The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-31
(Coutinuedl

Heavens, governor, what bias hap
pened to my boy?" he asked, and bis
fine old face was of great whiteness
and trembling. 'Sam says he's dead,
and the ghost and then came an.
other pause in which all of the persons
present neld for long minute their
breath.
Did make excuses and explanations
and pleadings to my beloved uncle, the
General Robert, in such suffering over
the death Of that Robert? 1 did not.
l opened my strong young arms wide
and took him into them with a tender
ness Of such great force that it would
Of necessity go into his very heart
II am wicked girl who has come
to you in lies as a boy, my Uncle Rob.
ert, but I have love that is SO great
for you that will be in death if YOU
as pressed my cheek in it's tears
against his.
And for still another long minute all
Of the persons present waited again,
and 1 forced to remain in my throat
sob, while my beloved Gouverneur
Faulkner laid one of his hands on the
shoulder of my uncle, the General Rob.
ert.
And then did come that explosion!
"You young limb of Satan, you!
could shake the life out Of you if
didn't prefer live girl to a dead boy.
l knew just such a thing as this would
happen to me in my old age for long
life Of cussedness. And, what's more,
I'll wager I'll never be able to give a
great husky thing like you away. You
cost as much to feed as man. Who'd
want you" But even as he stormed
at me felt his strong old arms cease
frem their tremblings and clasp me
with very rough tenderness.
81 do, general" said my Gouverneur
Faulkner as he attempted to take me
from that very rough embrace Of my
uncle, the General Robert. "I'll take
her off your hands,
No, sir; I never ask personal favors
of my friends" answered nay uncle,
the General Robert, ais he held me
away from the arms Of the Gouverneur
Faulkner with very great determine
ton.
General Carruthers," then said my
beloved Gouverneur Faulkner as he
drew his beautiful body to all the
height that was possible to him and
looked into the eyes of my beloved I'm
Gle Robert with his own, which are
stars Of the dawn, so that all of his
heart and soul and honor shone there
from In a radiance, 'the Marquise of
Gree and Bye went three days jour,
ney into the wilds of the Harpeth
with me to rescue my honor
and for the welfare of this great state
and of France. And because we
thought not Of ourselves, but of the
welfare of Harpeth and of France, and
did but what was necessary as two
comrades, God has revealed to us his
gift of gifts-love. AS you see, she is
to you radiant and unframed.
Have 1 your consent to try to win her
hand in marriage?"
For no more than a long minute my
uncle, the General Robert, gazed
straight into the eyes Of my beloved
Gouverneur Faulkner, and then a very
beautiful smile did break from under
hose white swords crossed above his
fps as he spoke with great urgency:
Would you like to take the baggage
along with you tonight, governor!
Don't leave her here. I don't want a
about my house. can wake
Up the county court clerk for license"
ne said, with a fine twinkle Of the eye.
ooh, but all friends must forgive me
ny deception. And then must not a
of great decorum be made
rom my Gouverneur Faulkner for the
land of the lady whom he would make
lis wife?'' I asked with an uncertain
y as looked from my uncle, the Cen
raj Robert, to my Gouverneur Faux
Ter.
I'm sorry, sir, but think the mar
Iuise is right, and under the .circum-
stances I'll have to make a very public
which out Of consideration
or you I'll make as ardent and rapid
IS possible. Only we three know the
wonderful truth, and we'll keep it to
And as he spoke that
,reat Gouverneur Faulkner bent and
aid kiss of great ceremony upon the
land of Roberta, marquise Of Gree and ,
Bye.
Every well, sir; I'll keep her for a
,ew days and have her fitted cut in
OF of folderols for you, but only for a
short period, mind you-a very short
period" answered my uncle, the Gen
.ral Robert, with a smile that showed
much delight in me. flew to him and
rave to him an embrace with my arms
md also laid my CHEEK against his.
II am for always your most humble
md obedient girl, my Uncle Robert"
whispered to him.
Humble and obedient-no, woman |
would know those words If she met |
hem in her own drawing room," he
to me, with great scorn,
,ut he also gave to me shake that !
vas of seeming great fierceness, but
hat I knew to be q careSs.