Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-11-06

| LoU iio 81, l'iSdoc. SHc CHo CaISot.
scarlet with shame.
"Well, l want to put this ring on
your finger. There! and now"
| An approaching tootstep startled
them. Mr. Davenport rose hastily
and Lottie too sprang to her feet
Snsan, the house-maid, appeared in
the doorway, and Mr.. Davenport
turned abruptly down the garden
path.
'Be them peas shelled, Miss Lot
tie?"
"No, but almost; what time is it?'
"Eleven and a quarter"
Lottie went to work in serious
earnest, despite her excitement; but
she was fated to have another inter
ruption, in the shape of a tall, blue
eyed youth, who came up the garden
path with several fish dangling from
rod.
"There!" he said, dropping these
on the piazza, and throwing himself
down in the place Mr.. Davenport had
Just vacated, "those are for Susan, if
she wants them. I've had good luck
this morning. l suppose the fishes
wanted to celebrate my last holiday.
Don't you think so, Miss Lottie?"
"Your last holiday!'' was the blank
rejoinder. "What do you mean?"
DIVE got to 60 back to the city to-
morrow. Two of the clerks are sick.
Ho for cashmere and muslins again!''
| He looked up at Lottie rather ex-
pectantly, hoping for some impress
ion of regret; but not 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 mop
portunely 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 hand
ed it back:
"You have new ring, havn't
you?"
"Ye-yes."
He watched her as she hastily pull
ed it on again; then said, rather III
dignantly:
"You havn't told me whether syou
are sorry Pm going or not.'
"Of course Pm sorry, Mr.. Will
lard" was the reply, in stifled tones;
for Lottie was bending for another
handful of pods.
"sOf course Is that all? Well,
that's the way with women. A man
believes woman will 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 peas. Spite of all she could do a
little quiver of the lips betrayed her
agitation, as she responded hurriedly:
"Why, | mean it. What-what
can l say but just that-that I'm sor-
ry?"
"And you call me Mr.. Willard
"Harry, then!" with an apprehen-
sive glance down the garden path.
"Lottie, l believe you have made a
vow not to look at me. Do put those
con-I 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, san unguard-
ed movement sent the basket and it's
contents rolling down the steps.
'Tll pick up every pea if you'll sit
still five minutes and talk to me. Lot
tie, now tell me truly, are you sorry
I'm going? Shall you ever want to
see me when Pm 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 minute!''
The tears rolling down the round
checks were sufficient answer, but,
man-like, Harry persisted.
'I don't see how | bother you. It's
only a simple question; but I know
what the real answer is-you don't
care straw. Pm only a poor clerk,
and there are plenty ofrich widowers
in the world"
"Oh, Harryr'
This time Lottie sobbed outright,
and so piteously that Harry was con-
quered.
81 ought to be ashamed of myself,
I know l had. Don't cry; please
don't cry, dear. If you knew half
how sorry 1 am myself-how it seems
to me 1 never can go away from you
you wouldn't blame me; you'd for
give me if l 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 vol
ume of reproach in the one word.
ooh, don't, don't! You mustn't
talk to me any longer"
"And you won't answer me?"
NO Icply.
"And you don't love me?"
Silence still.
Suddenly an arm stole around Lot
ties waist, and the hidden face was
lifted and scanned by pair of blue
eyes.
"Lottie, do you love me or not?''
"-I don't know. mean don't
i 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 her
self desperately, as the odor of ci-