Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-08-05
A LOVERS RUsE.
"And he has red hair

tshly, we say, because If they had 4
betrayed such anxiety, but had let t
young people come together natural
their hopes would have stood fa
. chance Of being realized AS 1t wS
, 1t seemed to be the very last thil
that was likely to happen.
They had not met since they we
] children and were not likely to viii
t left to their own devices. which &c
tainly were very fertile in contrivir
to avoid everything that was likely
bring them in contact,
Whenever Tom visited his Uncle We
non, Bertha was sure to be impresse
, with the idea that 1t was the mo-
! fitting time for her to pay long pror
ised visit to some lady friend whic
kept her out of town so long as /
stayed.
And whenever Bertha visited her III
Gle Manning, Tom was equally as sui
to have some important business Ell
gagement to call him out Of town Will
she was at his fathers house.
Thus they continued to play at eros
purposes until the patience of thos
who had planned the match was neal
ly exhausted.
And now to complicate matters an
make them still more discouraging
rival had stepped into the field, MI
Henry, a distant relative Of the paris
clergyman, who had come to Green
vile to spend the summer months.
There seemed to be n strong attrac
ton between the two the first tim,
they met, which ripened in an incredi
bly, short space Of time into the warm
est affection.
But of this the parents of Bertha
were in biissful ignorance, they being
away on VISIT to Toms father with
the avowed intention of bringing the
young man back with them, to Berthas
great disgust, who confdentally IN
formed her lover, as Mr.. Henry now
was, that she had half a mind to run
away and not see him.
She then gave him detailed account
Of her grievance, together with her
many reasons for detesting Cousin
Tom, ending her decidedly uncompli-
mentary remarks, as usual, with;
"And he has red hairP'
Mr.. Henry stroked thoughtfully his
tawny beard, an amused smile playing
around his mouth.
"Some people have been so discourte-
GUS as to hint that my hair is of q red
dish tinge. l have q very vivid re-
membrance when was boy of some
one calling out to me as l was riding
by: Look outl Your heads on frer"
How ridiculousw laughed Bertha.
"Why, your hair is just a beautiful
chestnut brown"
II am glad you think so, my love.
You say that you have never seen your
cousin Tom since he was boy?"
mo. And he was one Of the most
disagreeable boys l ever saw yet, never
so happy as when plaguing some of us
girls. He broke the head of my wax
doll, stoned my pet kitten and dug up
the choicest plants IN my garden and
was such torment generally that
was glad when he was out Of my sight
and hearing. And he is coming tOmor-
row, so papa writes, and l know what
for. But Pm determined on one thing,
that I never will marry Cousin Tom"
The young man looked down smil-
ingly into that flushed and earnest
face, which had never looked so lovely
to him as now.
"Be frank and tell him so, then.
will be there, too, and we will see
which will win the day. Cousin Tom
DR. l."
The shadows of twilight had gath
cred around the quiet corner where
Mr.. Vernon and his nephew sat in
earnest converse.
The former arose as Bertha entered
Ter heart beating very fast at the
hought Of the ordeal she knew was
,efore her.
"My daughter, here is your cousin
Tom, who has come for the express
purpose of asking you to be his wife.
What is your answer, yes or nof"
Bertha did not even raise her eyes
o the dim outline of the form that
7as sitting on the sofa, but her tones.
hough low. were very firm as she said
at Is NO. papa. am willing to give
'ousin Tom the regard that is due to
is relation to me and to you, but |
annot marry him."
Leaving Cousin Tom to reply, who
ow emerged from his obscurty. Mr..
ernon quietly slipped away.
"Supposing / won't take No for an
The sound Of that familiar voice
lade Bertha raise her eyes quickly :
} the face of the speaker.
"Mr. Henry~
"Thomas Henry Manning, at your
'rvice. Forgive me, darling" he whis-
cred as he looked into Bertha's white,
face. 81 wanted to see and -
dge my little cousin for herself"
"Its a shame" pouted Bertha doing
n best to look angry and failing mis-
ably. you've taken a mean and I'M
ir advantage Of me-"
II know it," responded the culprit,
18th an air of mock gravity, "and now
hat is to be done l can't imagine, as
u have over and over again declared
at you never will marry Cousin Tom.
And he has red hairp
This is the lnvariable rejoinder of
e husband Of Mrs. Tom Manning
lenever she alludes to the extraor-
nary beauty of their firstborn.
But the fond and happy mother de-