The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-30
Misrellany.
ADOPTED"

her broad brimmed straw hat $780, Is:
ayes. It is very strange went on Miss PEN
roy, musing with herself. 81 know SO little
about him, 1 have only known him ten days
vet when he spoke to me about leaving Elm
Point last night it seemed as if all the sunshine
was going out of the world for me. o, Blanche!
naughty, naughty little Blanchew she added,
leaning forward and opostrophizing the fair face
mirrowed in the glen stream at her feet. "Is it
possible that you've allowed yourself to fall in
love with that tall, black-eyed, young Southerner?
Ten days ago had never seen him-and now!'
The roses mounted up in her cheek as she won.
dered within herself whether Mr.. Evering cared
for her
81 wish kneww she muttered aloud.
"Know what !" demanded calm voice, and
Mr.. Gilbert Evering took up bunch OF grass on
the log, aud cody seated himself beside her-a
straight, handsome man, with brilliant dark eyes,
rather irregular features, and deep color glow
ing through his olive skin cGa
Blanche demurely looked at him, she was not
to be taken by storm thus easily.
whether it would rain tomorrow, for our
picnic. l want to wear my white India
muslinT
ooh. the picnic: had forgotten that when
spoke of leaving tomorrow. OF course, though,
my presence or absence will make no great diff
ference. 6AHsx$l xrI
Blanche was silent. Somehow that scarlet and
brown spotted maple leaf required great deal
of adjustment in the ribbon of her hat. To-. 49,
"Blanche-shall I go or stay!"
"Just as you please"
'No Just as somebody else pleases. Yes or no !!
And forewarn you, yes means great deal"
How much does it mean!" questioned
Blanche, half archly, half timorously. "~
"Then YOU NAV stay!" ~
"My Blanche-my little white daisy" he
whispered, bending his stately head over the
slender hand that lay on the autumn leaves. And
Blanche felt that in the golden stiffness of that
October dell she had turned a new page in her
life. kaT
She was very, very happy, and all that day she
seemed to be walking through the bright mys-
teries of dream. But with the morning came
other feelings alas that shadow should always
follow sunshine in this world of ours.
"I'm not supposed to be unreasonable, Blanche"
said Gilbert in whisper, as he arranged her
white lace shawl for her, amid the merry tumult
of the picnic ground, ''but l do think you've
Waited quite often enough with that puppy Bir-
mingham"
jealous already, Gilbert " tainted the girl,
flushed and rosy with triumphs of her beauty,
and the irresistible instincts Of coquetry. She
colored crimson.
''Of course, you'll do as you please, Blanche;
only | warn you, its choice between Walter
Birmingham and me- You dance with him
again at your own risk :"
AT the same instant young Birmingham came
up.
"NIay have the pleasure of this polka with
you, Miss Penroy ?'
And Blanche defiant and wilful, and little
piqued, answered:
"Yes"
And gliding away with her plump hand on
Walter Birming CHAINS shoulder. Gilbert had no
business to be unreasonable!
His grave stern face rather startled her as she
came once more to the rustic seat of twisted
boughs, when the string band music was silent,
and Mr.. Birmingham had gone to bring her
glass of iced lemonade.
"Gilbort Mhy do you look so cross J!
"Because have ] am sorry you pay
so little attentian to my wishes, Miss Penroyv'
She drew herself up haughtily
'You are beginning to dictate early, sir"
"ILave | not the right"
''Nothing of the sort, Mr.. Evering."
"Beit SO, Blanche" he said in voice that be- |
trayed how deep the arrow ranked in his bosom. |
81 give up the right now and henceforward"
Blanche was startled She would have said |
more, but Walter Birmingham was advancing |
toward her, and wh.n next she had leisure to |
look around, Gilbert Nas zone from her side
'Whag have done; r. She thought in dismav !
"Tll see him in The evening and coax him into |
J
at me ioran idle word like shat
All, little Blanche It's not the well considered |
sentence that does all the harm in this world-it |
is the idle word.
''Such charming day We have had Mrs |
Traine,' said Blanche, she came up the steps
OF the hotel piazza as smiling and radiant as if |
the worn, fcloorse, was not gnawing at her |
heart.
"That, OF course t1 lie blooming matron |
who was raa.ar in aa easy chair under the
shadow ~ lus .sBut wliao sent Mr.. Ever. |
ing away I'll q hurry ~
'Sent him va,:'
"Ycs, BY rho evening tra,n. He came home !
packed NJ his hugs and dloye away, as if there
was not n mouea. 10 lose. | am very sorry we
shall miss him so much"
Blanche went slowly up stairs and sat down I
by her window, looking out at the purple glow
OF the evening landscape as il it Were a feature
less bank. So he was really gone away. and bv |
her own folly she had lost the priceless treasure
of Gilbert Eycriuga love-
''And cannot oven write to him, for / do not .
even know his oH rass' she Thought with clasp.
ed hands and tgara eyes. well, il is my own
fault and l must abide the consequences as best
/ may"
Blanche Penroy went home fromtho cay sum
mer loungng place a saddcr and It wiser woman.
The November mis- dropping DER the brick and
mortar wildernos o.. her New York home, had
never seemed so drealy 10 her as they did now.
81 shall now be an Old maid" thaa la Blanche,
walking up and down the liroilsht darkness of
her twilight draviug rooms wig. her dimnled
hands clasped behind her waist.
81 never care for any one nowas did for-for
Gilbcrtt end dare say l. shall keep a cat and
grow fond of green tea and scandal sewing cir
Giles All, well day, lie cannot last forever !"
She rang the bell with an inpatient iork.