The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-30

| As peeped between the blinds Bull
came tearing like mad, ran around the
grape arbor three times, snapped at wee
grasshopper, jumped over the low com
munication to Sis, who was grazing there
| and got back In time to meet the two
people who came sauntering up the gar
den walk.
Milicent and the cousin, a tall, slim
sharp-faced, passably good-lopking young
fellow, with his hair carefully parted in
the middle, blue nccktie and faultless
| summer suit.
glanced in the mirror at nv own oh.
stinate, curly, brown crop, that refused tc
| be pal ted anywhere-mv cravatted neck
and my well-worn blue flannel, and l be.
gan to hate him. Mllicent walked beside
| him, her fair head dropping and smile
upon her lips. She was dressed in white
and had pink rose clinging to her sof,
/ cprls. and one in her bosom, and bunch
of halt. open buds at her belt, and she
plncked another from the vine aad fast.
ened it with her own pretty hands in the
buttonhole OF her cousins immaculate
coat.
From that moment hated him, and
from that moment my work ceased to
progress, and 1 took to walking up and
down my rooms in the daytime, and stroll.
ling about the garden half the night.
In few days-they seemed like years
to me-Mr. Chester, the housekeeper had
called him, went away again:
I blessed the driver, the horses, the
very carriage that took him back to the
town, for I-you have guessed it, | sup
pose wildly in love with nv neigh
boris tairha1rcd niece.
Well, one night I was swinging in the
hammock that hung in the midst of the
group of old apple trees, swinging and
thinking of her, when l gradually ceased
dreaming and thinking and wandered in-
to the land of dreams. And voice-a
sweet, familiar voice, followed me there,
and heard it say, "But auntie, do not
love my cousin; and should woman ever
marry man she does not leve!''
"No, by heavens, no!' I shouted, and
sprang from the hammsck, still halt
asleep.
Two shrieks, a scamper. q loud bark,
and my neighbor's garden was deserted.
Early the next morning I heard Mr..
Gardner loudly and angrily questioning
the meek old housekecper.
"Wished to remain in hiding did he
he shouted-''ohl so as to write undis-
turbedf'' And then sarcastically, "that' 8
a very pretty story, but slightly improba-
ble, and a very pretty young man listen
ing-the spy-to the conversation OF two
ladies, and rudely joining in with a voice
like thunder, soaring them nearly out OF
their senses. Where is he-this retiring
young man? This exclusive author? By
heaven if he does not come out to me
will 20 in to him!''
rushed down stairs and confronted
him at his own gate, my eyes flashing
and my voice trembling with passion.
81 am no listener, no spy" said I. II
was sleeping in my hammock and was
suddenly awakened by very emphatic
question Annie Lau-that is Mill
mean your niece asked her companion.
In the confusion OF the moment I answer
ed the question as emphatically as it was
asked. If have frightened or offended
the young lady humbly ask her pardon,
but I warn you, sir. to call me. no more
opprobrlous Names"
Milicent came out On the porch and
glanced at me shyly. "He doesn't look
very wicked, uncle,' she said, in a low
voice, and CLEAN of mischief in her big
eyes, "and I firmly believe what he says,
and freely forgive him for the fright he
gave me-"
bowed and turned away, and a mo.
ment later heard rlppling laugh, and
then in few MINI utcs more the verse OF
the song she had sung when first she had
gladdened my tired eyes:
"Maxweltons braes are bonnie
Where early fa's the dew,
And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave the her promise true.
Gave me her promise true,
Which ne'sr forgot will be;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and dee.'
After that I boldly threw open the
window blinds and smiled down on her,
and she smiled up at me. Then asked
her for rose over the fence one day, end
she gave it to me. Then We met in the
meadow and dlscoursed of the manifold
virtues of Bub and Sis. Then one bless
ed August afternoon (set in my memory
like great, pure pearl-it was just after
a shower, and the earth wore one broad
| smile OF sunshine and the birds sang as
though they would burst their slender
throats), she came to the meadow gate
spray Of honeysuckles In her bosom
and said. II love you-and you?''.
"Why." she answered, dropping the
long lashes over her beautiful eyes and
speaking with sweet hesitation, d.
love---you"
kissed her pretty mouth. my dar-
ling" said, "you have been my darling
ever since that bright June morning /
heard you singing annie Laurie' to the
roses.''
'.And you mine," she replied, looking
in my face with bewitching, saucy frank.
ness, lever since the morning you flew
out as though shot from cannon-you1
eyes flashing and your hair IN the wild,
est disorder, with no collar, let alone q
cravat on, and defied my uncle.
thought you simply delicious-so differ
ent from any one l had ever seen before
$50 ve1y unlike my cousin But Ell
mer," and shade stole over her bright
face, "uncle will never, never consent te
Ito -"
"Our marriage, my dearest2"
eyes, to our marriage, for he has rel
his heart on my MARI ling Chester, and
he's my guardian and I'm only nine
"Only be true to me, Melicent," in
terrupted. "and III wait for you patient
ly-faithful!y y-only say that your prom
ise--''
"Ne'er forgot will be- sarg she.