The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-18

said, in hesitating voice.
Instead of taking the flower, she
drew back with a gesture Of repul-
sion.
''Oh, take it. away" she exclaimed,
Blake flung the rejected gift on the
ground, and crushed it beneath his
heel
Catch me making a fool of myself
again." he grOwled.
II did not mean it that way
really I didn't, Mr. Blake. 1t was the
thought OF that awful snake"
But Blake, cut to the quick, had
turned away far too angry to heed
what she said. He stopped short be-
side the Englishman; but only to sling
the skin of honey upon his back The
load was by no means light one,
even for his strength. Yet he caught
up the heavy pot as well, and made
off across the plain at a pace which
the others could not hope to equal.
AS WINTHROP rose and came for
ward to join Miss Leslie, he looked
about closely for the bruised flower.
1t was nowhere In sight.
"Er-beg pardon, Miss Genevieve,
but did not Blake drop the bloom
er-blossom somewhere about here"
Perhaps he did" replied Miss Les
lie. She spoke with studied indiffer-
ence.
"I-ah-saw the fellow exhibit his
impudence."
"Ye-es?"
You know, l think it high time the
bounder is taken down a peg"
All, indeed! Then why do you not
try it?"
Miss Genevieve, you know that at
present l am physically SO much his
inferior"
How about mentally"
Though the girls eyes were yelled
by. their flashes, she saw Winthrope
cast after Blake a look that seemed
TO her almost fiercely vindictive
"Well?" she said. smiling, but watch
ing him closely.
"Mentally!-We"l soon see about
that" he muttered. 81 must say, Miss
Genevieve 1t strikes me as deuced odd
you know, to hear you speak so pleas
antly of person who-not to mention
past occurrences-ha to-day. with the
most shocking disregard of-er-de-
cency-"
"Stop!-stop this instant" screamed
the girl, her nerves overweight
Wiptbrona with
assurance.
MY dear young lady" he drawled,
ALLOW me to repeat; All is fair In love
and war. Believe me, love you most
ardently."
NO gentleman would press his suit
at such time as this!"
Really now, l fancy l have always
comported myself as a gentleman"
"A trifie too much SO, truth to
say" she retorted.
"Ah, indeed However, this is now
quite another matter. Has it not oc-
CURED to you, my dear, that this entire
experience of ours since that beastly
storm is -er-compromising?
"You-yOu dare say such a thing!
I'll go this instant and tell Mr.. Blake!
I'll"
Begging your pardon, madam-but
are you prepared to marry that bar
barous clodhopper?"
Marry? What do you mean sir?"
Precisely that. 1t is a question of
marriage, if you'll pardon me. And,
you see, fatter myself, that when it
comes to the point it will not be
Blake, but myself
"Ah, indeed, And if I should pre-
fer neither of you?"
Begging your pardon|I fancy you
will honor me with your hand ~
dear. For one thing. you admit that
l am gentleman"
oh, indeed"
One moment, please! l am trying
to intimate to you, as delicately as pos
sible, Observation-Disclosures you
would find 1t to have these little &C.
currences-above all, to-days-noised
abroad to the vulgar crowd, or even
among your friends"
What DO you mean? What do you
want?" cried the girl, staring at him
with deepening fear in her bewil-
dered eyes.
Believe me, my dear, it grieves me
to so perturb you; but-er-love must
have its way, you know"
You forget. There is Mr. Blake"
"Ah, to be sure! But really now,
you would not ask, or even permit him
to murder me; and one is not legally
bound, you know, to observe prom
ises-a pledge of silence, for example
when extorted under duress, under
violence, you know"
Miss Leslie looked the Englishman
up and down, her brown eyes spar
king with understanding anger. He
met her scorn with a smile of SNUG
complacency.
Cad" she cried, and turning her
back upon him, she set out across the
plain after Blake.