Bat Wing Bowles

"Well," she said, "you're the first Bat Wing man that has gone away without – without proposing to me!"

She glanced at him defiantly and folded her arms – and Bowles felt his reason eclipsed, and the world go dark before him. A thousand riotous thoughts clamored suddenly for recognition, and his brain reeled at the shock. Then he opened his eyes, and she was still smiling at him, but the smile had a twinkle of mischief in it. The memory of her legion of suitors came over him now, and her carefree, jesting ways, and he became of a sudden calm. They had all proposed, and she had led them on, and then she had told them no. But she should never deal that ignominy to him. If she scorned his humble suit and desired only to add his scalp to the rest, he would escape at least with his pride – he would never let her say he had proposed.

"Ah, you must excuse me, Miss Lee," he said, speaking with a formal restraint. "Much as I value your happiness, I – I cannot observe this – custom of the country!"

He spat the words out bitterly, and closed his lips – as if there was more he might say. But Dixie did not lose her smile.

"Maybe I'd accept you," she suggested with a roguish twinkle, and once more he gazed into her eyes to read there if she was his friend. But a woman's eyes are deceptive, and hers spoke of many things – she smiled, the old dazzling smile, but there was mischief in the depths. He sighed and drew away.

"Ah, no," he said, "you cannot understand." Then, as she waited, his heart turned to bitterness and he spoke on as the thoughts came. "Really, Miss Lee, it pains me – I cannot believe it. What is one man, more or less, that you should hurt me like this? Dixie" – he raised his downcast eyes and regarded her reproachfully – "I have dreamed about you. I have worshiped you from afar – I have fought my way to be near you. You don't know how it would pain me – after all I have hoped – to have you – "

"Aw, Bowles," chided Dixie, reaching out her hand, "can't you see that I want you?"

And then Bowles' dream came true.