The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-06-29
IN THE OLD ARBOR.

In The OLD ARBOR.
Marjorie More, had had a quarrel
with Will Wharton; but felt sure he
would come to me TO make it all up
1t was his fault. and would not more
than meet him halfway. but would do
that. So waited for him, and he did
not come.
Soon l discovered that though he
might have written, he could not well
have come i'm person.
An officer in the navy must obey or
| ders, and his vessel had sailed away to
| be gone two years.
''He will write on the first opportun-
ity." | said.
But he did not write. Then, said:
when he returns | must See him,
and time will have claimed us both. Re-
| ally, we were fools to quarrel Mt all ov-
er SO slight a thing" S----
And l was very sad and very penitcnt
although | would not write. No, never
that. He should not have it to say that
| wrote first.
We were at the end of the winter by
this time, and spring came soon, full Of
preparations for a gay summer. My
mother and sisters were SOinE to the
seaside; /, of course went with them.
They all knew that there had been q
'tiif' between Marjorie and Will, and
all took different views of it. Mamma
was of opinion that in such q changing
world rs this, little quarrels should be
made upland that | ought to write
though, TO be sure, very dignified let
ter.
Josephine was contrary minded, :"
break off and make a surer match. And
Katy, who always laughed at every
thing, said that it will do viii good
and make him properly hup1le to let
him alone until he came round him.
self.
had my doubts about The "uom.ns
round" but l said nothing.
There was to be n dance at the hotel
that night, and had heard that Miss
Mamie Dew was to be present. had
never seen Miss Dew, but VIII had once
said to me that she was so charming
that if he had not already fallen in love
with me he might have lost his heart to
her
Ifmy idea was to cut Miss Dew out. the
effort was failure. She was pretticr
than had ever drcamt of her being and
only seventeen.
When we were introduced, she said
1--WE often heard Captain Wharton
speak of you, Miss More and blushed
beautifully.
''On her '.engagement-fingcr glitter
ed splendid diamond, and she looked,
to my eyes. rs though her heart and
soul were full of someone.
How mine ached!
'.She took great fancy to me-" she
told nv sister; and she sought my so
cicty rs though she did.
At last one day, rs We walked home
from the sands. she laid her hand on my
arm and said:
81 suppose you know what that ring
means?"
''Oh yes, suppose do. answered,
remembering the ring still wore on II
chain about my neck under my dress
IL thought you did. 1t was SO curl
Ous," she said 1--WE had always loved
each other. but he went away and said
nothing; and when he had been gone Il
month, he wrote and offered himself.
accepted him. and he tclegraphed to the
jeweler for a ring. An odd way of be-
ing engaged"
Yes" l answered family; ''some-
thing like young queen being married
by proxy. What is his name. Miss
Dew?"
"Oh, you don't know. them" she an
swered; .such an old friend of the fam
lily, | thought you would have been
told. It's William Wharton, and he's
away on voyage for two years Isn't
| it hard?"
"Oh, it is very hard,'' l said, and the
tears sprang to my eyes.
"You have SD much sympathy, dear, "
she said softly, 81 think you must I'M
| derstand."
.'How do you direct your lettcrs?" l
presently asked.
She told me.
That night took my ring off its chain
and enclosed it in an envelope, with that
| address, and not one word except my
name. Marjorie More.
Two years 90 by slowly sometimes
Those did, know. Josephine and Katy
got married. and Katy started on tour
having whispered in my ear:
'.Don't be an old maid, Marjorie. Get
married before he comes home. You
can if You like
Yes, could. knew that.
l remembered an elderly gentleman
who only needed word of encourage
mcnt from me-a handsome man. enOr-
mOusly rich. resolved that such love
rs could give would be all that he
would desire
The word of encouragement was CIV
en-, and / and Mr.. Chalmers were en-
gagged.
The Neptune was home again.
| Will Wharton breathed the same air
that have breathed; and yet we were
nothing to each other.
Where were his VOWS of eternal love
and fidelity?
ooh no, he never loved me, nevcr!'
! said. "Had he done SO he would not
have been so ready to turn from me.
And yet before we were both married
for after that it would be wicked
had promised myself the luxury of 90
ing quite alone to spend an hour in the
spot where we were betrOthed to each
other
hired a cab, and drove out to the
sweet country place, left it, and turning
down long lane, came to Il deserted
country-seat = long in the lawyers
hands-and entered its neglected gar
den.
There was an old arbor there, trees
grew over it and great vine shaded it.
On the broken bench within we sat 10