The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-22

Laura had the usual white apron
with its large bib pinned before her;
it made her slender finger look even
more girlish than usual, and her shy
ness added to the effect She could
not dispense with her occupation, but
while she answered Dick in monosyi-
tables she went on with her polishing
operations, her hands being covered
with pair of loose wash leather
gloves.
"a drolI occupation. thought Dick,
shut very becoming to her; / never
saw her look half so well before"
At last he began to approach the
subject which had brought him there.
II wanted particularly to askyou to
go to the Grattans picnic to morros I
| hope you will { + 20
Think. / shall have an engagement
at home, said Laura. S
1T makes me SO uncomfortable to
see you hold aloof from all the little
parties and amusements that-girls
like" said Dick; land to think that it
is probably my fault, and that you con-
tinue to feeigneryous because / was
stupid fellow the other day, that [
am come to apologize, and to say that
I hope you will 60 as particular ia
yor to myself, and to say what in fact,
what. | should hare said Them" but
he did not say it. or say anything; for,
to dc him justice, he was beginning to
wish himself somewhere else, and was
conscious that he was not holding the
part in the conversation that he had
intended ~ fn
!
perhaps you nean,' said Laura,
taking him up softly to his great aur-
prise. that when the children talked
nonsense you should have said, Your
Aunt Laura noimore wishes such
thing than [ do. She paused, Dick
stammered out sort of assent, which
would have been unmeaning if it had
been audible but it was not; and then
she added, still N the soft, sweet tone,
9Yes, / think you should, or you;
might, have sad something of tliat
kind. But [ d. not want you to me'1e
any mistake. II cannot help being
bashfuE. but 1have long got over the
original cause, and have assured my
self that The. slortness and slightness
of our acquaintance must have made
! you certain mat | was clear of any
such wish as hey imputed to me.'' "a
sShortnessand slightnessr req eat
ed Dicky. ralying, and very glad to
find something to, say; should have
| said that was on friendly terms with
you and your whole family, and on
| such terms / iope to continue. Surely,
! you consider me as friend?" IS
Il feel quie friendly towards you,"
said Laura, now rather composedly,
for the drea{ed, subject had been APP
propriated and probed, and it was not
nearly SO formidable now. Dick had
meant to saymuch more. but did not
see his way lear to it; at last he OBJ
! served ssrW
Then allthis being understood
"All WHAT" said Laura
s'.She meas" thought Dick. that I
have come here Nofessedly to explain
and to apobgise. and have left the
thing to beIone by her. 1T being
understood / mean. "she began. that
we are well aware of each others in
difference [ know very well that you
arc utterlyindifferent to me, and have
not condenended to have any designs
on me or ny property.
Laura q this looked up quite sur
prised; TIE speech had been made with
sudden hat, and almost with bitter
ness; it vas so bluntly expressed as to
be anything but civil. and it was most
evident, even to her inexperienced
| eyes, tha Dick was vexed with him
self andmorti6ed. -
No, she said, in the same tone of
subdue{ sweetness, II am not utterly
Indifferent to you-I rather like you
AS anlcquaintance, she added, s.or,
since yu prefer the word, as a friend.
And lam sorry that you should have
annoyed yourself with the notion that
I STAYED away from the parties only
becauIe | was afraid to meet you. |
shoull have done just the same if you
had mt been here. | had another
reason"
Another reasonl" said Dick, re-
coveling his temper as suddenly as he
had lost it; land may | ask then what
I the eason could be?" st9 = pr
L ''Qh, that" said Laura, Il am not
at liberty to.tell you"
.,Xbati mysteryl" he exclaimed,
II fought there were no mysteries
excepting IN novels. az
/ This is very homely one, and
quie simple" 'Hss
You will clear it up for me some
day willyou not?" said Dick, wonder
ingat himself for having been put out
of emper, and feeling that he must
moi go now till he had made her for
get that blunt speech. geg =.
lido not think / shall" said Laura.
| In that case I shall set myself to
! Snl it out. +"
I do notthink you will. Il suppose
you will on reflection think as 4 do,
'th;t you have no right whatever to