Show it was only a question of weeks possibly months you will guess if you read a little way and the details ot the matter are of small concern to the world still tom morleigh was far from thinking that pansy was as good as his although he had reached her heart as he thought a long way like most ot his gender in such casee hp reveled for a while in the placid belief that when the time came she would be his for the asung the chock of disillusion came when he offered bis hand her prompt rejection gave him a new point of view in regard to women lut it did not hint tor a moment that the cause was lost it s the old story be told himself I 1 was too sure the incident stirred bis sporting blood and made him re solve to win her by playing a stronger game in due season there came a second proposal and a third came in quick order each met with a definite neg active upon the second sally pansy be stowed a charitable smile and re marked please jack don t be silly the next time he tried it she was not so patient you seem determined to spoil our summer she said as though she were accusing him of a black conspiracy really it you per there Is nothing tor mamma and I 1 but to go abroad at once have you any idea how rude ou area one of the tasks a man soon tires ol 01 Is fruitless proposing romance and reality have known many boblo ex morleigh was not cut out tor a seat in their hall of tame he answered her last question too brusquely of course but love and hate are ever waiting upon one another have you an idea what a heart less flirt you area were his words it was pansy s cue for tears and she took it copiously making the while a berried exit or rather an entrance through the french window morleigh remained standing on the veranda a moment and thanks to his changing point of view took new heart he began to pat himself for his keen penetration those tears are all right he said gleefully have another go the day came and he looked in at elmwood but the maid with blight ing alacrity announced that miss ark wright was not in As she said t a man s laugh that he anew well and detested plagued his ear it came loudly aggressively it seemed to him from the dining room a even that silly ape would not sit and guffaw to himself he reasoned of course she s with him despite the new eyes with which he had begun to survey womankind the outlook seemed serious even hopeless he climbed into bis trap and drove down the avenue ot elms convinced that he was cast for the role ot one who had loved and lost and that bounder wins by jove it right at all what in thunder does she see in hima and more of this tenor until he drove into his own stable yard and threw the reins to bis man A fine grove of firs at the east end of bla place was bordered by a lane high hedged with holly on the other side stretched the level pasture lands that belonged to pansy s mother the lane wound its way to the sea shore and jack was often seen there in the days that followed follo ned alth a trio ot dogs frolicking after him it was remarkable how often he took those dogs for exercise and a bath since the day that the maid said pansy was not in and he heard the ape laughing in her drawing room usually he kept an eye cocked over the arkwright hedge one had to be was far from thinking pansy was his pretty tall for that in the hopes of seeing her for it was in that field she sauntered now and then when the cows were feeding somewhere else had he looked to day as usual he would have saved pansy a big fright but their engagement would not have been announced so soon the cowman was the primary cause he did not see her in that field ot course when he opened the gate and let in the cattle but the cows saw pansy and straightway approached to make her this happened at about the moment that pansy heard the bark of jacks dogs and knew that the master was near at hand the gray noses and switching tails came nearer and nearer land she pressed closer to the hedge moving along with the noisy dogs on the other side she could see him now and please jack don t be siliyl again through a narrow opening in the hedge and it was good to know that he was there presently one of the bold jerseys was walking beside her and her tail almost brushed her back this was her cue to call for help even upon a man who had bored her with his proposals jack she cried he started and caught a glimpse ol 01 her blue skirts between the hedge rifts jackl came her voice again I 1 em I 1 am at home to day won t you look in jump in over the hedge quick I 1 ve something to tell you it was an impossible leap but there are more things than locksmiths that love laughs at one Is a holly hedge when the man is determined and is not afraid of torn clothes and a scratched face the dogs managed to dash through with him pell mell and had a fine chase after the jersey who took to her heels at this rude interruption ol 01 her friendly tete a tete with the maid somehow their engagement was un der stood from that moment and he did not have to bore her by proposing so you were right in guessing from the way pansy carried on at the out set that it was only a matter of timo and golden opportunity chicago american |