The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-26

make her a good husband. He was an
honorable man and had more money
than he knew what to do with.
She was such bcwildering little
creature, was Claudia. At the first
meeting she was so sweetly serious.
She had told me since that she was
frightened to death Of me because
knew SO much. Fancy It! The day she
told me. though. she was bubbling over
with laughter, and suspect she was
poklng fun at me In her irrepressible
way. Then there was the morning
when we walked together to church
and she talked SO quietly Of holy
things. and there was that last after
noon In the garden before Fitz came
home.
That day It was the hardest of all to
forget myself and remember Fitz.
Sometimes when the tender ness Of my
heart would creep into my words little
spots of color would come and 60 in
her girlish face. l scarcely saw her
eyes that day. the white lids dropped
DO insistently over their blue beauty.
At last I pulled myself together with
the thought that he could do SO much
more for her than I. even IL she could
bring herself to think Of me at all, and
made my last earnest speech for him.
She frowned little; then she smiled
and looked thoughtful.
II think shall have to teach you to
read poetry" she said.
"Will your" | asked eagerly.
"Begin OH The Courtship Of Miles
Standish.' them" she answered and
ran. laughing. up the walk.
II did the best could for you. Fitz,"
told him when he returned that even.
ing. And rehearsed the last speech
in full.
"What did she say?" he demanded.
"Why. she didn't say anything to
that. She told me-or hinted--that my
education was deficient because ! had
little knowledge Of poetry. and she told
me to begin on The Courtshipof Miles
Standish.'"
Fitz looked at me mournfully. That's
my finish then. Have you read it?''
II was just beginning"
Fitz walked heavily from the room.
and took mp my new Longfellow.
Short Of stature he was. but strongly
built and athletic.
Brown as n nut was his face. but his rus
set beard was already
Flaked with patches of snow.
Pretty good description Of myself.
thought. Not exactly patches. but
there were certainly threads Of gray.
i read on till the speech was finished.
the egotistical words Of Miles Standish;
then ! bowed my head In shame and
anger. l had talked steadily Of myself
and my work. but she had led me on.
She had no right to call me down so.
Tomorrow ! would 60 back to my
cabin and forget. but yet knew
should always remember. was still
broOding when Fitz came back.
II don't blame you. old man." he be.
gan. Probably yOu'll make her hap.
pier: but. Lord. look at my money!"
blinked at him us he settled down.
"Neat way she had of bringing mat
ters to focus" he went on. picking
up my book. which lay face down.
ward on the table. "Why. darned II |
believe you've read 1t all!''
"Ive read enough" said resentful.
ly. II read what she thinks OF me-"
One moment that blessed Fritz gazed
at me; then In words Of one syllable
he gave me the gist Of that poem
made me understand that my Claudia
was impersonating the Puritan maiden
in her immortal speech. "Why don't
you speak for yourself. John?"
And to think ever. had deemed
Fitzgerald stupid!
found my blessed girl in the gar.
den, but she did not hear my ap.
proach. She was on tiptoe. trying to
reach rose which swung above her
head.
II have come to speak for myself
Claudia" l said.
The dear hands ceased from their
quest to hide the bushes of her sweet
face. Her girlish form trembled.
"You think me bold:' she cried ap
prehensively.
1t was such glorious affair to prove
to her just what l did think Of her
and 1t took long time. And then she
explained to me about affinities.