The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-08-19
THE LOVER>' QUARREL.
RY SAFIZ.


'sNever, while / live." said Miss Rash
leigh, 'tnever while I live, will see
your face againl'
She meant it when she said it; and as
she spoke. she threw her betrothal ring
towards her lover, who had offended
her.
1t missed him and rolled down upon the
floor, and over the sill of an open china
cioset-one of these old fashioned closets
that used to stand ON either side of the
mautlepiece.
She did not notice where it rolled; he
did though; and after she had left the
room, he turned to pick it up. The ring
she had worn would always be precious
to him.
Miss Rashleigh went straight to her
own room, as miserable girl as ever
lived; and moment later Grandmother
Rashleigh hustled into the drawing
room, pushed the green closet door to,
picked up the fallen magazine, set the
ANNALS and books of poetry straight on
the table, pulled down the shades, ar
ranged the chairs mathematically against
the wall, and hustled out again.
GIVE hal these things fifty years." she
sai to herself; ''and there's Cornelia
with her beau with no more respect
for them than if they were so much lum-
ber."
Then she closed the door behind her,
and went away to her own room up
stairs, where fine silk patchwork quilt
was in the frame, a surprise for said Cor
nelia.
Grandma Rashleigh gave every young
person of the family something of her
own manufacture on his or her wedding
day.
Nov" the old lady had said, dozen
times, to Tripheny King, who was help
ing her, Il rather think Cornelia will
have the best thing I've done; and
there's bit in it in every handsome
silk there's ever been in the family, and
of her fathers and grandfather's wedding
vests"
"Yes'm; it's real memorial quilt, ;"
said Trepheny. "It takes you, mum, to
plan such things"
The quilt was finished and bound that
afternoon; and Tripheny's job of quilt
ing being over, she went home, but she
carried about the village the news that
she twas sure all was over between Miss
Rashleigh and Mr.. Spear. Shed heard
Cornelia say something to her grandma,
and the old lady was furious"
HE would never have done that If he
had cared for me, you know, grandma"
Cornelia was saying at that moment.
''Stuff and nonsense! He loves the
ground you walk on" said the old lady.
You'll never get such another, Cor
nelial"
81 shall never marry at all. I hate
menp Cornelia answered.
And then her grandmother made the
house too hot to hold her and she went
over to her mothers, her usual course
when she fell out with grandma.
Three days passed. At the end of the
third, Piety Pratt stepped in at Mrs.
Rashleigh's-young Mrs. Rashleigh, as
they called her. though she was nearly
fifty, for grandma was old Mrs. RASH
leigh,
II expect you'll feel upset when
tell you the news, Cornelia," she said.
you've been too cruel this time-he.
he, he? Orville Spear ha'nt been heard
of since he was at your house. His
mother says he went over to explain and
make up, and he never came back-he.
he! She thought maybe he'd stepped
over to his brothers, but he hadn't-he,
hel 1 reckon he's drownded himselfr'
II don't know why the whole town
should talk over my affairs, and every
meddling old maid giggle about them!"
cried Cornelia.
Piety jumped to her feet, seized her
parasol, and turned towards the door.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cornelia and
Mrs. Rashleigh!'' she said, with a con-
temptuous courtesy. ''I'll remember
my manners, if other folk forget theirs.
Only there's other folks as likely to be
old maids as me, and I fancy it's Mrs,
Spears affairs now if anything has hap
pened to her boyr
Away hounced Miss Pratt.
You've put Piety into rage, Corne-
liza" said Mrs. Rashleigh. "That's a
pity; she has long tonguew
But Cornelia was crying.
"Oh, mother, DEAR" she sobbed, 'sit
isn't true, is it? Orville did feel dread
fully. Won't you see, motherg"
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigh's,
came flying into the room, without any
more warming than if she had been shot
from gun.
t'The old missus says you are to come
over at once, both you ladiesI she cried,
standing before Mrs. RashIeigh, and re-
peating her lesson like a parrot.
There's something of importance, and
you're needed at worst.
''Get your bonnet, Cornelia," said her
m other. "I'll just put on this sun hat.
What is it, Sally, do you know?"
81 know it's something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's lots of
folks there. Something about Mr..
Spear"
The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering