Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-05-25

rehearsal Saturday evening, and whel
he asks to be allowed to see me home
acquiesce readily. Jack looks so hur
and angry that | hurry across to tn,
little closet where he is arranging tn,
music books.
Jack, couldn't help it. / did it on
of pure gratitude. He has sent me tn,
two loveliest bouquets ever saw"
''And what would you say if | askec
you to receive lao more flowers from
himPi
II should say you were jealousn'
answer promptly.
.'Olive, warn you as sister," HI
promised"
"Compromised"' l repeat vaguely
"Yes, it seems horrible that peopl,
should talk about poor little innocen
baby like you-but they willm
feel rather awed for moment; ther
| say, blindly. '.Ah, well, it doesn'
matter so long as my own conscience /.
clearr' And l go back to Mr. Airing
ton and we set out.
Its such an odd sensation to be walk
ing with any one but Jack Somehow
the distance seems longer than usual
When we reach Mrs. Rabbits my es
cort asks permission to come in and get
warm, and | cannot refuse, though
blush for the shabby parlor, where ice
cream wouldn't melt But Mr.. Airing.
ton apparently sees nothing amiss and
remains pleasant half hour.
As 60 up to my room | meet my
landlady in the hall; she scowls and
doesn't answer when | bid her good
night. That woman grows uglicr every
day.
Next evening Mr.. Arlington is again
at church, but Jack whisks me away
with him Immediately after service.
The funniest thing happended to-
night | said as soon as we were in the
street. "You know how stout Mr.. Mes
mer is? Well, Miss Woodward handed
him paper Tom Thurstone gave her,
supposing it was list of next Sunday
music. Poor Mesmer looked at her all
the evening in the most heartbroken,
reproachful way, and no wonder, for
Tom whispered to me it was an anti-fat
circular"
Jack pays no heed to this interesting
anecdote, BIT opens fire at once.
"Olive, Arlington went into Mrs. Bah
bits with you last evening"
How do you know?"
Il dare say you will think it odd
followed YOU
"Odd9 1t was undetermined, ungen-
tlemanly of you,n l say vehemently.
And if he came in for few minutes it $
more that you ever cared to do"
''Oli9e, dear Olive" he says in tone
of keen reproach, is there anything that
| should more enjoy than spending y
quiet, happy hour alone with you every
Sunday evening""
Then why on earth don't you?"
say really puzzled. "Mr. Mesmer goes
home with Susie and sings for MIR. and
Mrs. Woodward
why, there is no comparison, Olive.
An unprotected orphan like you cannot
dream of receiving callers as Miss Wood
ward does, and Arlington knows it well
enough, too. 1t is wickedly selfish of
him to pay you such marked attention.
All his set will be coming to St. Ste
phens so see his last fancy" And Jack
grinds his teeth at the idea. 80, it
makes me furious to think of the slight
est breath of scandal resting on your
name, dear, dear Oliver he goes on.
swiftly. Give me the right to protect
youl BE my wife, darling, and your
life will be free from all that makes it so
hard now.'
90 | say breathlessly, Il am only
eighteen, and this is my first offer. o,
have only known you three months. l
am quite sure | shall never want to mar
ry you"'
Why docs he not urge me to take time
to consider it? In books they always
do. He only says.
This would not have been your an
swer q week ago, Olive"
Then we are silent. / am wishing he
would ask me again, and am wondering
in what delicate way | can let him I'M
derstand my perfect willingness to re-
tract my hasty refusal At the gate he
hands me some tiny thing wrapped up
in tissue paper.
Il hoped that might be our engage
ment ring" he says, sadly. AT any
rate wear it for friendships sake" He
stoops suddenly and kisses my brow, o,
so tenderly. Goodbye, my little girl"
he whispers, and strides rapidly away
at will surely be all right when we
meet again. / say in my heart, and l
rush up stairs and spend a happy hour
examining my little ring sparkling with
diamonds and turquoises by the res
plendent light of one candle.
But all the next week / long in vain
for letter from him. Nothing comes
save three bouquets and two visits from
Mr. Arlington. | am fiattered. of course
but wretched lest Jack should hear of it
and be angry,
Next Saturday and Sunday look at
Jack as imploringly as | dare, but he is
so occupied with some of the young la
dies that he does not even appear to see
me, and have no other choice but to
accept Mr. Arlington's escort.
Another week and then another drag
heavily on. My new admirer takes me
driving and to the opera, and is unre-
hitting in his attentions, but nothing
lightens my grieving heart | can't for
give him for coming between me and
Jack.
And every day see more plainly
there is something else can't forgive
him--people have begun to talk. Mrs.
Rabbits manner frightens me, it is so
cold and forbidding. The boarders all
smile or sneer knowingly as pass them
on the stairs. Even the young ladies |
meet at church begin to regard me with
suspicion and aversion. A dread of an
awful calamity hourly hangs over me.
The climax of all this annoyance oc-
ours one evening. Just as / am going
to rehearsal Mrs. Rabbit enters my room
abruptly and stares at the finger where
my precious ring is shining. / gaze
back at her in terror and uneasiness.
where did you get that there gee
gaw. Miss Hastings?' she says sharply.
| lift my head haugh;ily, surprised at
her words. She goes on in her rough,
coarse way.
ats bad enongl for you to take
young Arlingtons flowers and music,
but when you have the brass towear his
jewelry, it's high time you left rcspec-
table woman's house"
Q, my God. This, then, is what they
think of mel | shiver and gasp, the
blood forsakes my cheeks.
"When you come home tonight you
will find your wretched little trunk on
the front stoop with every dud o your n
in it. Don't ask to stay here another
night-your good names clean gone for
everr'
80, Mrs. Rabbit, don't send me off.
Where can 90? What can | do?"
ASK Ralph Arlington, she answered
with a brutal laugh.
Then l bury my face in my hands,