The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-12

ness sake, what are you aboutP Here
it's after four, and no cake for supper,
and Mr.. Willard going in the six o'clock
train Come right. down stairs, and
don't let us lave any more dawdling
Come there's no time to spare"
How Lottie ever got into the kitch-
en-, and In what manner she contriyed
to begin her cake.making, she never
knew. Harry going at six | She was
such child that his going away
seemed to her to end everything finally
between them. She should never see
him again ! Over and over sho said it
TO herself rs she mechanically weighed
the flour and the sugar for SPONGE
cake, beat her eggs, and commenced to
mix the Ingredients, A great many
tears fell into that cake, and they 80
blinded her that she did not see her
mother at her elbow, as she was drop.
ping II into the pans, until a sharp
voice startled her:
"Lottie, what has come over you f?
You haven't put q bit Of paper in the
bottom OF those pans It would have
burned for certain, and here It is almost
Eve. Hurry run and get some paper,
quick"
Lottie, still mechanically, searched
tbs drawers OF the dresser in vain
/ then, spurred TO action by the sharp
voice and by tho souud OF the clock
striking FIVE, she rushed up stairs TO her
own room, tore OF two half sheets OF
paper from the pile she had thrust into
her desk, ran down again, and had the
cake in the oven in such a miraculously
short Time that even her mother was
astonished.
"There, now, pick over those Der.
ries, aud set tho table. Susan hasn't
finished ironing. And fetch up the
butter, and"
The voice buzzed in Lottie's ears, MS
she hurried from one thing 10 another.
At last everything was done and on the
table, but the cake, and the shrill ring.
ing Of the supper.bell adhonished Lot
tie TO hurry with that. Never was cake
so unceremoniously tipped ont OF the
pans and so roughly cut up. The pm
pers had burned on, aud there was no
time to stop to pull the fragments Of.
So Lottie made the best Of IL, and left
them on, dumping the cake.basket
down on tho sideboard, with n long
sigh OF relief.
She did not dare 10 90 into supper on
account OF her swollen eyes, and on nc.
count Of Mr.. Davenport. whom she was
afraid To meet. And il Harry was going,
what was the usep She could not lot
him 60 unmatched, however 30, run.
ming up stairs, she hastily donned q
walking dress and hurried out OF tho
back.door toward the village. From
the post.otlice she would be sure to SEQ
him pass, and II "would be some COM
fort Just to do that, thought poor Lot.
tie, trying to swallow the lump in her
throat as she hastened along.
Once in the post.oillce, she dawdled
aimlessly about tho counters, asking
for this and that, and keeping her
broad hat pulled low over her face lest
the marks OF tears should be seen. She
waited q long time, watching the street,
but Harry did not pass. The clock
pointed TO five minutes OF siI-perhaps
he would be late for tho train. Atany-
rate, he had not passed, aud there was
no other road TO the station.
One minute OF six. Surely the clock
must be wrong. No; for the whistle
OF tho train sounded with its first
stroke, and Harry had not gone by.
he had been late, then. Iottie turned
toward home in hurry. II she should
see him @
She did not finish that sentence, for
she had no idea how seeing him would
help the matter still she felt more
cheerful as she hastened along the
sunny road. She had almost reached
home when she saw the object OF her
thoughts coming toward her at round
pace. There was no valise In his hand,
and he still wore his fishers coat. Lot.
ties heart gave great bound, half OF
relief, half OF apprehension. The first
feeling quickly predominated, for
Harrys strides soon brought him to
her side, and he looked down on her
from his altitude OF six feet with o
smile that tbetokened any thing but dis.
pleasure. 10 t.-
"Where have you been running 10,
you naughty child? And where-why,
where's your seal ring 2"
"At home" responded the puzzled
Lottie, family.
"Why didn't you come to supper,
and bid me good.bye2"
"You haven't gone"
"rm going, though. Will you give
me some sponge.cake for luncheon |"
More and more amazed, Lottie made
no reply at all.
"bid you make the spongc.cako VIC
had for supper 2"
"Yes.n
/" Made II in hurry, dida't your"
/" Yoa didn't get all the paper of,
that's all. See what was stuck on my
piece, you small deceiverl Why didn't
you use the post.oflice instead OF the
sponge.cake2 Eh 2"
A small strip Of greasy paper was
laid in LottiO's outslretched hand.
Upon Il she read tho beginning Of her
last epistolary production Of the after.
noon:
"MY DEAR HARRY,-I don't know
how TO write this to Jou, and 1 am very
much ashamed 10 take back what I said,
but I never meant to say It. 1 had to,
because Mr.. Davenport"
Here the paper was torn OF, and, be.
sides, was taken iorcibly out OF Lot.
ties hand, which was clasped in two
others. ,..
II Say yes !"