The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-02-16

wholly unacknowledged feeling that
she was not, after all, precisely the sort
of wife for me. She knew absolutely
nothing of business, and was about as
ignorant of the duties pertaining to the
position for which / intended her as
girl could well be. Nevertheless, l had
80 strong fancy for the gay little but
terfly, that / felt the impossibility Of
existence apart from her. For veal or
for woe she held my fate in her hands,
and / determined that those dear little
hands should be mine, come what
might.
Before we had our lunch we were to
ascend the dome. AT this stage of af-
fairs / succeeded in placing the widow
in charge of the clergyman, and, with
Susie, began the ascent of the countless
stairs. Dick, however, followed SO
closely behind us-in order, as he pre-
tended, to keep Susie from falling-that
1 could find no opportunity to ask her
the question which was on my lips. At
last we reached the lantern, and only
the great copper ball remained to be ex.
plored. AS Mrs. Scott declined to en-
ter the ball, waited with Susie until
her mother had gone out upon the out
er gallery, vainly hoping that the long
sought for moment had arrived. But
scarcely had her mother disappeared
when the young lady announced ber
intention of climbing into the ball,
whereupon the officious Dick ran up
the iron ladder to assist her. When
they had both succeeded in entering
the sitting den-where no man ofsense
ever willingly placed himself--she
cried out that no one else was to come
up on any account, for she was afraid
the ball would break loose under any
additional weight. I was thus forced
to stay at the foot of the ladder while
they remained in the ball, engaged
during what seemed to me an intolera-
BILE length of time-in an animated con.
versation, conducted in tone so low
that could not hear a single word that
was said.
When they finally descended, Susie's
face was flushed-by the heat of the
place, she said-while Dick looked un:
commonly grave, and gnawed his
moustache with nervous, dissatisfied
air. Had he been any one else-the
Rev. Mr.. Smiley, for example-I
should have believ ed that he had off
cred himself to Susie and been rejected ;
but being simply the penniless vaga.
bond that he was, the idea of any such
conduct on his part was too ridiculous
to he entertained for a moment.
At last we turned to descend to the
roof and I saw that the moment for me
to press my intentions toward Susie
had arrived. Lingering dexterously in
the rear until the widow and the cler.
gyman were safely out of sight, led
Susie cut upon the gallery under the
pretext of showing her a part Of the
landscape which she had noticed. As
we leaned over the railing, l looked
aronnd to make sure that Dick was out
of sight, and then began: "My dear
Miss Susan, Ijhave something to say to
you"
She looked at me moment with
startled eyes, and then, putting her
hands together, with an imploring lit
tie gesture, she cried:
"Oh, please don'tW
Don't what?" asked /, puzzled by
her conduct.
Don't please say anything; l mean
don't !-oh just look what pretty
flower How / wish had it,"
The child was evidently confused and
frightened. was about to explain
myself more fully, when Dick appeared
upon the scene, carrying upon his arm
shawl belonging TO some one Of the
party, and asked what was the matter
That beautiful little pink flower
there on the dome," she answered-"i
l could only reach it! !"
"You shall have it," he replied anC
then, tossing one end of the shawl tC
me, with the request that would hold
on to it, he seized the other end, anG
was over the railing and sliding down
the slippery surface of the dome before
l knew well what was his intention.
The flower was growing on little
projection not more than twelve fee
below US. Dick, however, had placed
himself in horribly dangerous posi-
tion; for, though he could remain for 6
time resting with one foot on this pro
lection, it was impossible for him tc
gain the gallery without the aid of the
shawl to which he was clinging. HI
paid not particle of attention to my
peremptory demand that he should
come back at once, but, quietly seizinG
the flower and putting it temporarily
into his bosom, he looked up to Susie
who was watching him silently will
excess of terror, and said:
you know what l asked you jus
now. Will you promise ?"
She cnly replied "Come back, Mr.
Farrell, do, please, You frighten INT
to death"