The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-04-27
REFUSED AND REFUSING.

ilEiE ODhD hND hEf UOlNG.
Church was "cOming out" The con
grrgatlon filed out golcmnIy, and once
without the door, Iapscd into s%ociabiIity
and began to shake hands and make
friendly inquiries in regard TO each
others health and the absence Of certain
members Of the flock.
one person only did not pause. That
was 4 girl, Il rosy checked lass of seven
teen, who seemed for somc reason flushed
and agitatcd. She hurried on until half
way down = sweet green lane, where phc
seated herself under n great elm tree and
listened to the murmurlng voices in the
distance with something very like a tear
in her eye.
'llc'N surely come" she said to her
self. 'SnrcIy he'll never 20 away with
ont saying good bye, though he has been
50 taken up with Matte Burt Of late.
IT," must pas this way going home, and
! know hc'lI stop and speak"
Then she listened again, ~ 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 ladies and gentlemen,
and hearty grips Of the hand from the
boys, and smiles from the girls, for every
body liked Evan Ware.
Then came the final good-bycs, and
ON" or two motIIrrIy kisses, for Evan was
to start at dawn and away the boy went,
not down the green lane where Lizzie
Gal" sat, but along another path, down
which trlPpcd a figure in bright silk,
with q %co1uctish lace bonnet and
parasoI, taking its way towards n rustic
bridge that spanncd u little %riyuIet.
lie overlook her just as the little feet
rested on the bridge, and, quite out of
breath, called her by name.
Miss Burt, please stop n minute"
She paused then, and leaned over the
railing Of the bridge, dipping the point
of her parasol into the water.
81 sail for China tomorrow" he said.
Yes you told me 50. | hope you'll
like it,"
81 don't expect to like it. like
home better than the world"
Dear me! What makes you 20,
thcn2'
"Iou know why-at least you might
know. I'm an orphan. have no mon
ey-no prospects. My old sailor uncle
thinks there is an opening for me in
'hIna-a chance to make my fortune.
II is very kind Of him to do what he il
doing, and no one can tell how anxious
I am to he rich"
Everybody seems to be-
" Yes; not for the same reason"
Why, what il your %rcason?"
The answer came with II sort of gasp
One word -" You"
"McY' Tho girl laughed and tossed
her head.
Yes now it's out. ! don't know
whether YOU care for me or not. Some.
times You seem 10 and sometimes Won |
don't, But I-Iikc-yOu better than
anybody in the worId-so much that III
you say ] may hope a little bit to make
YOU like me rs much, | shall have an oh.
Jecl to work for to make myself rich
and great, perhaps and without that
hope ! shan't have any. Thcrc-its
ont, I've tried to say it n dozen times
before, and | couldn't go away not
knowing"
He paused and the girl stared at
him.
You meant that for an offer of your
hand and heart, | suppose ?" she said.
" II 20, I'll tell you what | consider it,
coming from you to me, n piece of impu-
dencc."
So, with her gay silk sweeping, and
her parasol iluttering, the rich farmers
hcircss sailed away, leaving her boy
lover the picture Of despair and NORTH
cation.
80 absorbed was he in his W in.
suited affections that he did not even
notice Il plainly dressed little figure that
stole over the bridge ten minutes after,
until some n said " Evan"
Then he turned.
II was Lizzie Gale, in her neat straw
and with her prayer book and
handkerchief in her hand.
You arc going away tomorrow;
rood-byc!'
Tie took her offered hand.
Good bye, Lizzie"
hope you'll have a pleasant voyage
and succeed"
lhank you; but everything goes
wong win me. ! don't suppose you'll
ever see me back again"
iney shook hands again. He made no
attempt to detain her, and she walked
away slowly and quietly, and never
wiped oil thelittlc tear that would ,rictlo ,
down her cheeks until she was suro ,Sa,
Evan on the bridge could not sec hor .'"' {
The next day Evan Ware had ,o, ,
iarmingdale for years, if not for ave-, :
lie went mortified and unhappy but, =,
strange to say. rs much in love AS ever
lie wl' very Young and very modest.
ana Matte Burt's uncalled Tor insult
took upon itself after a day or two the
form OF plain speaking.