The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-10-15
BE them pease sheIIed. Miss Lottie? 2"
''No, but almost. What time is it'2

s'No. but almost. What time is its,,
"Eleyen and quarter"
! Iottie went 10 work m serious earnest,
| despite her excitement; but she was fated
| to have another interruption, in the shape
/ of a tail. blue-eyed youth. who came up
the garden path with several fish dangling
/ from rod.
..ThereP' he said, dropping, these on
the piazza, and throwing himself down
in the place Mr.. Davenport had just Vaca-
ted. ''thOSe are for Susan il she wants
them. Pve had good luck this morning.
| suppose the fishes wanted to celebrate
my last holiday. Don't you think so,
Miss Lottie - ia
Your last holiday ~ .was.tiie blank re-
joinder. l''What do you mean :"
"Ive got to go back to the city -tO-mor-
row. Two Of the clerks aresick. IIo for
cashmeres aud mgslihs againi"
He looked up at Lottie rather eXpectant-
ly, hoping for some expression of regret;
but not a word did she say. A sudden
pallor had replaced the flush on her face.
however. The heavy seal-ring that Mr..
Davenport had placed on her finger most
iuopportunely 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, she handed it back, ...
" You have new ring, haven't you?
" Ye-yes." .'fA' i'7 ST.. ~
lie watched her as she hastily pushed it
on again; then said, rather Indignantly,
"NOu haven't teld me whether you re
sorry I'm going or not.'i ~ = kLE
"Of course I'm sorry, Mr.. Willard"
was the reply, in stified tones; for LOttie
was bending for another handful of pods.
"'Of course! Is that all? Well, that's
the way with women. A man believes. a
woman viii perhaps think kindly Of him
when he is gone, will perhaps regret
his departure from her, as he regrets it
himself: and she tells him calmly, why
of course of course, she is sorry!''
Lottie was making sad work with the
pcase. Spite of all she could doa little
quiyer OF the lips betrayed her agitation as
She responded hurriedly, "Why, mean
it. Wh1;-what. can SAY but Just that
thatI'm sorryGI s3IE Il cBI4E1
"And YOU call me Mr.. Willard"
HaiTy,then li,-svith an apprehensive
glance down the garden path.
"LOttie, Ibelieye you have made VOW
not to look at me. Do put these cOn-I
mean those pease-out of the way!
Il 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. 3.
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 going
Shall YOU ever want to see me when I'm
miles away from this little town, back in
New York - -R z =E p -
Oh. don't, flOn'tt Howc9n you both
er me so ? Indeed, j must pick up the
peaSe this minute!"
The tears rolling down the round cheeks
were sufficient answer, but, man-like,
Harry persisted.
"I don't see how | bother you. It's
only simple question but know what
the real answer is-yOu don't care a straw,
I'm only poor clerk, and there are plenty
Of rich widowers in the world"
"Oh. Harry -
This time Lottie sobbed outright, andso
pitcously that Harry was conquered.
81 ought TO be ashamed of myself, |
know had! Don't cry please don't cry,
dear. If you knew half how sorry am
myself-hOw il seems tome Inever can 90
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 tanswerme?
No reply!
And You don't love me?" s
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 lOYe me or .not?"
"I-I don't know 1Tmeau L don't-I
can't. Iou mustn't talk to me So"
Whynor?" ~ f7 T - r -
. Because II must shell the pease."
"What in the world is the matter with
you?" &! -''->-
Nothing" said Lottie, freeing herself
desperately, as the odor ofDa cigar was
waited toward them, and the top of a
beaver hat became visible at the extreme
end of the garden walk. go away-Oh,
do go awayl = ~ .-ae.l~ .gs 10y
"I'll go whenyou've answered. 1t is a
little thing enough TO ask. Just say yes
or no. tell you | love you; you know |
do. I'm poor man, but | can make my
wife comfortable, and I'm certain | can
make her happy 119ttie, [ was sure you
cared for me This morning; If you say you
don't, never shall be happy again. Say
YES or no.
WhatI.oItie heuitto answer is hard TO
tell. Mr.. Davenport came into view sud-
denly, and her mothers voice sounded
from the kitchen. -1vs-
Lottie! Lottie! where are those
peaSe? p -,,--~----. ~.-.-..-
She tore her hands away, and sprang
down the steps, saying, hastily and con-
tradictorily,
-" No, no: certainly. Yes. in a minute"
Without a 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 nowhere TO
befOund. 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. = - = y
Half that long summer. afternoon she
staid shut-up, ,teo miserable to face any
comment, too hopeless to see any way out
of the trouble she had brought upon her.
self; for if she had said "nO" TO Mr..
Davenport and .syes" to Harry Willard,
she would have been a happy girl. What
was there to do but face the consequences
She might unSay the yes, utneverthe no;
and vet if she were TO write TO Harry-if
she were to tell him she never meant it
There was still q little of his holiday left
if indeed, he did not let his anger hurry
him away. .r..
The SunShine.-of mid-afternoOn was
slanting in on the faded carpet aud yellow
wash-Stand as Lottie hastily bathed her
eyes and pulled awFiting-dcsk toward her.
1t slanted more and more from the west as
she sat considering, perpleNedly biting the
end of her pen, writing and rewriting and
tossing aside tiny cream-tinted sheets of
paper, until the" cable was covered with
beginnings, and only one sheet was left
in the box. This she finally took up de-
Spairingly, and wrote the date and the
In GCT. T.r-f =
My DEA 1TAERY-I don Know how to write
this 70 yOu, and am very much ashamed to take
back wt-at said, but nevtr meant 10 say IL. !
b I'd 10, bvcause Mr., Daven psrT was coming, ard
u ~ was his ring hal on nv finger, and he had
Just asked me to injury i'm, rnd had said YES
peca'Ee, yon know, he rs so rich, and thought
- would be- nice I5bs a lady 1 don't know what
made me say yes, for / don't love him. and I do
on d forgive me, Won't YOU now Won know
.