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

I
tie, now tell me truly are you sorry I'm
going2 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 so2 Indeed, 1 must pick up
the pease this minute !"
The tears rolling down the round
cheeks were sufficient answer; but,
man.like, Harry persisted.
4" 1 don't sec how l bother you. It's
only q simple question but I know
what the real answer is-you don't care
q straw I'm only poor clerk, and
there are plenty Of rich widowers in the
world"
"oh, Harry n
This time Lottie sobbed outright,
and SO piteously that Harry was con.
quered.
"I ought to be ashamed OF myself, I
know I hadl Don't cry please don't
cry, dear. II you knew half how sorry
I am myseli-how Il seems to me I
never can go away from you-you
wouldn't blame me; you'd forgive me,
IL I am q brute You do care about
mo, don't you, Lottie2 ?"
No answer, but unrestrained sobs and
mute resistance Us ho tried to take her
hand.
"Lottiel" There was a whole vol.
ume OF reproach in the ono word.
"oh, don't! don'tl You mustn't
talk TO me any longer"
"And you won't answer meH"
No reply.
"And you don't love me2"
Silence still.
Suddenly his arm stole around Lot
ties waist, aud tho hidden face was
lifted and scanned by pair OF blue
eyes.
"I-I don't know. I mean I don't
I can't You mustn't talk to mo SO. I"
"Why not2"
" Because II mustshell tho pease."
"What in the world is the matter
with your"
Nothing" said Lottie, freeing her.
self desperately, as the odor Of cigar
was waited toward them, and the top
OF u beaver hat became visible OF the
extreme end Of the garden walk. $50
away-oh, do go awayl"
"1'll go when You've answered. II
is little thing enough to ask. Just
say yes or no. l tell you love you I;
you know do. I'm poor man, but I
can make my wife comfortable, and I'm
certain / can make her happy. Lottie,
was sure you cared FOR mo this morn.
ing; IL you say you don't, l 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,
"Lottie Lothe whero are those
pease9" Js
She tore her hands away, and sprang
down the steps, saying, hastily and
contradictory, ~
No, no; certainly. Yes, in min.
ute."
Without word more, Harry picked
up the pease for her-the work OF full
FIVE minutes-set the basket on the
porch, and walked away. Ten minutes
later the pease 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 It's new owner was crying as
II 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 IL she had said "no" I"
to Mr.. Davenport and "yes" 10 Harry
Willard, she would have been q happy
girl. What was there To do but face
the consequences? She might rnsay
the yes, but never the no and yet II
she were to write to Harry-if she were
TO tell him she never meant it There
was still o little Of his holiday left-if,
indeed, he did not let his anger hurry
him away.
The sunshine OF mid-aiternoon was
slanting in on the faded carpet and yell
low wash. stand as Lottie hastily bathed
her eyes and pulled a writing.desk to-
ward her. It slanted more and more
from the west as she sat considering,
perplexedly biting the end Of her pen,
writing and rewriting and tossing 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 despairingly, and wrote the
date and the Commencement
"Mr DEAR HARRY.-I don't know how
to write this to you, and I am very
much ashamed to take back what I
said, but 1 never meant TO say 1t. /
had TO, because Mr.. Davenport was
coming, and that was his ring 1 had on
my finger, and he had Just asked me TO
marry him, and / had said yes, because,
you know, he Is so rich, and / thought
1t would be nice to be lady. Idon't
know what made me say yes, for /
don't love him, and do love you. l
am so sorry I said what I did. You'll
forgive me, won't you, now you know
that 1 really don't care for any body
but your Please "LorTm."
As she sat looking at this rather
crude production OF hers difficulty
occurred TO her. How should she send
tp Garry IL TO the post.ofiice, and let
the post.mistress, who bad known her
irem o baby, discover that she had
written to Harry Willard? Never.
Drop IL into the post-box2 No, for the
handwriting would betray her, and the
whole town would hear Of 1t. Could
she give 1t to Harry herself2 No, not
thatl Or give 1t to Susan TO give him .
Worse yet. Thoroughly perplexed and