The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-26

! week LATER. Miss Claxton was
standing on the piazza watching a
glorious sunset when Steinworth Au-
dubon came to her side.
Kate, we are leaving tomorrow"
80 soon?" she asked, her face grow
ing pale.
80 soon! Why, saucy Kate, are you
sorry
She regained her lost composure in
an instant.
Certainly | am sorry. 1t is seldom
that such a fine actor as Mr.. Audubon
favors our little village with his pres
ence."
Tomorrow, Kate, is to be our we'd
ding day." he said, questioningly
NO, thank you. am not ready to
tie IN my tongue or pare down my
nails"
THAT is my answer?" he said, more
soberly
"That is your answer and she
turned back to the contemplation of
the sunset scene.
She heard him go down the steps,
and a smile, cold, clear and scornful,
wreathed her lips
HE thought to WOO me like a
shrew," she said, half aloud, "but
didn't he find himself mistaken?
Going away tomorrow! So soon"
yes, tomorrow" whispered a voice
in her ear. "Oh. dare I hope that you
feel an interest in our-in my depart
ure?"
The rosy tint crept over the willful
pretty face, and the pouting lips quiv-
cred and trembled in the effort to
speak.
He saw her embarrassment, and pro-
caedod.
Il met Steinworth in the garden be-
low. He told me that he had failed,
and 1 was free to win you if could.
Kate. I came here in the interest Of
my friend, but from the moment that
you jumped from the chair and stood
before us until the present, You have
stirred my soul rs no woman has ever
done before I love you so fondly, be-
lieve in your goodness, trust you i'm
plicitly ana [ have no fears whatever
for tile future II you consent to share
it with me-
Does it loo. promising?' she asked,
looking up into his face archly
kate, Kate, beg of you to forget
those idle words, spoken before your
fair face had ever met my vision. For
set them, | pray your
Il WILL" she answered earnestly,
and am prepared to make you happy,
and at the same time revenge myself
on Steinworth Audubon for his insane
arrogance. 1t was a part of my stra-
tagem to make you love me, little
thinking that the lesson was so easy
TO learn as l have found it,"
A curious smile fitted over his face.
You are wrong, my friend. He is
good ana noble-well' worthy of any
woman's hand"
I'VE will not discuss that point My
stratagem has succeeded, and 1 am
pleased"
An hour later they parted in the
twilights gloam, and the next day the
gentlemen took their leave, with the
understanding that the one was to
claim his bride two months later.
Kate had 10 time in the swiftly
passing days to notice the quiZzical
smile that Mrs. Gray always wore
when the wedding was spoken of, nor
did she take any heed of the signlf-
cant fact that Walter Sheridan al
ways signed his letters Your beloved"
without his name.
Standing on the piazza. in the very
spot where she had plighted her troth,
Kate received her lover on the day
preceding the marriage
After the first greetings were over,
and he had complimented her appear
auce, he led her to a rustic bench,
begging her to be seated, as he had
a confession TO make.
She looked at him in surprise, but
took the seat while he went on TO say:
Il hope my darling will pardon me
when she learns that l am not the
man who she thought had won her, or
at least l did it under an assumed
name Learning through Mrs. Grey
that YOU had conceived 4 prejudice
against me as Steinworth Audubon. l
entered into . conspiracy With my
friend Sheridan who at once suggest
ed that he should play the part of
Petruchio. as far as compatible with
reason. Mrs. Grey knew of it. and
also informed us where tosfind you
Oh the morning Of our arrival. And
now my bonny Kate, my saucy Kate,
let me seal my peace with kiss"
"And take that for your ihpudence"
she answered. giving him a box in the
ears. $50 my little stratagem was for
naught. and all the while that was