American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-10-03
VOL. NNIN.

Miss Lottie?"
Your last holiday" was the blank re
joinder. " What do you mean?"
I've got to 20 back to the city to-mor
row. Two of the clerks are sick. III,
for cashmeres and muslins AGAIN."
He looked up at Lottie rather expect
antly, hoping Tor some expression of re
gret; but not word did she say. a sud
den pallor had replaced the flush on he
face, however. The heavy seal ring tina
Mr.. Davenport had placed on her tinge
most inopportunely slipped off just here
fell from her lap, and rolled along tn,
step slowly. The newcomer picked i
up, changed color as his eyes fell upon it
but merely said, as he handed it back :
"You have u new ring, haven't you .
"Ye-yes."
He watched her as she hastily pushed
it on again; then said, rather indig
nantlv:
"You haven't told me whether you arc
sorry I'm going or not"
"Of course I'm sorry, Mr.. Willard,
was the reply, in stifled tones; for Lotto
was bending for another handful of pods
"'Of cOurser Is that all? Well, that's
the way with women. \ man believes
woman will perhaps think kindly of him
when he is gone, will perhaps regret hi:
| 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, IA 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, i believe you have made a
vow not to look at me. Do put those
conf mean those peas-out of the
way~
| II can't you mustn't! There, now
see what you've done ~ cried Lottie, in
| real distress, as an unguarded movement
| sent the basket and its contents rolling
| down the steps.
| III pick up every pea if you'll sit
still five minutes and talk to me. Lottie,
now tell me truly are you sorry Pm 60
ing? Shall you ever want to see me
when l am miles away from this little
town, back in New York;"
| 'Oh, don't, don't How can you
| bother me so? Indeed, l must pick up
| the peas this minutei'
The tears rolling down the round cheeks
| were sufficient answer, but, man-like,
Harry persisted.
Il don't see how / bother you It's
only simple question; but know what
| the real answer is-you don't care IA
strawI / am only n poor clerk, and
there are plenty of rich widowers in the
| world"
| "Oh, Harry ~
This time Lottic sobbed outright, and
SO piteously that Harry was conquered.
| Il ought to be ashamed of myself, I
know | had, Don't cry; please don't
| cry, dear. If you knew half how sorry
| am myself-how it seems to me l never
! can go away from you-you wouldn't
blame me; you'd forgive me, if l am a
brute You do care about me, don't
you, Lottie ~
No answer, but unrestrained sobs and
mute resistance Us he tried to take her
hand.
"Lottie" There was a whole volume
of reproach in the one word
Oh, don't. don't! You mustn't talk
| to me any longer"
And you went 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 a pair of blue eyes,
''Lottie, do you love me or not?"
I'll don't know. ImeanI DON'T
can't You mustn't talk to me So"
"Why not?'
Because II must sheoa 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-
IRENE end of the garden walk. 60
| away-oh, do go away"
III go when you've answered. 1t is
little thing enough to ask. Just say
yes or no. / tell you l love you; you
know l do. I'm poor man.. but L can
make my wife comfortable, and Pm Ger
tain l can make her happy. Lottie,
was sure you cared for me this morning;
if you say you don't l never shall be
happy again. Say yes or no."
What Lottie meant to answer is hard
to tell MIR. Davenport came into view
suddenly, and her mothers voice sounded
from the Kitchen:
'Lottie. Lottiel where are those
peas."
She tore her hands away, and sprang
down the steps, saying, hastily and con
tradictorily:
No, no; certainly. Yes, in a minute"
Without Il word more Harry picked up
the peas for her-thc work of full five
minutes-set the basket on the porch
and walked away. Ten minutes later
the peas were finally shelled and put on
the kitchen table, but Lottie was no.
where to be found. She was locked in
her chamber. The seal ring had been
tossed Indignantly on the floor, and its
new owner was crying as if her heart
would break
Half that long summer afternoon she
staid shut up, too miserable to face any
comment, too hopeless to see any way
out of the trouble she had brought upon
herself; for if she had said "nO' to Mr..
Davenport and Eyes" to Harry Willard
she would have been happy girl What
was there to do but face the consequences?
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 "A little of his holiday
left-if, indeed, he did not let his anger
hurry him away.
The sunshine of mid afternoon was
slanting in on the faded carpet and yell
low wash-stand as Lottie hastily bathcd
her eyes and pulled a writing-dcsk to-
ward her. 1t slanted more and more
from the west as she sat considering per
plcxcdly biting the end of he pen, writing
and rewriting and tossing aside tiny
cream tinted sheets of paper, until the
table was Uttered with beginnings, and
only one sheet was left in the box. This
she finally took up dcspairingly, and
wrote the date and the commencement:
Ny DEAR H,ERY-I don't know how to write
this to you, and am very much ashamed to take
back what said, but never meant to say H. |
had to because Mr. Davenport ya- comiuu and
that was his ring | had on my finger. and Ia, had
just asked me to marry hiut and had said YES.
because, you know. he j. rich and I thought
IL would be nice To be lady. don't know what
made me saw yes Tor don't love him. and ! do
love Won. ! am 50 sorry | said what | did
ionll forgive me, won't You. now you know that