The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-05-09

the white cups and spreading ou
the starry blooms, l said, why arr
, you always so sad. Miss Dorvaux?
Am | sad? Very few people ir
Dalebury gave me credit for that,
. fancy
My eyes look deeper down thar
the Dalebury eyes. To me you are
} always sad. Why is it? You have
youth, beauty, and, if you wished
J it, love. Why is it?
Fleurette turned her eyes to mine
Do you think these pale lilies have
any hidden troubles, Mr.. Penn?'
! None, l should say. They toll
not, neither do they spin, you know.
The people who toll aud spin are
not the only people who are unhap-
py in the world said Fleurette,
softly.
i Nor are the water-lilies the only
flowers who shut up their hearts,
and only open them after great per-
suasion.'
/. She placed one of the white stars
in her dark hair and said: We are
getting quite poetical this afternoon.
Was that a kingfisher flew by?
OF course, it was no more king
| fisher than it was an ostrich and
as Fleurette was now my prisoner
in mid-stream, l was not going to
let her escape or evade my ques-
tions for any bird that flew.
! | steadied the boat with an occa-
sional dip of the oars, and, looking
her full in the face, asked: 'Fleu-
rette, why do you treat John so
strangely?'
Her eyes dropped. Il scarcely
understand you,' she SAID.
You understand fully. Why did
you refuse to marry him?'
Il might plead Il woman's privi-
lege. If we cannot choose, we can
at least decline TO be the choice of
any particular man.
You might plead if you did not
love him; but you will not plead it,
Fleurette. It's because / know you
love him | ask YOU for an answer to
my question
Her fingers toyed nervou5ly with
her lilies, but she said nothing.
IF | thought you did not care for
him-if you can tell me SONY
question is answered, and | am sat
isfed. Answer me, Fleurette.'
She raised her head, and | saw
her brave brown eyes shining thro'
her tears.
The proudest dav in my life was
when John Penn asked me to be his
wife-the happiest day would be
the day | married him, and that
will be never
'Never-never-never. Unless
Here the girl gave sort of shudder
and covered her eyes with her
hands.
Tell me what obstacle there can
be- said, gently.
i cannot. l will not. If | could
not tell John, why should tell
you p
Your mother is a great invalid,
is she not?' l asked, after a pause.
Yes replied Fleurette.
rs it possible you fear John would
wish you to leave her? Is that the
reason, Fleurette?'
L will tell you nothing she said,
firmly. Put me ashore, please
Very well, Miss Fleurette,' / said,
resting on my oars. Then | give
you fare warning l shall never cease
until | find out everything
The girls face flushed with anger.
what right have you, she cried, to
attempt to pry into my private life ?
hate youl Put me ashore at once.
Fleurette not only had will but
temper of her own.
L will not | said, until you give
me some message | can take to
John-some word that will let him
live on hope, at least
will YOU put me ashoreT said
Fleurette, stamping her foot. My
only answer was a stroke of the oars
which sent the boat some yards
further up the stream.
Then l shall 90 myself said
Fleurette; and before 1 could COM
prehend her meaning she simply
Slipped overheard, and in a couple
OF seconds was standing on the riv-
er bank, with the water dripping
from her petticoats. She darted
across the meadow without even
looking back, and left mefeeling su-
premely ridiculous. The river was
scarcely knee-deep at this point, SO
she ran no risk of drowning. and
only suffered the Inconvenience of
wet shoes and skirts; but l could
not divest myself of the idea that
had their been six feet OF water
there, the beautiful little vixen
would have gone overheard Just the
same. / had been completely out
witted by girl of twenty, but then
no one could imagine that young
lady of the present day, attired in
an elegant wilking-dress, would
Jump out of a boat to avoid his So
ciety, however angry she might be.
Yet felt very foolish as drifted
back to Dalebury. and doubted
whether | had done Johns cause
any good.
After ALL / said. perhaps my
boasted tact and diplomacy only
pass muster in the free-and.easy
community of New Durham, and 1
shall be failure in England. Ihad
better take the first steamer and 60
back again
/ met Fleurette in the road the
next morning. Her features wore
demure smile.
You treated me shamefully,' i
said.
! lam the one to complain, 1 think.
The idea of attempting to keep me
against my will! My boots were
spoiled; / was made most uncem-
Portable, and had to explain my
draggled appearance as best l could.
] But fancy nv horror when you
stepped out of the boat; and picture
what q fool i have felt ever since
Nevertheless, / forgive you,' I said
magnanimously.
a..