The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-08-01

the last Century. and then sat and
chatted about everything i'm her lively
way-giving amusing sketches of all
her aunt's departed summer boarders,
and at last bringing in Mr.. Walton i'm
an incidental way. and declaring that
he Was a good-hearted fellow; an
awful fiirt, but that he couldn't help /;
it was born in him he had owned as
much to her. He was bound to talk
sentimental nonsense to every passa-
BILE face. He had tried it with her,
but she understood him from the first,
and his love speeches had all been
wasted. She had a dozen notes and
tender poems he had written her. But
all those city young men were tickle
ard they looked on country girls as
fair game. And then Miss Rebecca
xlided into insinuated praise of her
brothers cOnstancy and hint of the
cottage he was about to build on his
tiny farm.
Faith listened to all and put in an
answer here ard there. and even
smiles-gir can do these things. But
, when her torturer was gone, she flew
to her little room aud cried as though
her heart would break.
A Week later letter came from
Wythe-short and not particularly
tender. He was very busy. he was
just finishing that book which it had
been his summer task to write. Now
if he could get it accepted. and be-
come famous aud rich-wOuld Faith
he glad for him. He begge'l her to
write few lines and tell him how the
woods around the lake looked in their
Indian summers drapery. And Faith
longed so to write those lines, but
doubt had entered her soul, and her
mothers counsel was to "hing that
fellows foolishness in the fire and for
get him."
The days went by; Rebecca came
often, and Rebecca's brother. Faith
Vas so restless and miserable she was
glad of their company, and Richard
Lynn's fervent love-making diverted
her and soothed her bruised self-esteem.
One day he asked her again if she
would not be his wife, and she gave
him no immediate answer. Her step
mother and her father rather backed
the proposal of this good-looklng. in
dustrious young farmer. and Faith
herself liked him we'll enough. But
oh! how different was that liking
from the passionate love she could not
smother, do what she might
TO morrow you shall have your
answer" she said. "Give me till to.
morrow"
Her father had such a large family,
it was right she should marry and get
out of the way. But she shrank
from marriage almost as though it
were death.
Tomorrow" came. She was GO
ing to little party in the evening
and Richard was to be her escort.
She dressed herself listlessly enough.
but she looked lovely in spite of it. in
her ivory bunting lighted up with
blue flowers and lace. There was a
knock and she went to the door to
open it:
"Come in" she said carelesslv.
Then she caught her breath hard
and stepped back. That tall figure
i'm the fur travelling cap and gray
ulster: that never was Richard Lynn
1t was-no. it could not he. But
the next instant she knew who it was.
for he caught both her hands and
cried:
"Faith--dear-vou would not
write. so / came. And now. / am
not going away soon, unless--but come
and sit down; how white you are
Are you sorry came?"
She was trembling and he saw it
was hard for her to speak, 80 he went
on:
81 have been lucky-for once. |
sold the copyright of my book for a
good little sum. and l have a pace on
the editorial staff of a magazine that
will give me moderate salary and a
margin of time 10 write another book.
Now, Faith. that future bread and
cheese for two is in a manner assured.
I can speak and tell you what was
sorely tempted to say last summer
that l love you aud will be the hap
piest man in the state if you will con-
sent to be my wife.
There was no audible response, but
Walton must have possessed keen in
buttons, for he seemed not to need
any, and proceeded to put his arm
around the slender waist and draw
the fair head to his shoulder as though
he had right.
/ 0Abop,lr r. wos tho uood sfon.