A Romance of Billy-Goat Hill

								

storm to town, and tell Decker the trip is off. But I'll be back in the
morning! Perhaps to breakfast. Oh, my darling, I am so happy! Say you
love me! Say it!”
Old Mike stirred in his slumbers, then opened one eye. It was evidently
time for him to take some action. When two young people are standing
very close with clasped hands and love-lit eyes in the dim fragrance
of an old garden, even a dog of a chaperon knows that it is time to
interfere! With great presence of mind he discovered an imaginary
squirrel in the hedge directly beside them, and set up such a furious
barking that Miss Lady looked around and laughed. For a second she
stood, her head thrown back, a teasing, half-shy, half-daring look on
her face, then she dropped a swift kiss on the hand that clasped hers,
and without a word went flying crimson-cheeked up the lilac-bordered
path.

CHAPTER III

Donald Morley rode back to town through the coming storm, in that
particular state of ecstasy that mortals are permitted to enjoy but once
in a lifetime. Not that falling in love was a novel sensation; on the
contrary a varied experience had made him agreeably familiar with all
the symptoms. But this, he assured himself with passionate vehemence,
was something altogether and absolutely different. Between now and that
morning when he had idly ridden out to Wicker's in search of a farm, lay
a sea as wide as Destiny!
There in the country he had unexpectedly come upon his fate and with
characteristic impetuosity had pursued and overtaken it. Other girls may
have stirred his heart, but it had remained for a wild little pagan
of the woods to stir his soul. He had laid bare to her the most secret
places of his being, had confessed his sins, and received absolution.
From this time on the frivolities of youth lay behind him, and ambition
sat upon his brow. He would cut out the trip to the Orient, buy a farm
and settle down to work as if he hadn't a penny in the world. Once the
Colonel was made to recognize his worth, the gates of Paradise would be
open!
He thought of the home he would build for her, and the flowers
that would encompass it, of the horses and dogs they would have and
perhaps--The memory of her face as she clasped Chick in the road flashed
over him, and he straightened his shoulders suddenly and smiled almost
tremulously. Yes, he'd be worthy of her, from this time forward life
should hold no higher privilege!
It was after seven o'clock by the time he reached the Junction, and
heavy mutterings of thunder could be heard in the west.
“Does this street go through to the boulevard?” he asked of a man,
pointing with his knobless whip.
The lank person addressed removed his weight from the telegraph pole
that had supported it and sauntered forward. As he did so Donald
recognized the red-headed umpire of the afternoon.
“No, sir, Captain,” he said, “it do not. This here is Bean Alley. These