Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-02
SPONGE-CAKE.

LoTTIE HANscoM sat on the back
porch of her mothers house. A basket
of peas haf-shelled was beside her, and
she was abstractedly tossing empty pods
at the heavy-headed poppies in the gar
den border. When the time for summer
boarders came Lottie had to be second
girl;" and very piquant little house
maid she looked, with her black curls
pushed into a net, and her bright calico
skirt fastened back. She was humming
in low tone, and listening between
times to the gay laughter of the group ON
the front piazza, where three young Ia
dies were embrOidering with Berlin
woods and two gentlemen lounged on the
steps smoking.
The air she was humming was sad
one, but she felt merry enough. 1t is
true that she was little tired with her
mornings work, and a little indolent
with the heat of the day. 1t is true, too,
that she was conscious of faint twinge
of envy when Mr.. Davenports barouche
was drawn up to the house by pair of
painting horses, and it's owner, leaping to
the ground, assisted lady companion to
alight.
Lottie would have liked to go riding in
a barouche with-well, with some one
who was not Mr.. Davenport. 1t is
pity the some one" in question could
not have seen the crimson deepen in her
cheeks as she pulled the basket of peas
toward her and commenced the song over
again:
'Ye banks and braes o. bonnie Doom,
How can We bloom fresh and fair?''
A step and voice behind her arrested
the next words on her lips. Turning,
she saw Mr.. Davenport, who had come
through the hall, and stood looking down
on her, with his hat in one hand and a
half-fnished cigar in the other.
"All the birds seem to be singing on
this side the house, Miss Lottie."
Yes" was the demure reply. "Silas
saws there are two oriole nests in those
elms. They're very pretty singers"
Mr.. Davenport did not see the mischief
in Lottie's downcast eyes. He was more
amused than vexed by her literal re-
sponse.
"Will you allow me to sit down here
awhile? Perhaps they may go on sing
ing"
Lottie made no objection, only shelled
peas very vigorously. When Mr.. Daven-
port had seated himself, thus bringing
his hair, which was already beginning to
be streaked with gray, on level with
the top Of the basket, she did cast sly
glance of admiration at the heavy gold
chain at his side and the rings that
adorned the hand with which he was
wiping his heated face
It's excessively warm. Can't l help
you with those peas, Miss Lottie? 1t is
pity to stain such pretty fingers as
yours"
Lottit blushed more at his glance than
his words and replied hastily:
ooh, no, certainly not. Pm used to
it."
"But you don't like housework, do
you? You'd as lief somebody else would
Shell the peas, etc.? Eh?"
"Why, yes. That's of course"
"Ah! Pm glad you're frank with me.
Do you know I've been curious about
you often when we've all been enjoying
ourselves, and you've been working away
hard like good little Cinderella? Do
you know I've actually worn a path un-
der the kitchen windows trying to get
peep at your"
mo" said Lottie, with frank look
of surprise; but something in Mr.. Daven-
ports answering gaze suddenly caused
her to bend over the basket to hide the
vexed color that burned on her cheeks.
"Miss Lottier
The voice was almost whisper and
hand softly tried to draw away the
basket of peas.
"Well, sir?"
"Put these away awhile and let me
talk to you"
"Why, I'm listening! / shan't have the
peas ready for dinnerw
Nevertheless, she let him put the
basket one side, only saying, with q
nervous attempt at laugh,
"There! now are you satistied?"
Mr.. Davenport deliberately took the
baskets place at her side, and, bending
his dark, bearded face very near her own,
answered:
"No, not yet. How can l be satisfied,
Miss Lottie, when you show SO plainly
that YOU don't like me?"
His nearer confusedly disclaimed this
conclusion. -
Why, Mr. Davenport, Ii Of
course | dop'
"Well, don't want you to like me- /
don't like you"
Her puzzled and somewhat resentful
glance made him smile. He continued,
bending so near that fringe of hair
brushed Lottie's curls:
"Iabelieve you know already what
mean. You little, coy, black-eyed sprite,
loue you Didn't you guess it before
told you?"
The garden, the overhanging vines,
and the SKY whirled before Lottie's eyes.
Love her?-the rich Mr.. Davenport, who
had more money than he knew what to
do with! Love her? She was too much
amazed to resist when he took her hands
in his, or to comprehend the disconnected
sentence which confirmed his declaration
Inc first words which she heard distinct
~ were uttered by lips that almost
touched her cheek:
+" Will you marry me?"