The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-17

on before l take airs" said his lady
love.
Nevertheless the fortune made a
change in the programme. 1t was nee
essary for Mrs. Cranstone to go to Lon
don, ard Mar Anne must go with her,
she said; and, on the whole, it seemed
best to postpone the wedding for
awhile.
cit wouldn't be respectful to Uncle
James to marry immediately" said the
mother.
So Dick had the unhappiness of see-
ing his lady-love leave Stillborough,
and went back to his desk at the bank
with a very heavy heart.
However, he worked hard, and many
letters comforted him; and at last his
fiancee returned gorgeous in the last
London fashions; and there was all the
hustle of buying new house, furnish
| ing it, and taking possession of it-and
very little time for lovers to be to-
gether.
'You see," said Mrs. Cranstone, to
Dick, ''yOu see Polly-I mean Marian
that's what we've got to call her now,
nicknames are SO vulgar, she says, and
Mary Anne sounds so commOn-Marian
! is just little set up with our change of
fortune. She'll settle down after awhile;
but young, people will be young people,
At home Dick got less comfort.
''Polly feels her money; she shows
| it," said his mother. ''And the place
! is too fine for me, and the servants
! Stare too much. Sarah Cranstone is
sensible woman, but Polly isn't much
to depend on. You'll find that out,
Richard"
AoJ ,,oo,. n;olr J:J G~A - o,,k
'You see, MIR. Dempster," said Polly,
given her softly about on her finger
"You see, somehow, I'd rather not be
married for long while. 1 don't want
you to be angry with me, but never
was rich Beforehand it's so nice. l get
50 much attention. / don't want to
settle down as an old married woman
yet"
"rn wait, Polly" replied Dick.
'Ah, but-but you see it might be no
use," said Miss Cranstone, wincing a
little at the old familiar name. "Per-
haps I may never want to marry; and
if you don't mind taking back the ring,
why we can be friends all the same. ="
"Can we?" said. Dick, in a strange
tone.
''Well, shall never be your enemy"
And he put the ring into his pocket;
but he did not trouble the servant to
open the door Of the big House again:
What ails Dick, Polly?" asked Mrs.
Cranstone. sWhy don't he come here
any more?'
''It's just as well he shouldn't" an
swered the girl "and if you only could
drop calling me Polly, ma; hate it So"
"You didn't used to hate your poor
grandmother's name," said Mrs. Gran
stone, ''but money has spoiled you, Mary
Anne, if ever it spoiled woman
'.Don't be cross, ma," coaxed Polly.
'.Dick is very we'll, but he is common;
and you know how elegant young Mr..
Lester is, and-and he pays me great
deal of attention"
..Ah, that's it, sighed Mrs. Gram
stone; ''he's cut Dick Dempster out.
You've Tilted the poor boy"
And now Percival Lester came often
to see Miss CranstOne, was her escort
everywhere, drove her out, walked with
her, sang sentimental songs with his
eyes fixed on her face, and did all that
might be done to show ''what his in
tentiOns were."- And one day Mrs.
Cranstone was not surprised by hear
ing that Mr.. Lester desired to see her
alone.
'.Yes, I'll go to see him, my DEAR"
said Mrs. Cranstone, putting on her
best cap at the glass; ''but l can't help
thinking of poor Dick"
Mr.. Lester sat in the drawing-room
in exactly the proper attitude, and prop
erly excited-no more. He informed |
the old lady that he had lost his heart to |
her daughter, and that as he believed |
he had found favor in that young lady's |
eyes, desired to have permission to pay |
his addresses.
And Mrs. Cranstone listened calmly |
and answered thus:
'.N1r. Lester, think you are what
they call very good match, and I've
nothing against you. 1t shall be as she
chooses. Only it's but fair to tell you
this. You must take my daughter for
herself, for in q weeks time we shall
leave this house, and go back to my lit
tie shop. I've been specializing, and
well, you know how things go some-
times.''
Eyes, know" replied Percival. He
turned pale as death as he spoke, and
sat looking down at the carpet.
After while he said:
81 am very sorry, very sorry indeed"
and arose and bowed himself out of the
door.
An hour afterwards Polly, to whom
her mother had told the same story of
speculation and loss, received a note.
1t ran thus:
'sMY DARLING MARIAN.-You know
/ adore and must adore you for ever,
but my habits are extravagant. My
father, like your mother, has entered
into disastrous speculations, and will
not bind you to a marriage which could
result in nothing but misery.
Yours ever, in deep despair,
PERCIvAL LESTER"
All, it was all like dream to Polly.
They went back to the old house, and
boxes were brushed, the counter oiled,
the pins and buttons, and striped blue
elastic, and boxes of cheap thimbles,
and the cardboard notices stamped for
working in silk, graced the glass once
more.
The same limited number of custom
ers dropped in. and Polly served be-
hind the counter and washed the dishes
in the back room. She was very wretched
and life looked very dark indeed to her.
Mrs Dempster and her son still lived
on the upper floor. The mother told
Mrs. Cranstone that she thought Dick
was beginning to like Nellie Brown,
the hair-dresser's pretty daughter.
Sometimes Dick would pass the win
dow, but he never looked toward it.
Polly used to sit behind the counter
thinking of him. What a lover she had
had, and she had cast him away for
Her verdict was that
she deserved her punishment, and she
was very sad and very meek.
She expected nothing now but to die
an old maid; living behind that little
shop counter, and never having any ad-
miration OF attention again.
In this mood she sat beside her moth
er one winter evening. The table was
spread with the thick stone china; the
brown teapot and the plate of sausages
hissed on the hob. The door stood
open between the shop and parlor. All
That had happened since might have
been dream, and it might have been
liz, same ninht Il yeaI. hefor., when the