The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-30
REFUSED AND REFUSING.

was OOlhluS oub. lut Coll-
gregation filed out solemnly, and once
without the door. lapsed into sociability
and began to shake hands and make
friendly inquiries in regard to each
others health and the absence of GER
tain members of the flock.
One person only did not pause. That
was girl, a rosy checked lass of seven
teen, who feemed for some reason flush
ed and agitated She hurried on until
halfway down a sweet green lane, where
she seated herself under a great elm
tree and listened to the murmuring
voices in the distance with something
very like tear in her eye.
"Hell surely come" she said to her.
self. "Surely he'll never go away with
out saying good bye, though he has
been so taken up with Matte Burt of
late. He must pass this way going
home, and I know he'll stop and speak. !"
Then she listened again, as though,
through the still October air, she could
distinguish Evan Wares voice amidst
the rest.
He stood, a fine, handsome young fell
low of twenty, not yet too manly to
blush, receiving parting wishes and in.
functions from old ladiesa and gentlemen,
and hearty grips of the hand from the
boys, and smiles from the girls, for
everybody liked Evan Ware.
Then came the final good.byes, and
one or two motherly kisses, for Evan
was to start at dawn; and away the boy
went, not down the green lane where
Lizzie Gale sat, but along another path,
down which tripped figure in bright
silk, with a coquettish lace bonnet and
parasol, taking its way towards rustic
bridge that spanned little rivulet.
He overlook her Just as the little feet
rested on the bridge, and, quite out of
breath, called her by name.
"Miss Burt, please stop minute"
She paused then, and leaned over the
railing of the bridge, dipping the point
of her parasol into the water.
"I sail for China tomorrow, he
said.
"Yes-you told me SO. hope you'll
like it."
"I don't expect to like it. I like
home better than all the world"
"Dear me! What makes you go,
then2'
"You know why-at least You might
know. I'm an orphan. 1 have no
money-no prospects. My old sailor
uncle thinks there is an opening for me
in CHINA chance to make my fortune.
It is very kind of him to do what he is
doing, aud no one can tell how anxious
1 am to be rich"
Everybody seems to be"
eyes; not for the same reason"
"Why, what is your reason 2"
The answer came with sort of gasp
one word" You"
"Meg" The girl laughed and tossed
her head.
eyes now it's out. 1 don't know
whether you care for me OF not. Some
times you seem to and sometimes you
don't. But Like you-better than
anybody in the wOrld-so much that if
you say l may hope little bit to make
You like me as much, l shall have an OBJ
iect to work for to make myself rich
and great, perhaps and without that
hope'I shan't have any. There-it's
out. I've tried to say it a dozen times
before, and I couldn't go away not know
ing"
He paused and the girl stared at him.
"You meant that for an offer of your
hand and heart, 1 suppose9" she said.
IF SO, I'll tell you what consider
it, coming from you to me, piece of
impudence.
So, with her gay silk sweeping, and
her parasol huttering, the rich farmers
heiress sailed away, leaving her boy
lover the picture of despair and morti
fcation.
So absorbed was he in his own insult.
ed affections that he did not even notice
a plainly dressed little figure that stole
over the bridge ten minutes after, until
some one said "Evan."
Then he turned.
1t was Lizzie Gale, in her neat straw
bonnet, and with her prayer book and
pocket handkerchief in her hand.
"You are going away tomorrow
Good-byel"
He took her offered hand.
Goodbye, Lizzie"
81 hope you'll have pleasant voy-
age and succeed"
"Thank you; but everything goes
wrong with me. 1 don't suppose you'll
ever see me back again."
They shook hands again. He made
no attempt to detain her, and she walk
ed away slowly and quietly, and never
wiped off the little tear that would trio
kle down her checks until she was sure
that Evan on the bridge could not see
her.
The next day Evan Ware had left |
Farmingdale for years, if not for ever.
He went mortified and unhappy but,
strange to say, as much in lovs as ever.
He was very young and very modest,