The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-17

MIS- DOiScl. j Ou Can S'l wv va ~ ooh'
and you might as well make up your MIN
about. Yes or nor
John studied moment or two and gay Ii
tie Lcttie Dorset wondered what made I'll
muscles of his face twitch SO when he gave
reluctant Eyes"
e "There-that's settled? 2" cried the little W,
man; "and shouldn't wonder if you fall i
love with her and marry her"
She laughed malIciously and left the room
and Il moment after, John heard her sin!
ing:
Say I'm weary, say Tn sad,
Say that wealth and health have missed M
Say Pm growing old, but add,
Jennie kissed me-"
The song died away, the golden glow 0
the July sun dyed the waters that washed til
pebbly beach of Stony Point, and John, clasI
ing his hands above his head leaned back il
his easy chair, and let his thoughts drift bacl
into the past
Now do not wash any of my readers t.
suppose that John was sentimental or i'm
aginative man. for there vas not piece OF
romance IN his nature But there is some
times name, Il word, or glance, that VIII
stir up old memories, and awaken thoughts
and feelings that we fancy have left our hcarl
forever
Seven years before when Johns hand were
not so hard and horny, and his face was less
wrinKled and sun.brOwned, he had loved a
bright little girl who had been born not a
hundred rods from Stony Point,
John was slowly growing rich by hard
mechanical labor, and he had purchased n
few acres Of ground and was building cot
tage, where he intended to take the black
eyed, sunny.fuced girl he was so sure would
say "yes," when he tod her OF the love that
was daily growing new heights in his breast.
He repeated her name softly to himself, and
the glory tina, filled the wooden aisles on Sto-
nv Point seemed 10 touch bright, girlish
face and two big, black eyes seemed look
ing into his, and he grew young and hopeful
and happy rs he thought over the words he
had SAID, and how the red lips quivcred and
the black eyes dropped shyly when she said;
"Do you see that broad, white stone, under
the poplar, at Stony Point ?"
Yes, Margery," John said, trying TO draw
her closer to him. But she broke away from
him, and laughed and blushed, rs she called
back:
"You will find my answer under that, to.
morrow evening""
And Margaret Prescott had gone home, and
John had. waited impatently for the next
evening to come At sunset he went for his
answer, and under the white stone, beneath
the poplar, he found a dainty slip Of white
paper on which was was written, No." and
he never set his foot on Stony Point since.
Seven years had gone by; he had grown rich
and successful, but the cottage that was to
have been Margery's was still unfinished, ,
and Margery was marri d and living in a
distant city, yet the oDly romance Of his life
seemed to grow into a reality rs he sat with
his hands clasped in the brown locks Mar.
gery's white fingers had so often caresscd,
and watching the moon come up and blend
her pale rays with the suns crimson beams
lnd the old pain came pack, and the old rest
patiently, to 20 out into the dim twilight to
walk it off, and met Harry Dorset in the
lall
"IIello, old fellow" said the jovial Bcnc-
lict, what do you look so blue about? If /
lid not know that your heart was as hard as
/ flint, | would say that you were about gone
lbout some lady. The widow Is in LettieS
itting room come and get acquainted"
He ran his finger through the button hole
n Johns coat, but John dashed his hand pet
ishly.
"Iiang the widow! l hate women any
now"
1--WE happen to be aware Of that fact" said
Dorset, dryly. "But see here, John why did
'ou build that cottage below Stony Point, and
cave it half tinished;"
John WINGED, but SAID nothing. His love
flair had been very quiet, and | fancy none
,ut the parties Immediately concerned knew
Inythng about it.
There must be a woman at the bottom of
hat" went on Dorset but advise you to
brow all your old flames aside, marry the
widow and finish the cottage"
UNpyprr' rpDlip1 John al have M flith
II the sex. They can lure a man to ruin as
asily as a snake can charm bird"
Dorset whlstled and silently watched his
riend leave the house for q walk. {
"he has had 1t hard some time" was Dor.
ets comment, as he joined his wife and the
widow.
"Where is John?" was Mrs. Dorset's first
question, as her husband entered the room.
"Gonc out for walk" replied Dorset,
throwing himself on long lounge, and, shad.
ing his eyes with his hand, peeped through
his fingers at the widow.
She was small and slender, with pale ex-
pressive face, pair of luminous black eyes,
short crlnkley Eair, and a charming ofhand
manner that Dorset admired
"The gentleman we are speaking of has
been our guest for some weeks, and Is to be
your escort to Stony Point tomorrow" eX- I
blamed Mrs. Dorset, laughingly.
STONY Point" echoed Mrs Allen, A faint Q
blush creeping over her face. "Ah! 1t was "A {
avoritc resort of mine years ago" '
"Why, were you ever in this part Of the /
country beforey" inquired Mrs Dorset, in y
urprisc /
Certainly; my parents owned the farm adj
dining Stony Point, but sold out a year be. '
ore my marriage" ,
"Ah." calculated Dorset, sudden thought
trikng him; chow many years ago was t
hat?"
"Seven." 1
And seven years ago John Grant had left
is unfinished cottage, and gone to a distant
ity. Harry thought he had found clue to
lis friend secret and purposely changed the
lest Mrs, Allen might hear her {
scOrts name. {
"l'll watch them when Grant comes in" 5
nc thought; but Grant did moi come in until
he widow had gone TO her room. Ms Dor {
get sli0ly entertained John with history of
he Wiuou,s N, nrrinI Iicn I,