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

"
Poor little stained fingersl they shall
never do any more hard work. How
would you like to be rich lady, Lottie?''
He saw the quick sparkle in her eyes.
All, how beautiful To dress, to drive,
to dance, to see thousand things she
had heard of! She let the clasping arm
draw her closer and closer, and the
bearded lips touch hers once. The clump
of marigolds in the garden cleaned like
prophecy Of the wealth she might pos
sess if She would. IN o'more calicoes and
kitchen-wOrk; but, instead -
" Are you never gong to tell me yes?'
Some answer that Lottie managed to
utter earned her SO many kisses that she
struggled again to rise.
"Let me go, pleased" she entreated,
scarlet with shame. 49, t
"Well, want to put this ring on your
finger There! and now"
, Aneapproaching footstep startled them,
Mr.. Davenport rose hastily, and Lottie
too sprang to her feet Susan, the house
maid, appeared in the doorway, and Mr..
Davenport turned abruptly down the
garden path.
"Be them peas shelled, Miss Lottie?n-
"No, utsalmost. What tine is it?"
-" Eleven~and quarter"
Lottie went to work in serious earnest,
despite her excitement; but she was
fated to have another interruption inthe
shape of a tall, blue-eyed youth, who
came up the garden path with several
fish dangling from a rod.
"Therew he said, dropping these on
the piazza and throwing himself down
in the place Mr. Davenport had just va
Gated, ''those are for Susan if she wants
them. I've had good luck this morning.
I suppose the fishes wanted to celebrate
my last holiday. Don't you think so,
Miss Lottie?n
"Your last holiday" was the blank re-
joinder. "What do you mean?"
"rve got to go back to the city to-mor-
row. Two of the clerks are sick. HO
for cashmeres and muslins 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 her
face, however. The heavy seal ring that
Mr. Davenport had placed on her finger
most inopportunely slipped off just here,
fell from her lap, and rolled along the
step slowly The newcomer 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 you?''
Ye-yes."
He watched her as she hastily pushed
it on again. then said, rather indig-
nantly:
"You haven't told me whether you are
sorry Pm going or not"
"Of course Pm sorry, Mr.. Willard" "
was the reply, in stihed tones; for Lottie
was bending for another handful of pods.
"'Of coursep Is that all? Well, that's
the way with women. A man believes a
woman will perhaps think kindly of him
when he is gone, will perhaps regret his
departure from her, as he regrets it him.
self; and she tells him calmly, why, of
course of course, she is sorry"
Lottie was making sad work with the
peas. Spite of all she could do, little
culver of the lips betrayed her agitation
as she responded hurriedly: Why, |
mean it. What-what can say but just
that-that I'm sorry?"
"And you call me Mr.. Willard"
Harry, then" with an apprehensive
glance down the garden path.
"Lottie, believe you have made a
VOW not to look at me. Do put those
con-I mean those peas-out OF the
way"
"I can't You mustn't! There, now!
see what you've done p cried Lottie, in
real distress, as an unguarded movement
sent the basket and it's contents rolling
down the steps.
"I'll pick up every pea if you'll sit
still five minutes and talk to me. Lottie,
now tell me truly are you sorry I'm 60
ing Shall you ever want to see me
when / am miles away from this little
town, back in New York;"
ooh, don't, don't ! How can you
bother me SO? Indeed, | must pick up
the peas this minute p
The tears rolling down the round cheeks
were sufficient answer, but, man-like,
Harry persisted.
"I don't see how I bother you. It's
only simple question; but know what
the real answer is--you don't care a
straw! I am only poor clerk, and
there are plenty of rich widowers in the
world"
ooh, Harry p
This time Lottie sobbed outright, and
so piteously that Harry was conquered.
81 ought to be ashamed of myself, L
know l had Don't cry; please don't
cry, dear IF you knew half how sorry l
am myself-how it seems to me never
can go away from you-you wouldn't
blame me; you'd forgive me, if am a
brute You do care about me, don't
you, Lottie ?"
No answer but unrestrained sobs and
mute resistance as he tried to take her
hand
"Lottie!" There was whole volume
of reproach in the one word.
"Oh, don't, don't! You mustn't talk
to me any longer"
"And you won't answer me?"
No reply
"And you don't love me?"
Silence still.
Suddenly an arm stole around Lottie's
waist, and the hidden face was lifted
and scanned by pair of blue eyes.
"Lottie, do you love me or not?"
CT don't know. Imean | DON'T
can't You mustn't talk to me So"
"Why not?"
Because IL must shell the peas"
"What in the world is the matter with
your" ;,
Nothing" said Lottie, freeing herself
desperately, as the odor of cigar was
waited toward them, and the top of a
beaver hat became visible at the ex-
treme end of the garden walk. 60
away-oh, do go awayp'
ssfll 90 when you've answered. 1t is
little thing enough to ask. Just say
yes or no. tell you l love you; yeu
know do. Pm poor man, but | can
make my wife comfortable, and Pm GER
tain | 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 Lottie meant to answer is hard
to tell. Mr.. Davenport came into view
suddenly, and her mothers voice sounded
from the kitchen:
peas?"