Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-03-07

sneak enough to be spy"
He quivered at this and replied:
"I'm no spy. watched yer to-day
because wanted to speak to yer alone.
As to being a bad lot-well, know I
am; / amt got nothink to say agln
that. But 1 amt sneak, Make-Re-
lieve; never went back on pal and
never showed white liver"
Ordinarily his voice was harsh and
defiant, but it was now so mild, ana
his manner altogether was so humble,
that Little Make-Believe reproached
herself for being hard to him.
"II take back about the sneak" she
said, "but it is strange that you should
have been watching me all day. What
for?''
That's what I'm coming to, but l
must settle about Tommy Dexter first.
1t made my blood boil to see you kiss
him. Do yer do it often?'
II never did it afore, though you've
no right to arks."
"Perhaps not, yet" and he looked
at her with such eager eyes that she
began to tremble again. but / may
have. Bad lot as ! am, Make-Believe,
old Tommy Dexter is thousand times
worse.'
She was not ore to hear her friends
traduced without defending them, and
she said, with flashing eyes:
"He amt bad. He's done me many
a good turn. If that's what yer come
to say to me yer might have saved
yerself the trouble
Its not what l come to say"
And then he paused; something
seemed to stick in his throat.
"Out with it, them" said Little Make.
Believe "if yer not ashamed of it. I've
got lot to do, and l can't stop talk
ing here all night
Yer know that promise yer got out
of me-" he said, with the mighty effort.
"What promise?'
"About me getting a honest living
"Oh, yes, l remember. Have yer
kept it?'
II have, Make Believe"
"There, now, Foxey, you've made me
downright glad. Forgit anythink I'M
kind l said to yer. Here's my hand"
He took it and did not let it GO
81 made the promise for your sake,
/ Make-Beieve.'
81 know; you're bette. than l thought
you was. FoNcy.'
:. loc n,n1n hnttnr--
and you can make me better still. You
understand me, don't yer!'
"Oh, yes, understand yer, Foxey.'
1t was great pleasure to her to
know that she mad good influence
over him, and she gave him kind
look.
"Well, then," he said, "when shall
it be?'
Her kind look changed to one Of
bewilderment.
"When shall what be-?
"The wedding. I've got room, and
some bits of furniture; I'll get more
afore another months over my head,
and promise to be good TO yer. Yer
know how l can keep Il promise, and
I'll keep this one. When shall it be,
Malle-Bclieve"
why" she cried. "Do yer mean to
say yer want to marry me?'
That's it, exactly, Make-Belicve;
there amt gal in Clare Market that
can hold candle to yer, and that's
why l have been follering yer about
this blessed day. What are yer shak-
ing yer head for? Why can't yer
speak?'
"'Cause yer've taken away my
breath. I never heerd such thing in
all my born days! You're never in
earnest, Foyey:"
II am, Make-Believe. Strike me
down dead if amt"
1t need not this to convince her.
mastering sufficient courage to look
him straight in the face, as he stood
before her blocking the way, she saw
that he was, indeed, terribly in earn.
est.
Come" he said, somewhat roughly,
"say I'll have yer. Foxey,' and make
an end of it,"
II can't make an end of it that way"
"Why?"
Because don't care for yer"
He took her two hands and held them
as in a wise.
"Say that again." he demanded.
She steadied her voice and repeated:
II don't care for yer'
"And yer wont have mc?"
"No, won't"
"What! Arter fooling me in the way
you've done?'
"Who's been fooling yer?" she asked
Indignantly. "Yer telling lies, Yer
| know yer are! Here-jest let so my
hands, or III scream for helpw
you've got no call to-" he said in a
| gloomy voice, releasing her hands
"Yer don't think I'd hurt yer, do yer:
But wouldn't give much for the man
as'd stand atween you and me. Ah
but yer playing with me, MakeBe-
lieve! you've only been speaking in
/ fun. Yer want me to wait a bit. All
right; I'll wait, l will, if it's six
months"
'It's no use Of yer going on like
that" said Little Make-Believc, recog.
nizing the necessity Of frmness; "lf yer
waited for six years, or sixty, or six
hundred, wouldn't have yer"
On his part, now, he recognized that
she. was as much in earnest as he.
SIS that yer last word?"
| sit is"
He laid his two hands on her shoul.
ders with violent grasp, and the pain
lie caused her forced scream from
| her liDS