The bee., 1908-06-11
A WOOING IN.
THE YEAR 1000.
ny cynthia Grey

satisfied at least three minutes
sooner"
The airship settled slowly.
It's Jackl Mary, Mary-oh, she's
gonel A pretty chaperon she makes.
No wonder can't endure him, thrown
at his head as ! am. Well, let him
come; I'm not afraid I'll marry him
or not, as / choose"
He swung easily toward her. I'm
not glad to see you" was her rude
greeting.
"Indeed?" cheerily. I'm delighted
to see you. What wedding garment
are you making now?"
None for any wedding of yours"
Then put 1t away and fly with me.
BY nightfall we shall have reached
the moon, where the fairies live, and
there we can be welded. You shall
be bound so gently that even you will
forget TO fret at loves silken cords.
Come!"
SILLY, can't you see I'm busy?"
Il can see that you are saucy. Per.
NIT me-" and without ado he picked
her up. sewing and all, and ran with
her to the ship. In an instant they
were off, and Norette, red with anger,
was tugging at the knots in her
thread.
Il love you" said the man.
"Ninety-nine times!" snapped the
girl, taking her teeth from a knot.
There Is luck in mines"
"Luck!" She glanced up scornfully,
then a strange light leaped to her eyes
and a quick color to her cheeks. An
other machine, the ship of the rival
lover, silently sailed behind them.
The girl knew that he could hear her
every word. 81 would throw myself
from the ship before would marry
a man who attempted to run away
with me-"
AS she spoke she perched perilously
near the edge of the boat and her
eyes flew past Jacks shoulder and
shone full into the eyes of the rival
lover. He read her message and an
swered her daring with nod and
smile. In an instant the second ma
chine glided noiselessly beneath the
larger one and slightly to one side.
The girl swung deliberately over the
rail and swayed toward what seemed
a reckless plunge to death. With a
powerful effort Jack broke the spell
which held him, and, springing for.
ward, cried: mo, no, Norrette. ]
will never" but the word froze on
his lips as the outstretched hand of
the rival lover rose from space to
steady her into the other car, where,
in defiance she sung out: Go, take
your trip to the silver moon, ha, hal"
Both men were pale 1T was a wick.
ed thing to do" said Jack. Then with
quick tug, he changed his course
and shot away toward the cleaning
sun
mo wonder men adore you" said
the rival lover. "Norrette, when will.
you marry mel"
DON'T commanded the girl, in
sudden fright. 81 was fool. Tl%s
is no time for love-making. Take me
home"
But. my answer; you promised it
to-day"
did /? Tonight, then, not now"
Tonight, when the moon is full, T"
he whispered. She nodded and was
gone.
In the shadows of tho court Nor
rette fingered among her roses. There
was a fiuttering, a gleam of white
silvered in the moonlight and present
iy Jack found her there.
"Norrette, was rude / offer no
excuse, there is none. But until to
day did not know that you really
hated me. was foolish enough to
think that-you cared. Can you for
give me before l go away?"
She held out her hand.
Thank YOU" he said gently: 81 was
afraid you would not forgive. Good.
by, Norrette."
Don't go--yet," she faltered "You
-I-you haven't said good-by TO
Mary"
You may tell her"
But"
'Well?"
Jack, can't you-see?"
II see man running down the
stairs" said Jack DULY. Il must GO"
"oh. It is he!" whispered Norrette
He is coming-after-m
Jack. Jack, dear, take me quicklyl
do love you"
No dullness could fail 10 respond 70
that eager pleading and to the cling
Ing OF those trembling fingers. In the
shadow OF the friendly balcony he
bent and kissed her willing lips.
"Norrette," called a deep voice from |
across the moonlit court
81 am here" said the girl from her
over's arms. Il am here" she repeat
ed, dragging Jack forward into the
white light. "I'm sorry--I mean I'm
glad that l am going 10 marry Jackl
You see-Aunt Mary thinks / ought.
And-Ton't-won't you have some
'ruit before you go? It's on the
'oofl"