The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-14


honor to ask my permission to pay his
court to my daughter. | have told him
that my girl is free to answer for her
self-what shall it be, Della Z"
Della cast one quick glance into her
fathers face, and saw all its eager hope
and anxiety. Then she turned to Amos
Wilson, who had taken step forward,
and was looking at her sharply from un-
der his low brows his pale eyes burning
with faint opaline tints Involuntarily
she shuddered and drew back
"I do not love Mr.. Wilson, father"
she said, family.
"But you can learn to love him,
Della" he asked quickly, his lips
twitching nervously.
"No, father, L cannot" she answered.
this time firmly. "I thank Mr.. Wilson
for the honor he has done me, but L do
not love him, and you do not ask me to
marry man do not love, father Z"
"No, my child, 1 do not ask that" he
said, gently, but with chord of sadness
and disappointment in his voice.
Poor Della! how suddenly the cloud
had descended and enveloped her. With
a heavy heart she crept softly out and
left the two men together. She knew
what her refusal had meant to her faith
er. She knew the load which chafed
and fretted him so, might have been
lips, and yet she had not-she could not
give it Dropping her blossoms as
she went, she hurried out to little ar
Dor of wild vines in the garden, and
there, alone with the pitying twilight
and the stars, she sobbed out the first
bitterness of her regret and pain. She
heard Mr.. Wilson come out and go
away, and then, little after, heard a
step in the garden-a step that sent the
blood in fierce, sudden torrent to her
heart, and then to her cheeks.
"You are not repenting so soon, Del
la 7" and Paul Leicester came and took
the wet flushed face between his cool
palms. tenderly.
40, 1 couldn't marry that man why
should he ever think of such thing!"
Della asked, pitifully. "And father"
She stopped abruptly, but he felt how
hot her cheeks grew against his hand,
and knew what she would have said.
"He is rich, little Della"
81 know it," with little choking
sob.
"And 1 am only your fathers laborer: ::
and yet have dared love the same lady.
What do you suppose she will say to my
presumption, if she refuses this rich man
so cavalierly:"
"You? 90, Mr.. Leicester! don't
mock me-" and she broke down in anoth-
er flood of tears, and Mr.. Leicester COM
forted her with great many fond words,
which wouldn't look half Us delightful
and charming in print as they really
were, from the fact that certain things
are universally pronounced "silly," un-
less one happens to be one of the dra-
mats person9-then, they are better and
more to be desired than the wisdom of
Solomon.
By and by it grew chilly, and the
damp mists came up from the river, and
Mr.. Leicester said, Della must go in,
though she, foolish child, would have
tarried there, gladly, nor thought of
damp or chill, if it had been January
instead of August, ifhe was only there.
81 want to see your father, too, Del
la," he said, and so they went in.
Mr.. Lindsay sat by the kitchen table,
his arms crossed and leaning on it, and
before him, scattered about, sundry
bills, papers, etc. He looked up, then
made motion to gather them up. Mr..
Leicester drew Della's arm through his,
and came quickly forward
"Mr. Lindsay, love your daughter
and she loves me-" he said, in steady,
assured voice. 81 know Mr.. Wilson
would be more acceptable to you, but 1
think you are too much of gentleman
to object to me on property grounds. l
think we can manage to Hve-Della
and somehow. What do you say to
us z"
Mr.. Lindsay glanced from the radiant,
blushing face of his daughter, to the
strong, quiet one beside her, and, though
it cost him little effort, he said, cheer
fully:
81 will add my blessing, if that is
what you ask. God knows that my
child's happiness is more to me than
money-a thousand times"
Paul Leicester's face softcned into a
rare smile. "You are brave man,
Dean Lindsay" he said warmly, his eyes
kindling, "and you shall never be sor-
ry for having trusted me-"
Mr. Leicester begged for an early
wedding-day, and soon won Della to
his side by his eloquence and persistence.
at was as well, perhaps, now as any
time" Mr.. Lindsay thought, and also
yielded. And Mrs. Lindsay had too
long leaned upon and deferred to Della
to think of objecting to anything she
asked, and so it was arranged for the
last week in September. Two weeks
before the time Mr.. Leicester said it
would be necessary for him to be away
week, and, without mentioning his
destination, he took his departure. The
week passed, then ten days, and he
neither came nor wrote to them. And
then it lacked but one of the day fixed
for the wedding, and Della grew ner-
vous, and Mr.. Lindsay angry. But the
afternoon brought the truant, who, with
bright smile, said he was delayed by
business.
"By the way" he added, taking a
folded paper from his pocket, and tossing
it to Mr.. Lindsay, 81 saw Mr., Wilson as
! came along"
"The mortgage deed" exclaimed
Lindsay, looking perplexed.
"Yes It's no more than fair should
make you some present when you have
SO generously given me this dear girl" !"
putting his arm about Della.
"But don't understand. IL"
Thought l was poor fellow" fin
ished Leicester, smiling. l know you
did, and / wall add that have been to
considerable trouble to give you that
q