Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/252

 "Yes."

"I'm glad."

"Yes, you see I'm twenty-one years old, and I've seen such things happen before!" she purred this slowly and burst into laughter.

"Now, Miss Sallie, that's cruel to throw me down in a heap of dead dogs I don't even know."

"Don't you like dogs?"

"Four legged ones, yes. But I like my friends alive."

"Oh! It didn't kill any of them. They are all strong and hearty. But if you're so domestic in your tastes why haven't you settled in life?"

"Been waiting to find the woman of my dreams."

"And you haven't found her?"

"Not up to yesterday."

"Oh! I forgot," she said archly, "you're so timid."

"Honestly, I was."

"Up to yesterday!" she murmured. "Well, tell me what your dreams demanded? What kind of a creature must she be?"

"I have forgotten."

"What! Forgotten the dreams of your ideal woman?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Yesterday."

"Thanks. We are getting on beautifully, aren't we? You will get over your timidity in time, I'm sure."

He smiled, looked down at the pattern of the carpet and did not speak for some minutes. His soul was thrilled and satisfied in her presence. As he lifted his eyes from the floor they rested on the piano.

"Will you play for me, Miss Sallie? Auntie says you play delightfully."

"Auntie? Who is Auntie?"

"Mrs. Durham, my foster mother, of course. Excuse