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

help me with Caleb and I'll help you with
Mercy
This situation brought Selkirk's sef-pos-
session back. He saw that Betsy Bobbin
was emDarraSsed-Somet thing he had never
thought to see-and he rose to the occa-
sion.
Pals. chr he said.
Yes said Betsy. 'We'll combine
against the enemy and try to make 'em
marry us. The Bible says to love your enc
my Cats! If Calebs it, do. And Jack,
jest think! If 1t all works-PH sort of,
be your MAJ
him.
Don't you want to kiss your parent?''
she inquired.
He almost actually kissed her but she
fought him off.
I've got to save EN- up for Caleb when
you catch him for me- she protested,
laughing rosily at her own frankness of
&C nfeSSion.
What do you want me to do?'' he asked.
i wouldn't be surprised" said she, IF
Caleb was much the same I've been.
Maybe he amt even thought of it, be-
cause we've got along SO nice together as
VIC be. l reckon maybe, to start off with,
you might jest put flea into his ear and
tell me how he likes it,
Most men fight feas,' he said, grinning.
He was at his ease, at last.
well, there's fieas and fleas,'' said Bet
sey. IF he fights this one, you jest tell
ME and I'll kill the pesky insect But if he
kind of likes the tickle of it, why. then
you see to 1t that there amt no lack of
tickle"
They shook hands. solemnly. Betsey
Bobbn's face was rosily flushed, and as
Selkirk looked into it he realized for the
first time what an extremely charming little
maiden lady she really was. Her swapping,
bright eyes danced merrily; her red lips,
slightly parted, showed as sound and fine
double row of small white teeth as there
was in all New Jersey; her dark hair which
no - cd in MD IIa
and pulled down tightly at the sides, had
been slightly rumpled by her apron, and,
altogether, she made middle age alluring
as he looked at her.
AS they sat there the stairs creaked and
Betsey said:
There comes Mercy. Go ahead and ask
her. The best way 1 can help you is to
tell you to be bold Nows your chance,
go in and win!'
During the conversation she had gathered
up her work and cleared the table for more
cutting. Now she tied some strings around
the little rolls of cloth, and started to
hurry from the room. 1t had strange eff
feet on Selkrk 1t was as If she had
bundled up his self-possession with the
other odds and ends, for, suddenly, it was
wholly gone.
Why" said he in CONSERVATION. why
you're not going to leave me alone with
her, are your
She stopped long enough to laugh.
I You don't want me to stay and hold
youI hduu Willie you pop the question to
another girl. do your she inquired. TITS
moral strength you want, Jack I'll go to
the kitchen and I'll pray. for you. I'll
pray hard"
stopped her. For an instant she gazed at
him. merriy. AS she saw the signs of
weakening, she waxed stern.
Jack Selkirk." she said solemnly 'T'm
to her and tell her that she's got to marry
you! Tell her that you'll give her time to
have dress made and not one minute
longer. She'll do it."
She dropped her voice almost to a -Whisper
and approached him.
If Caleb should ask me-" she whisper-
ed. I'D marry him in what I've got.''
She Strengthened up.
Speak firm to her and you'u see what
she'll say!'
AGAIN she made a move as IL to leave but
again his look delayed her. 1t surely SEEM
ed as II that frmness which she advised
would be difficult for him to comuass She,
risked the sin of high deception in her ef-
forts to give him heart. She went close to
Il don't want to scare you. Jack" she
SAID TO him. but l wouldn't take no
chances of waitin'. IL was you. 1t would
be dangerous"
.What?" said he, affrighted.
fou amt the only man that loves her!"
betsey SAID, mysteriously, whispering to
herself to salye her conscience that her pa
did. too. - -
Desperation gave his eyes CLASSY look.
II you don't speak now, she said with
gloom tomorrow, like enough. will be too
Them with this poisoned arrow rambling
In his mind. she hurried out, leaving him
quite terrified. A backward glance through
the crack of the door showed his sorry.
mental plight to her. and she ran In again,
laughing. -esN'''
It's moral courage that you want. she
whispered to him. TN tell you what I'll
do to help I'll leave crack and peek In
through the door: Now, every time 1 think
you're weakenin', I'll drop the dish nan
Thatil be sign to you to brace up and
go ahead"
That Betsey Bobbin realized the absurditv
Of this bizarre suggestion there Is no doubt