Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-03-05
ONCE AND AGAIN.

BY A. A. G.
"Young Underwood has been here and
left that boquet for You, Maggie" /"
1 While making this communication
Mrs. Carpenter watched her daughter
face anxiausly, to discern its effect. But
Maggie neither smiled or blushed; and
as her mother was not quick to read
faces, she was puzzled by the expires
sion of the sweet face that bent over the
flowers. ,a5...
"Mother," said the girl presently, 81
should like to go to Aunt James to
spend a week, if You feel well enough
to spare me-" "o9 .-ccScs Ko iC1Fr
"Why, Maggier" her mother cxclaim-
ed, sand miss the Banks party and the
shore picnic! I thought you had prom
ised young Underwood to 60 to both
with him."
eyes, 1 know it," said Maggie, indif-
ferently, "but am tired out with such
things, and want little quiet"
"My dear child" said the querulous
invalid, in an excited tone, elf you are
to be sick, don't know what I shall
do. am sure you are coming down
with a slow fever, or you would never
talk Of getting weary Of young folks
pleasuring."
'No, no, mamma," said the girl, rock
ing impatiently, "don't begin to imag-
inc and fret. am not sick, nor going
to be-" Then, seeing by her mothers
face that more questions were coming,
she stopped them to say abruptly, with
a faint blush, ~ want to get away from
Charlie Underwood. Why, mamma?
Because he is getting to think too much
fof me, and 1 like him too well to want
the bitterness of refusal between US. :"
"My dear, if you Ike him so we'll"
Mamma" she said, springing up,
"you don't understand. Can't girl
love a man we'll enough to die for him
and not well enough to marry him? I
can"
After her daughter had left the room,
Mrs. Carpenter sighed little, thinking
how her own welded misery had prob
ably marked the girl with horror of
ma rriage; and then she smiled little
at the child's thinking that a weeks
absence could prevent the bitterness Of
q refusal coming between them." =
Sunday at Aunt James, even at II A.
NJ, promised to be long day, and when
Maggie came slowly down the broad
staircase, saw "Young Underwood" as
her mother called him, 'Dr. Underwood
as she called him, or Charlie, as she
thought of him, standing before the
open door with outstretched hands, she
could no more help springing down the
last two steps, and smiling welcome,
then she could help blushing at the
looks with which he answered hers.
1t was SO pleasant to have him want her
enough to come so far, that with an in
stinct for preserving her happiness, she
put back the thought of 'what it meant
But as they sat in the vine-covered
porch together, the young mans eager
tones and excited eyes, and the danger
GUS conversational ground he ventured
on, made her wonder at herself for al
lowing their meeting to be what it had
been, in spite of the good resolutions
which had brought her there. She was
obliged to exert all her quick wittedness
to keep away from the fatal topics. 1t
Twas close sailing. If she were merry,
he was more so, and began to compli-
ment her alarmfngly. If she grew sad,
he grew tender. If she frowned or
even looked cold, he seemed about to
make some desperate move; so she was
much relieved when he at last perceived
her weary looks and asked if she was
sick. To which question, put with al
most ludricrous anxiety, she answered
with studied GOODNESS, "No; but am
very tired; came down for rest.''
On this, the doctor rose quickly, quite
hurt and embarrassed, and apologized
for his long stay.-He stopped, however,
at the foot of the steps, and plucking
nervously at the vine leaves, asked
stif1y If short call that evening would
be too great a weariness to her.
How well she would like to have said,
ssDo come, Charlie; am always hap
pier for your company" 'What pity
friendship cannot be, she sighed to her
self, as she answered with much show
of polite indifference, 81 shall be happy
to see you, SIR" and then added, earn
estly, "if you will be content with a
quiet, perhaps dull, evening, and not
talk on exciting TOPICS" and then,
laughing, "nor expect me to be respon-
sive or entertaining"
a Charles Underwood walked slowly
and musingly. what could she mean
by exciting topics? wanted TO tell her
1 loved her, tonight. But 1 suppose /
must watt. Perhaps she knows it. ]
should think she would. A fellow can't
haye on much steam as l have without
blowing the whistle occasionally. What
if she shouldn't he thought, tho
but half expressed, made him stop with
a set, troubled look in his eyes; but he
continued to himself, smiling as the
memory came, 'how beautiful she met
me this morning! Such a smile! By
Jove! 1 almost kissed her. She drew
off with a little scared look just in
time.'
- =
That evening Maggie met him at the
gate with the proposal to go rowing on
the little like, few rods distant. The
late sunlight made darker things gold
en- than Maggie's curls, as it slanted
over the still water and darted over the
broad shoulders of the Oarsman, who
pulled fast when he felt inclined t.
broacli forbidden "topics." The two
TALKED with the ease of old friend:
while the sunlight lasted, and sank in
10 easy silence when It faded. At last
the long quiet was broken by the yonns
man asking after Maggie's comfort, Al
the air grew chill. She answered, un
guardedIy, Il am very comfortable
| thank you; but 1t is too bad to let yol
. da n N tLa rowing ,,