The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-10-22
''Your last holiday Y was the blank rc


row, Two Of the clerks are sick Ho fon
cashmeres and musins again ~
He looked up at Lottie rather expect
antly, hoping for some expression OF re-
gret; but not word did she say. A sud
den pallor had replaced the flush on hel
face, however. The heavy seal ring that
Mr. Davenport had placed on her finger
most inopportunely slipped off just here
tell from her lap, and rolled along the stel
slowly. The new conner picked it up.
changed color as his eyes fell upon it, but
merely said, as he handed it back,
You have new ring, haven't you9"
Yes
He watched her as she hastily pushed il
on again; then said, rather Indignantly.
You haven't told me whether you're
sorry I'm going or not
"Of course I'm sorry, Mr. Willard. . wat
the reply, in stitled tones; for Lottie Wa'
bending for another handful of pods.
"'Of course = Is that all? Well, that
the way with women. A man believes .
woman viii perhaps think kindly Of him
when he is gone, will perhaps regret bis
departure from her, rs he regrets it him
self; and she tells him calmly, why 'ot
ttuI5t. On COURSE, SIG Is SptiN
14ottie was making sad work with the
peas, Spite OF all she could do y little
quiycr of the lips betrayed her agitation
as she responded huriedly. why. mean
it. What can say but just that-that I'm
sorry p
And you call me Mr., Willard"
'Ilarry, then !" with an apprehfnSiye
glance down the garden path.
''Lottic, believe You have made a VOW
not to look mt me. DO put these con-I
mean those peas out of the way
II can't-you mustn't, There, now see
what you've done Y cried Lottie, in real
distress, as an unguarded movement sent
the basket and its contents rolling down
the steps.
I'm pick mp every pea if you'll sit still
five minutes and talk to me. lottie, now
tell me truly, are you sorry I'm going !?
Shall You ever want to see me when I'm
miles away from this little town. back in
New York ?"
"Oh, don't. don't How can you bother
me 50? Indeed must pick up the peas
this minuten
The tears rolling down the round checks
We're sufficient answer, BUT man-like,
Harry persisted.
II don't see how bother YOU Its on
~ . simple questions but know what the
real answer is-yOu don't care a straw
~ only poor clerk and there are plenty
Of rich WidoWers in the world
Oh, Harry "'
This time Lottic sohbel outright, and
50 piteously that Harry was conquered
Il ought to be ashamed OF myself,
know had Don't CIV, please don't crv,
dear 1t You knew half how sorry am
my self-how it seems to me | never can
90 away from you-you wouldn't blame
me; you'd forgive me, il | AM a brute.
\ on do care about me, don't You l-oftie r.
No answer, but unresrained sob9 ana
mute resistance as he tried to take her
hand
'Lotte" There was whole volume
Of reproaeh in the one word
"Oh, don't don't You mustn't tax to
me any longer.
And YOU won't answer ne '''
No reply
And YOU don't love me ,"
Silence still.
Suddenly an arm stole around Lottie's
scanned by pair OF blue eyes
''Lottie do YOU love me or not ?"
an t tt Ioh HoH i6asfa fp4T, T:,Ik to 'Tnan ma So 'a"
"Why not :"
Because I must shell the peas
'NNhat III the world is the matter with
you p
"Aothmg," sad Lottie, freeing herself
as the odor OF a cigar was
waited toward them, and the top Of
end OF the garden walk "tio away-oh.
do go away -
I'm go when you've answered 1t is a
little thing enough to ask. just say yes
or no / tell YOU love you You know l
do. I'm poor man, bat cen make my
wife comfortable, and I'm certain | can
make her happy. Lottie, | was sure You
cared for me this morning; if You say You
don't. | never shall be happy again. Say
yes or no"
What Lottla meant to answer IS hard to
tell. Mr.. Davenport came into view sud
denly, and her mothers voice sounded
from the kitchen
"Lottie, Iottle, where are those peas >"
She tore her hands away. and sprang
down the step, saying. hastily and contra
dictorily;
No, no; certainly Yes, in minute" !"
Without a word more Harry picked up
the peas for her-the work of full five
the basket on the porch, and
walked away. Ten minutes later the peas
We're finally shelled and put on the kitchen
table, but Lottie was nowhere to be found,
She was locked in her chamber The seal
ring had been tossed Indignantly upon the
floor, and its new owner was crying as il
her heart would break.
Half that long summer afternoon she
STAYED shut up. too miserable to tace any
comment, too hopeless to see any way out
of the trouble she had brought upon her
sell; for if she had said mo- to Mr.. Daven-
port and Eyes" to Harry Willard, She
would have been happy girl. What was
She might unsay the yes, but never the
no; and yet if she were to write to Harry
If she were to tell him She never meant
it. There was still little of his holiday
lett-if. indeed, he did not let lis anger
hurry him away
The sunshine OF mia-alternoon was slant
ing in on the faded carpet and yelloWWash
stand us Lottie hastily bathed her eyes and
pulled a writing desk toward her 1t slant
ed more and more from the west as she
sat considering, perpleXedly biting the end
Of her pen, writing and rewriting, and
tossing aside tiny cream-tinted sheets OF
paper, until the table was covered with
beginnings, and only one sheet was lett in
the box. This she finally took up despair
ingly, and wrote the date and the com
mencement
'MY DEAR liAERY-l don't know how to
write this to YOU, and am very much ashamt,
to take back what | said, but never meant ia
say it. | had to, because Mr.. Davenport was
coming, and that was l,is ring had OF my fin
ger. and he had Just asked me to riarry him
and had said yes. because, you Know, he is sc
rich, and thought it would be so nice to be &
lady. / don't know what made me say yes, fol
don't love him, and ! do love you. ! am 81
sorry | said what did. loull forgive me
won't YOU, now you know that l really don't
care for anybody but you? Please!
LOFrIE.'
As she sat looking at this rather crude
production Of hers 4 difficulty occurred tc
her. How should she send it? Carry il