Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-06-07
Copgriglt, 1906, bv U. R. CaIdlrcu


longed TO Elizabeth's uncle, Dan. he
had been trying to close it ever since
be bought the old Mears place, but his
rustic neighbors had held stoutly to
their right OF way. SO the young man
walking slowly along the lane was no
trespasser, albeit he walked warily,
keeping close to the hedge. Elizabeth
smiled shamelessly to see him. Now
that she had really brought herself to
a clandestine meeting She was all in a
happy futter and amazed at her own
hesitancy.
Yet she said, smiling up at her tall
sweetheart: "You must go right back,
Billy-must Do you hear? Miss Pru-
dence Weir sleeps with both ears and
one eye open. Besides, she gets up
early more than half the time. And
you know she can make Dandy believe
anything in the world, except that he
ought to marry her"
HIN! That's n pity Skepticism
on any other point would be less in
convenient" Billy Medwin painted,
hurrying Elizabeth along the lane to-
ward the woods beyond the main tray
eled road 1t was not at all the way
he should go to go home, but some
how Elizabeth made no protest.
Soon they were walking through dew
sweet shade, with birds singing thin
and sweet above their heads. And
presently Billy had his arms about
Elizabeth and was saying, with his
1. l. .f,.I
thinking-hard. Miss Weir is the lion
In our path, and there's just one way
to get round her.
WHAT" Elizabeth interrupted, lift
ing her head a little. Billy looked up
among the leaves and colored family
as he answered. ooh, we must show
Dandy how deceitful she is. She's
made him believe it would be sin to
let me have you. Don't you think it
would shake his faith in her If he
knew she was willing TO take me her.
self?"
'Billy," Elizabeth exploded, shaking
with laughter. "you wouldn't dare pro-
pose 10 her. Can you I've through n
breach of promise suit? If only you
could do II! But you never in the
world can"
"Sure you won't be jealods?' Billy
asked, pinching her ear.
She made face at him as she an
swered: Just you try it. Why, even
II the worst h@Dpened-if you got tam
gled past getting out-I should have at
least the heavenly satisfaction of know
ing she had showed herself to Dandy
the cat she IA
"Trust me not to get tangled" Billy
protested. What else he said Is not
strictly material to this narrative, al
though it sent Elizabeth home at last
with happy eyes and the color of a
wild rose.
Ofttimes fortune favors the daring.
The execution began. with his rescue
of the pudgy Miss Weir from a run
away that was not in the least dan
gerous, but which gave her II mortal
scare. or course lie went back with
her 10 the gate stopping there to ex-
plain elaborntcly that he had some
how Incurred the dlsplcasurc of Mr..
Daniel Goodwood ana been forbidden
the premises That, Of course, gave
him excuse TO ask II he might inquire
by letter after Miss Welr's health.
One letter quickly and easily bred an
other, and from writing Il was but Il
step to meeting. either in the lane or in
the wood beyond, and talking OF many
things.
Miss Weir was rising thirty, just five
years Bllly's elder, but so light colored
and plump she fiattered herself It look
ed the other way. She loved ease and
consequcnce-wtncs that for FIVE
years past she had been trying deli
cately to marry Uncle Dandy. She had
Enly succeeded IN becoming after u
tort his social watchdog,
lie had a great opinion Of Elizabeth,
his heiress, and wanted to match her
well ii she was TO be matched at all.
Miss Weir had about lost hope Of I'm
Gle Dandy when Billy came on the
Ecene. Billy knew pretty well all there
was TO know of lovemaldng. This time
he chose to make It In hypothetical
fashion. He began lmpersonally by dc.
Ecribng n young fellow who had set
his eyes and neart upon one so far
above his dessert he had become quite
hopeless Of winning her ana had de-
sccnded TO tri1ing with mere ordinary
girls by way OF filling an aching void.
Then he pictured the lady. Her eyes
were heaven blue, her skin all lily and
rose, her hair like spun sunshine, her
voice flute. But that was as nothing
beside her loftier charms-her soul, her
spirit. her angelic nature-whlch made
II mere ordinary sinner grovel In dust
Whenever he let himself feel what te-
merity 1t was to love her. Thus far
Billy got by the end Of the second
week Naturally II was but little later
That the lady was forced TO discover
herself In the fair unknown.
Then Billy played finer Than ever.
He would not speak the worshlp1r's
name; she must guess 1t. But he would
with her permission send her a letter
unsigned from the worshipcr one In
some faint way setting forth all that
was IN his heart. And she bound her
self to reply 10 it-repiy "a her heart
NlIfNif'. lslllg ill'l illib N'ih ~ i@fNB
from shouting when he heard that, but
by holding himself hard In hand he
kept q proper face and hurried off TO
consult IL best chum, also a very am
clent complete letter writer"
Miss Weir did reply from fun
heart. Indeed, the heart stopped over
blt-she called names-Billy's name
with endearing variations. More, she
whlstlcd down the wind his pleas OF
mNOrthincss - hc was dcmigod at
least among men she reloccd TO hail
and own him, king OF her affections.
Marry himl She would be happier as
bis wife than amy crowned queen. His
modest fortune did not count Mt all.
Her tastes were even more modest
and so on. aud so on.
TO do the lady justice she knew Billy
had really handsome competence;
also that he was no sluGgard. And
her own position was far from enyia-
lilo Narrower sho tyna dreadfuliy