Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-07-31

:
more. and then he went to see Auo
f Wilson, With the final result | bav
already described.
The days slipped away like COLDER
J sands, and the summer grew in beau
ty aud brightness to Dellr Lindsay
/ The sunshine fell into her heart o
softly as it capped the green, bios o
, mmy hills. Tne daily drudgery o
toll became suddenly ligbtened unc
Illuminated BY the same golden glow
and the world grew less drear, and
life looked only a sweet and beauti
ful dream.
/. Into this supreme atmosphere one
day a sudden cloud broke. 1t had
been no larger than mans hand;
for weeks she had not discovered it,
and was, therefore, totally unprepar
ed for the great darkness that came
upon her She had return,d d from a
long ramble over the prarie, her hands
full of blossoms, and stood by the
door describing their names and
habits to Paul Leicester, whose gray
face was softeued into a rare, tender
smile whenever the pretty brown
eyes and wild rose cheeks we're lifted
to his face.
Della, my dear, want you mo-
ment," her father SAID, coming out
into the entry.
Without word she followed him
in, the blossoms still in her hands,
aud some of theu dropping to the
floor as SIZE walked.
Come 10 this way, my child Mr..
Lindsay said, passing bef re her aud
opening the door into the porlor,
where sharply outlined against the
sunset sky, stood Amos Wilson, his
oack 70 the windoS, and lis great,
ungaioly form showing in bold relief
against the light
Somehow the feeling of depression
which so weighed her down on the
DAY the homestead VAS mortgaged
came upon her again, lad she felt ;he
color leaving her face, and felt her
face grow white and rigid.
Mr. Lindsay closed The door care
fully and came forward to his d4ugh-
ter's side.
"De'le" he said STRUGGLING 10 ao-
peer 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 an
swor for herself; what shall it be,
| Delll?'
Della cast one quick glance into
her fathers face, and saw all It's eager
hope and anxiety. Then she turned
to Amos wilson, who had taken u
step forward, and was looking at her
sharply from under his low bro~s,
! his pale eYcs baroiag with faint o9a
Iiue tints' Inyoluutarily she shut-
derad and drew b'ck.
i Do not love Mr Wilson, Cther,"
she said f,in,ly.
"Bur you eau learn to love him,
Deil.?' he asked quickly, his lips
twitching reryously.
"No, father, l cannot" she an
swered, this time firmly. Il thank
Mr. Wilson for the honor he has
done me. but [ do not love him, and
you do not ask me 10 marry man |
do not love, father
"No, my child, do not ask that
he said, gently, but with cord of
sadness and disappointment in his
voice.
Poor Dela! How suddenly the
cloud had dece nded and envcloped
her. With a heavy heart she cropt
soflly out and left tha two ne to-
gether. She knew what her refusal
had moant to her father. She knew
the load which chafsl aud fretted
him so might have been lifted with
simple movement of her lips, and
yet she had not given it-she could
not give it. Dropping her blossoms
as she went, she hurried out to
little arbor of wild vines 10 the gar
den, and there, alone with the pity
ing twilight and stars, she soCbed out
the 6rs. bitterness Of her regret and
pain. She heard MIR. Wilson come
on, and - away, aai then. a little
after. heard step in the carden-a
step that sent the blood in a fierce,
sudden torrent to her heart, and
then to her checks.
You are not repentiOg so soon,
| Delia?" and Paul Leicester came and
took the wet flushed face between his
cool palms tenderly.
ooh, I couldn't marry that man;
why should he ever think OF such d
thiDg?" Della asked pltiilIy.-
And father sac stopped abrupt
iy. but lie felt how hot her checks
rev against hi, hard, and knew
what she would have said.
"Hc is rich, littlc Della
IL know IT, said Della, with a
little choking sob.
And [ am your father's laboror,
aud vet | have dared to love the
same lady. What do ycu suppose be
sill gay to ny presumption, if she
refuses ;his ..eh man so clvallerIy?
You? 90, Mr.. Leicester?
! Don't mock mc.7 She broke down
IN another food Of tears, aud Mr..
leicester com ortod her with a great
m.Dg fond words which would not
look half so delightful aud charming
in print as they really we're, from the
fact that certain things are uniyer-
sally pronounced silly; unless one
happens to be one of tne dramatic
pers0nae-then they are better and
more to be desired than the wisdom
Of Solomon.
By and by it grew chilly, and the
! - ;-.- 80 -, from .La r;yar