Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-02-14


I5nt Captain Mix, its driver. also had
observing eyes. He knew her now ~
far As be ccaid see her. as every one
IN the village did, and he soon noticed
aer unusual conduct. He also watched
along the wayside where she left II,
and slyiy observed her peepfnR out
from some tbteket Just why this odd
proceeding happened time and again.
he could not guess. and not until >
stFange young man alighted from the
train one day and asked 70 be LEFT q
the home OF Mrs. Abby Hsmis. did 4
dawn on him.
Then he laughed. Friend o. Aunt
Abby. 'spossf" he inquired In bio
Yankee fashion. after they had started.
NO." answered Ray. frankly, X have
never seen the lady. know some one
who Is living with her. however. III
Miss Mc--Raymond, mean"
Captain Mix glanced Mt him. his eyes
twinkling. so we're 'Quainted with
Vera. be ys." he responded. wal.
ye're lucky" Then as curiosity grew
he added. known her quite speaA
hev yer"
But Ray was discreet. ~oh. three ~
four years" he answered nonchalautly.
II knew her whom she lived In 0reeur
vale" Then to check tho stass drivers
~ui iosity, he added, ~She was only
/ little girl. then. presume she has
changed since.
shes purity good-lookin' sAi now.
asserted CAPTAIN Mix, hut middlin'
odd In her ways. Not much on gAI-
| livantin' round wi young folks. but 70
| In to school stiddy n roamin' round
! the woods when she Amt Purity big
| gal TO be goin' to school she Is. cal.
late her arly eddication must ~ been
sorter neglected. Mehba va know
bout II" and once more this persist
ont Yankee glanced at his companion.
i But Ray was too loyal 10 the little
| girl he loved to discuss her further.
4 and made no answer Instead. he be.
! gan inquiries about Christmas Cove,
and as they logged on mile after mile.
he learned all that was TO be known Of
/ that quiet village When they had
reached point some three miles from
! II. kindly thought came to the driver.
III Vera amt 'spectin' w." he said,
'mehbe ye'd like to s'prise her. II 90
! be it, We kin. She's most nllus out
/ shs way n curislike. hides fore get
long whnr she Is. II SEQ her today
a We want to. III drop ye clus BY n
let ye."
And 30 II came to pass.
/ Chip. as usual, had followed her Oft
taken walk on this pleasant May after
noon. When the carryaII was sighted
! also, as usual. she hxd hidden herself.
With beating heart she saw two occu-
pants this time, and looking on. ok her
| laurel screen. she saw that one was
I Ray.
Then she crouched lower. The mo.
ment she had waited for had come.
but now something unexpected hap
pencd, for after the carrynll passed
! her hiding spot, Ray. brown and stall
| wart, ieaped out. The carryall drOve
on. and she saw him returning ana
scanning the bushes
She was caught. fairly and squarcly.
One instant she heatated, then, blush
Ing rose-red. emerged from the under.
growth.
| And now came another capture. for,
With Chip, my darling Ray sprangi
forward and although she turned
away. the next moment she wasE
clasped in hts arms.
In vain she struggled In vain shc
! writhed and twisted In vain she
! pushed him away and then covered her
blushing face.
Love. ferce and eager, could net be
| thus opposed, All her pride. anger. 70
ness were as so many straws. for
despite her struggles. he pulled her
hands aside AMI kissed her again and
again.
my DARLING he exclaimed at last,
SAY you forgive me; say you love me
say 1t now
Then. as she drew away. he saw her
eyes were Drumming with tears.
Il won't" she said, Il hate" but
| his lips cut the sentence In two. and 1t
was never finished.
Il did mean 70 hate you.v she de-
clared once more. covering her face.
but I'll can't.
mo. you cant he asserted eagerly
for won't let you. You promised to
love me once. and now you've got to.
for life"
And she did.
When the outburst OF emotion had
subsidized and they strolled homeward,
Chip glanced shyly up at her lover.
why did yen pouuce on me so7s
she queried; why didn't you ask me.
frstg''
IN ue (soy. fst4ta1