The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-13


quite impossible. Forgive me for saying
so. You have always been friend to
me-"
"And always shall be, Lefty"
"Then don't let us talk about love, nor
think of it. shall never marry
"But if you should change your mind"
II can never change it,"
"Yet if such thing should happen
women have that privilege, you know
you will find me always the same"
but you must be sure that it never can
happen"
this within Of mine, Lefty, and promise me
that if any change should occur, you will
let me know"
II can safely promise that" she re-
piled.
"Thank YOU"
1t is not often that lover is obliged to
impose his society upon the sweetheart
who has refused him. One might easily
conceive of it as anembarrasing situation,
but it did not prove so in the case of
Tom and Lefty: they spoke or were
silent, as the spirit moved. He trimmed
his. boat with hand as steady Is if all his
wishes had been granted. They counted
the consultations and the harbors lights,
watched the stars set, and the grey dawn
shine upon the water, and sunrise was
just beginning to glow in tender lines of
color as they reached the town, made the
boat fast, and stepped ashore. Only a
few loungers we're smoking on the wharf,
and waiting for a job or sensation.
The widow Girdle was pulling up her
blinds as they passed, while the house
maid at DR.. Squill's, sweeping off the
front steps, leaned on her broom, for all
the world like an Interrogation point. !.
"That don't look right" said Window
Girdle-"a teacher of youth gallivanting
about the country. Where has she been
at this hour? That's what I would like
to know
II dare say you would" SAID her broth
er. "Supposing you ask"
But Mrs. Girdle did better. She asked
her next neighbor, who passed the ques-
ton on; and the result was that in the
course of a month Lefty was notified that
her resignation of her grammar school
would be accepted. Mrs. Girdle, shop
ping in Boston one day, met Tom Long
worthy at Parker's.
"What's the news at Carbondale?" he
asked.
"News is as scarce as money, Mr.. Long
worthy" said she. II suppose you know
that Lefty Andrews has lost her school.
But that's an old story"
"Lost her school! Why?"
"Oh, you must ask the school commit
tee. Young ladies who have the care of
children should be circumspect, and not
allow fascinating young men to keep
them out late on the river, you know?"
You don't mean to say that lnckless
affair of mine was the cause? It was all
an accident, Mrs. Girdle, and entirel y my
fault ....~. ....-. .-....-.
II wonder you don't make amends by
marrying her, Don Quixote."
"She has already refused me-
Refused you! You're joking" said
the widow, opening her eyes with aston
ishment
1T may be fun for you, but it's CHASTITY
truth to me-" ~
Mr.. Longworthy went directly to his
office, and wrote, "Dear Lefty, don't for
get that love you, and that it is hard for
AAO ~ 11VC W1IlOuC YOU.
"Thanks," came the reply. "You will
find it possible" J..
It was early in December when Lefty
went into Boston to answer au advertiser
ment for companion. 1t has proved un-
satisfactory, and she was on the way to
the cars, when she was overtakcn by Cap
tain Crane, a neighbor, just home from a
three-years' cruise. g..
"Ship ahoyw said he. ':How are the
folks at Carbondale? Don't know me,
Mis- Lefty? Any thing happened since 1
sailed?" -..' p" III: -;
you'll find plenty of change, Captain
Crane. Even Carbondale doesn't stand
still while you 60 round the world"
"By-the-way, I fell foul of an old
sweetheart of yours in Californy.''
." An old sweetheart of mine?"
Yes. Even sweethearts get old if you
give them time enough. P'r'aps you
don't remember Van Everenv'
"Dont remember Van Everen!''' ~
Laurence. Wasn't he sweet On YOU,
Miss Letty2 run against him, Just by
chance, week before I sailed he's given
up the sea, he tells me-taken to trading
Guess he's married money, by the look of
things"
married money! Laurence Van Ever
en-! What do you mean, Captain Crane?
Don't you know that he was lost at sea in
the Flying Scuds"
"Was he? Then the seas given him up
too; it's mutual affair, Ell? The Flyinq
Soul was lost while was. off whaling, but
l didn't know he was aboard. But, you
see, he wasn't born to be drowned, Van
Everen wasn't! His wife can't hold a
candle to you, Miss Letty-bcgging
pardon-bu | reckon she had solid
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