. "The reason, Marion, why you
should believe me now, is that this time
mean it. No, that's hardly what
mean. I've always meant it, but never
dared say anything very serious now
that 1 have shown that can earn
enough to make home, have come to
ask the only girl in the world If she will
share it with me.
why, Marion, I've loved you ever
since that day-of course you don't re-
MEMBER day when you were little
girl and year or two older. We were
playing King William and 1 was 1T
There was far away look in his eyes,
so Marion had chance to steal glance
at him before he turned again toward
her.
at was your FIRST game, and someone
suggested you as a good one to choose.
I didn't need to be told that, however,
for had you all picked out; had
chosen you the minute got In the
game. OF course they didn't know, SO
when caught you and had that first
kiss"-he paused signiticantly-"they
thought it a great joke.
Il felt dreadfully sorry when you felt
so bad, and cried; and wouldn't play
any more that day. But said TO my
self then, and have said it many times
since, that some time 1 was going to
have another; though Of course I
wouldn't want it If it should affect you
as that first one did" He looked for
some sign from her, but Marion did not
stir. All this time she had sat with
face turned away, her eyes shining and
her cheeks rosy.
At last Tom began to grow fearful OF
the prolonged silence and broke it with; !
"Now have dared. have come. Don't |
send me away, for have always wanted
you"
Send you away? wouldn't dare" |
Marion turned toward him face all |
smiles, but eyes dimmed with tears
wouldn't dare because, well-because
I've always loved you, too, Tom, at least |
since that day we played king William
and you gave me my first kiss"
And then Tom had his second, and !
another, and an. But that's beyond |
our pale; we were to stop at the second.
National Magazine.