LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2149, 14 January 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

TWO NEGATIVES. ' No, I won't! ' Jnne Egbert's bright coquettish face was aflame with anger, her black eyes sparkled dangerously, and her thin lips trembled with excitement, while Leigh Sargent only laughed a low musical laugh that grated upon her irate sensibilities with redoubled force as the handsome eyes shone down upon her, and he made no movement to change his position of protecting ownership. ' You wlli some day, little girl. lam snre I have not loved you in vain. I even think you oare a little sow, though you won't forgive me.' ' You are indeed mistaken,' spitefully returned June, standing very erect, and looking Btill is angry as she could with that pleading look fastened upon her. ' I don't love you, and I refuse most emphatically ever to be your wife. I hope that is sufficient,' and she paused to note the effect her words had, Leigh turned a trifle paler. ' Von do not mean it, love. Oh, June, be true to yourself ; tell me the truth ; do not let a feeling of anger and pride divide you from a love that is as strong as life itself. Forgive me, June,' and sho was drawn close to him, and he conld feel her tremble, ' and you shall never have cause again to doubt.' One inßtant of hesitation, then June released herself. 'That will do,' she said haughtily; 'I mean what I said.' ' Very Iwell,' leturned Leigh, quite icily now. ' I will leave you to attain a different frame of mind, and will say good-bye. I should have gone to N two hours since.* ' For how long ?' queried June, with new interest. ' For an indefinite time.' came the answer ; ' a case needs my attention at once." ' But I thought, I am sure Myra said, you had two months' vacation,' said June. ' Oh, no! I ihould have gone back long since. I dallied because, you know why,' glancing down fondly, ' but if ' 'How do you go?' interrupted his companion. ' I shall ride Ned. It is bat a short trip, and he is my favorite paddle-horse.' ' Not Black Ned ?' Miss Egbert looked anxiously up at Leigh Sargent, who bit his moustached lips to hide some emotion. ' Yes, why not ?' he queried. ' Oh, nothing,' the old nonchalance returning, * only one hates to see a friend killed through mere carelessness.' ' Do you oare ?' The query was so hasty that all Jane's color flashed up, but she veiled her eyes with drooping lids, saying only—'Do just as you please,' and with an exclamation of disgust Leigh left her at the piazza of her sister My ra's home, and half-an-hour later dashed away on Black Ned. To explain (says the American paper from which we have quoted the foregoing), Miss Egbert and Mr Sargent seemed doomed to quarrel. Of late a treaty of peace had been adopted for a short time, but Leigh had seriously offended her. Had he not flirted outrageously with Sadie Bermingham, driving with her past their home in the moonlight, and saying all sorts of silly things, none knew what, because she, June, would not answer his straightforward, manly question—' Can you learn to love me V T es, she was seriously offended she told herself, and anger with her meant spiteful, freakish moods, and the ability to bear untold misery herself' for the sake of punishing the offender. There was a guilty pang at her heart as she thought of her falsehood to Leigh, an unutterable loneliness as she thought of him gone to come back no more. Tease her he did, to be sore, but was he not tender and gentle to her, though a trifle masterful, for which she had loved him, womanlike, the more. The tears almost came, but June was a determined atom of humanity, as heroic as she was dainty and lovable, and she put the thought that she had done wrong resolutely away. An hour later the dusk was settling over all the world. With a faint cry June recognised a foaming, riderless black steed come dashing up the road. ' It's Ned!' was all she could say in a low whisper to herself, as she crept out to the end of the green lawn and sobbed out her first grief. A little later the voice she loved reached her ear—a voice she had thought never to hear again. ' Jnne darling,' it said, while stro r g arms encircled her, * were you alarmed ? Tell me why you are here P Ned threw me and escaped, and I had to walk back,' and two bearded lips preaaed her tremulous ones. In an instant, feeling him safe, the old shyness bad returned. Slipping from his embrace she ran without stopping, till she reached her own door, while Leigh with a smile returned to his hotel, going in the morning to his work with a cheerfulness none oou'.i aooount for. Later, the summer had faded. The chilly days of late autumn hung over the little village. Leigh Sargent, who had come up for a few days, endeavored to grant Miss June the opportunity to finish their abridged quarrel. • You've said enough,' he laughed at last. • Come June, you love me some after all, and you are goingt to be my dear little wife, aren't you ?' I No I don't, and I'm not!' decidedly returned his companion, red with vexation. ' I think you assume too much altogether. In the faoe of both my negatives you insist on believing 1 do not mean what I say, and think that I am going to marry you despite my refusals.' ' Yes, for your two negatives will makean affirmative. However, June, I am going away for all time, and I will not trouble you after to-day.' •So soon ? I thought you meant to take a week,' came the faint answer. 'So I did, but there's nothing to keep me here now, and I shall go.' With a sudden look downward, Leigh for the fiftieth time changed his mind. •June,' he said, impetuously, 'look at me.' The dark eyeß met his in an instant, then roved off again. • Listen,' he said, imperatively, I will stay if you wish it. Tell me if it is anything to you whether I door not.' The small hands that he had detained for a moment were pulled away. Miss June was quite herself again. Cooly, very calmly, she replied' — «Oh yes, stay, if we can keep peace. We have quarrelled long enough. Still, the days are cooler, and it isn't so fatiguing as it was ; besides, everyone else is away, and we hardly see a soul. Stay your vacation out,' with a side gleam of mischief in the merry eyes. She was not rewarded, however, by vexa. tion on her companion's part, though he stopped suddenly. «I will go this evening ; good bye, he said, extending his hand. But disregarding it entirely, Miss June said saucily—- ' You will call and say good-bye after lunch.' «Till then, good morning. Leigh registered a vow that afternoon as he pursued his way toward the home of his lady-love. Never had she looked more lavely, he decided ; and June, with a quick look upward, realised that something was wrong. Without a word he crossed the room and took her in his arm!, 'June,' he eaid, firmly, 'once before I held you here, and let you go ;. this time I never will till you tell me decidedly that you do not love me; that you will not be mine, or until you kiss me, and promise to be my June trembled violently and sought to escape. . •Myra will be hero in ten minutes, he went on, as he opened his walich to note the flight of time. ' You won't keep me hsre ?' pleadingly came from Jose. 'Yes, I will.' • June, look up ;' and laying a hand beneath her chin, he raised her Sace till his eyes held her own. ' I love you, and I have a right to your answer. The time is nearly gone,' he answered soon after. ' Myra will be hare in three minutes.' No answer. He watched the sweet faoe against his breast, as the blushes roße and felL • Tell me,' he murmered ; ' I hear her m the hall, and Burt ia with her. « Not really V quered June,' excitedly. • Truly,' came the calm answer. • Oh, please, Leigh, let me go!'

'When yon do what I wish?' was bis deliberate) n ply. 'Oh, dear? The words were a hasty breath as Jane heard the footsteps approaching. Two small hands were reached about Leigh's neck, and her Hps touched his. «Yes, I do, I will.' ' My darling !' Her burning face was covered with his kissFS ; then she stood released jast as Ulyra and her huirba-ud entered. Myra Howe wondered at tb.6 amicablesilence that reigned, «nd June's frantic color, but she only laughed ' Let ns have peace.' and soon af tei left the room. Strange to relate, June and Leigh are the most amiable couple in existence, and sheeven laughs lightly with a blush, when Leigh enquires teasingly if she thinks am affirmative can be considered gained by two> negatives.