The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-05-05

ana 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. ''Why don't ne come here
any more?"
ats just as well he shouldn't" an
sWered the girl; ''and if you only could
drop calling me Polly, ma; I hate it so. s"
'.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 q woman.
Don't be cross, ma," COaZed Polly.
''Dick is very well, but he is common;
and you know how elegant young Mr..
Lester is, and-and he pays me a great
deal of attention"
''Ah, that's it, sighed Mrs. Gran
stone; "he's cut Dick Dempster out.
You've Tilted the poor boy
And now PercivaI. 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, III 90 to see him, my DEAR"
said Mrs. CranstOne, putting on her
best cap at the glass; s.but I can't help
thinking Of poor Dick"
Mr.. Lester sat in the drawing-rOom
in exactly the proper attitude, and prop
eriy excited-nO more. He informed
the old lady thathe 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:
''Mr. Lester, think YOU are what
they call a 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 a weeks time we shall
leave this house, and 90 back to my lit
tie shop. I've been speculating, and
well, you know how things 90 some
times"
eyes, I know" replied Percival. He
turned pale as death as he spoke, and
sat looking down at the carpet.
After a 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 q note.
1t ran thus:
''AIY DARLING MAEIAN.-KOu know
I adore and must adore you for ever,
but my habits are eztrayagant My
father, like your mother. has entered
into disastrous speculations, and will
not bind you to a marriage which could
result in nothing bat misery.
Yours ever in deep despair,
PEECTAL LESTER"
All, it was all like q dream to Polly,
They went back TO the old house, and
the shop was opened again. The dirty
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, gracod the class once
more.
The same limited number of custom
Grs dropped in, and Polly served be-
hind the counter and washed the dishes
in the bacLroOm. She was very wretched
and life looked very dark indeed to her.
Mrs. Dempstcr 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 dresser $ pretty daughter.
Sometimes Dick would pass the win
dow, but he never looked toward it.
Polly used to sit behind the counter |
of him. What q lover she had /
had, and she had cast him away for q
fortune-hunter. 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- |
or attention again.
In this mood she sat beside her moth
spread with the thick stone china; the |
brown teapot and the plate Of sausages |
Kissed on the hob. The door stood |
open between the shop and parlor. All /
that had happened since might have |
been a dream, and it might have been /
the same night, a year before, when the !
letter had come TO them which had |
made such changes, and Polly had even |
poured out the second cup Of tea for her /
mother, when the door into the store
creaked, and looking up, she saw Dick |
there, big and brown as ever,
with such a look in his eyes. But it
could not be for her; she did not de-
serve it. And Polly dropped her head
upon her hands and burst into tears.
Then she felt Dick knecl down beside
her and put his arm around her waist.
''LOOk at me, Polly" he whispered
Look at me my dear. ] can not bear
it any more. l never can help loving
you, and for all that's come and gone,
believe YOU do love me little"
Then Polly found courage to put her
hands upon his shoulders, and whisper:
"Oh! Dick, 1 believe I do"
while, and it was only after the we'd
ling that Mrs. Cranstone, with a very
solemn face said she had confession
% make.
Il haven't lost my money at all my
lears, she said. I'm half afraid OF
t, for 1t seemed to DrIUT unhaDDInGSS
With it. Yet still it's comfortable to be
ngNV ~ e. n