The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-04-06

she cflCu. though touldH lHdlIA
one who lived so Wild as did Hack.
yet | know no better disposed lad eer
lived"
He te-hee'd merrily. then took up
his hat and rose TO depart
Tell you what, dear he said, Il
feel as It's in the air you're going 10
love me . indeed. I'll lay a bet of
a shilling with you that this time next
week you'll be willing to sit upon my
knee. and maybe--maybe kiss me 81
your own accord. If you're not willing
to sit on my knee come week today
give Hon shilling--if yo1 are, you
give me siXpence.'
"Al right" said Mary.
When he had gone Mary immedi-
ately took the precaution of drawing
the bolt I've had enough of Mr.
Sellars tonight" she said Hes
well-nigh set me against him. putting
things SO clear before my eyes tbs
cruel and hard 10 be short of money
and things. and scarce TO know where
to turn,
with Il letter addressed in struggling
hand and sealed with liver-colored
waters. She opened unwillingly. OK
pecting TO read therein an emphatic
renewal of his proposal; but. instead
she found that he stunned the very
mention of love.
My dear Mary" he had written
you must not be disappointed il you
do moi see me until week come last
night for | am minded of an old
rhyme AZ my father used 10 say when
! was courtias my first. 1t ran some
thing like He as woos a maid must
seldom come in her sight So You see,
! am going to give myself fair
chance to win my bet by staying away
and letting yonr thoughts dwell on
me. But you may he sure as | shall
always be thinking of YOU. and If YOU
want aught of any kind you've only
to let me know by letter. Your affec-
Tomato sweetheart.
"ABRAIAM
Somehow Mary felt in better spirits
now than she had ever felt since the
day, a twelve month ago, when he had
first given Ii definitely to understand
that his visits We're made with view
to marriage As she knew that she
was to spent the evening alone. gae
TOOK a bund of letters from the lac.
quered tea-caddy. ami began to read
Hercules FoX-ols Hack" as everyone
called him had written these on the
rare occas IS when business had
called him to the country town: they
We're rough uncouthly phfased. bat
full of hon ST passion. When The
perusal was ii.aaited she sat with
them on her lap. teariully gazing into
space At seven O'clock. however. IA
curious Impulse made her replace all
and then don the quaint gown she
had Worn for Ab;aham's sake. After
wards she went into the garden, aud
without knowing why gathered three
white roses with pink hearts. aud
pinned them with "A SPRAY of Lad 9
love 10 her throat When she looked
at her refiec' ion in the little mirror
near The clock, she froWned almost
GROSSLY. and her hands rose TO re.
move the flowers. but fell suddenly.
as she heard the gate open. aud
footstep oddly familiar sound on the
followed flags of the path.
She staggered against the wall; her
face. as ii rned slowly towards the
open door was white as the onIer
petals of the roses. Then, hearing her
name spoken in a hOarse voice she
moved forwerd and fell into a mans
outstretched arms.
II was Hercules Fox. but not the
same llereu'"s sac had known; in.
stead. handsome, healthy and stal
wart fellow. with. no. trace in either
face or figure of the ravages dissipa
ton had wrought. The apparition WAS
too much Tor Mary
Il cant believe It's you. Hack" she
raltered. It's more than my Hcad'R
stand"
The young pan kissed her heartily
Can you now ?" he asked. Lord,
but you have given me scare! And
Eve come over from UXeter to see II
there's any Glance for me-"
His brow puckered of sudden
you're dressed for courting." he said
"Old Sellers aust be a-coming"
Mary laughed family Not this
eve. Hack" she whispered Mr.
Sellers is stopping away for a week
whilst | find out my own mind. .
| don't want him at all"
And your" not a-going to have him
ihat'e ann az thing" said Hack
Kissing her IN "That is II you can
bring your mind to taking me after
all I've been straight as a die e'er
since you sent me away. and by good
chance I've gotten good situation
as steward on Lord Bostern's Stafford
shire land. There's a handsome house
ready for furnishing. and I've money In
both pockets. ! dare not have
asked you again but last week | heard
that old Sellers had told folk as he
was sure of YOU and that gave me
pluck!
Mary was silent; but there was
such a rare smile on her face that
Hercules heart beat quite loudly with
happiness Nnd, later in the evening,
she was minded of the old mans bet
She rose at once. and opening the
sloping lid OF the bureau. took out
Zen and paper, and, with her lover
leaning over her shoulder, wrote:
Dear sir-Thls is to inform you
that you owe me shilling, as Hack
has come back, and we're to marry
next week. Yours respectfully,