The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-11-29

of them dropping to the floor as she
went.
"COme in this way, my child" Mr..
Lindsay said, passing before her and open
ing the door into the parlor, where, sharp
ly outlined against the sunset sky, stood
Amos Wilson, his back to the window,
and his great, ungainly form showing in
bold relief against the light.
Somehow the feeling Of depression
which so weighed her down on the day
upon which the homestead was mortgaged
came upon her again, and she felt the
color leaving her face, and felt her face
grow white and rigid.
Mr., Lindsay closed the door carefully,
and came forward to his daughters side.
"Della," he said, struggling to appear
calm, "Mr. Wilson has done me the honor
to ask permission to pay his court to my
daughter. have told him that my girl
is free to answer for herself what shall it
be, Della ?"
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 under
his low brows, his pale eyes burning with
faint opaline tints. Involuntarily she
shuddered and drew back.
~ do not love Mr.. Wilson, father, she
said family.
"But you can learn to love him, Della,
he said quickly, his lips twitching ner-
vously.
No, father, cannot" she answered
this time firmly. "I thank Mr.. Wilson
for the honor he has done me, but | do
not love him, and you would not ask me to
marry man | do not love, father? ?"
"No, my child, l do not ask that" he
said gently, but with a cloud of sadness
and disappointment in his voice
Poor Della How suddenly the cloud
had descended and enveloped her.. With
heavy heart she crept softly out and left
the two men together. She knew what
her refusal had meant to her father. She
knew the load which chafed and fretted
him 80 might have been lifted with sim
pie movement of her lips, aud yet she had
not given it-she could not give it. Drop
ping her blossoms as she went, she hurried
out to little arbor of wild vines in the
garden, and there, alone with the plying
twilight and the stars, she sobbed out the
first bitterness of her regret and pain.
She heard Mr. Wilson come out and 20
away. and then, little after, heard step
in the garden-a step that sent the blood
in fierce, sudden torrent TO her heart,
and then to her cheek.
You are not repenting so soon Della ?"
and Paul Leicester came and took the wet,
flushed face between his cool palms ten
derly
"Oh, | couldn't marry that man; who
should 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"
"I know it," said Della, with little
choking sob.
And | am only your fathers laborer,
and yet | have dared to love the same
lady. What do you suppose he will say
to my presumption if she refuses this rich
man SO cavalierly?"
"You? 90, Mr.. Leicester? Don't
mock me p She broke down in another
food of tears, and Mr.. Leicester comfort
ed her with great many fond words
which would not look half SO delightful
and charming in print as they really were,
from the fact that certain things are uni
versally pronounced silly unless one hap
pens to be one of the dramatic persons
then they are better and more to be de-
sired than the wisdom of Solomon.
By and by it grew chilly, and the damp
mist came up from the river, and Mr.. Lei
cester said Della must go in, though she,
foolish child, would have tarried there
gladly, nor thought of the damp or chill,
if it had been January instead of August,
if he was only there.
81 want to see your father, too Della"
he said, and so they went in. Mr.. Lind
say sat by the kitchen table, his arms
crossed and leaning on it, and before him
were sundry bills, papers, &c. He looked
up, then made motion to gather them up
Mr.. Leicester drew Dellas arm thro' his,
and came quickly forward.
Mr. Lindsay, | love your daughter,
and she loves me-" he said, in a steady,
assured voice. II know Mr.. Wilson is
more acceptable to you, but think you
are too much of a gentleman to object to
me on property grounds. l think we can
manage to live-Della and I-somehow-
What do you say to us?'
Mr., Lindsay glanced from the radiant,
blushing face of his daughter to the one
beside her, and though it cost him a little
effort, he said checrfully:
~ will add my blessing, if that is what
you ask. God knows that my child's hap
piness is more to me than money, thou
sand times"
Pa-. Leicester's face softened into
rare smile.
You are a brave man, Dean Lindsay"
he said, warmly, his eye kindling, "and