“I always knew you would find it out. I never stopped hoping and praying for it.”
“That must have been what brought Mr. Wade here.”
“Oh, I did hate him so, Bill, when I heard of something that happened between you and him! I thought him a brute and a tyrant. I never could get over it, until he told mother that you were the best machinist he ever knew, and would some time grow to be a great inventor.”
“I’m glad you hated him. I suffered rattlesnakes and collapsed flues for fear you’d go and love him.”
“My affections were engaged,” she said, with simple seriousness.
“Oh, if I’d only thought so long ago! How lovely you are!” exclaims Bill, in an ecstasy. “And how refined! And how good! God bless you!”
He made up such a wishful mouth,—so wishful for one of the pleasurable duties of mouths, that Belle blushed, laughed, and looked down, and as she did so saw that one of her straps was trailing.
“Please fix it, Bill,” she said, stopping and kneeling.
Bill also knelt, and his wishful mouth immediately took its chance.
A manly smack and sweet little feminine chirp sounded as their lips met.