Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-05
NEARLY ESTRANGED.

"Why don't he Gomez said Lillian
Bourne, peering earnestly between the
boughs of the monster lilac. bush, whose
purple plumes waved to and fro in the
evening breeze. "0h, why don't he
come? I can't possibly be mistaken. He
said on Tuesday evening at T. and it's 20
minutes past by grandpa's clock and, oh
dear !" with a sigh that stirred the bunch
of pansies pinned on her left shoulder,
there isn't seul in sight.
By all the signs and symptoms, Lillian S
little pink ear should have burned that
evening, for they were all talking about
her at Miss Lorinda Larkins' tea party in
Dover street.
Oh, she's born coquette," said Miss
Lorinda. Two Jumps of sugar did you
say, or one, Betsey Young? She can't
help it. It's in her nature. Don't you re-
member, Mrs. Pepperfeld, what a firt her
mother was before her? But she'll never
play fast and lose with Gilbert Dawson
again-that I'll go bail y
Oh, do tell us all about 1t, Miss Lark
Inc, said the Widow Peabody, with her
mouth full of chicken salad.
Well, if you won't repeat it"
Repeat it We Never as long as we
live p was the reply that went around the
tea.table in one accent.
"0f course" added Miss Lorinda, cts
all quite private and confidential between
ourselves. Bat it was at the Medburys
party. What business the Medburys have
to give parties, with bought ice.cream and
two violins and harp, don't know.
Every one is perfectly aware that
there's a mortgage on the place, and that
her dressmaker's bill amt paid. Bat that
amt neither here.nor there.
81 was there in my dyed-green gown,
trimmed with Aunts Liddy's old English
lace, and was a-lookin' at the big orange
tree in the conservatory another OF
Mrs. Medbury's sinful extravagances-
when l see Lily Bourne in her white frock
on the other side Of the bank Of flowers
a-gigglia' and a-whisperin' with Squire Ru-
fus Darhn' :"
"My !" calculated the other ladies with
open mouths.
" And up came Mrs. Medbury all in a
smile-she smiles twice as often as before
since she got them new false teeth-and
whispers in her esr. And says Lily, out
loud, says she, 'Oh, l can't I'm engaged
to Mr.. DarlIn =
"No" cried Mrs Pepperfeld.
So heard it with these very ears, sol.
EMMY answered Miss L9rinda
Engaged = shrieked Miss Young, whose
own dImpled niece was even then laying
siege to Mr. Darling's adamantine heart.
Engaged, repeated Miss Lorinda Lark.
ms.
And she keeping company with Gilbert
Dawson - exclaimed the Widow Peabody,
breathlessly.
But she won't never trife with him no
more, added Miss LOrinda, with lids
guised satisfaction. For | met Gilbert
yesterday afternoon, and asked him about
his mothers rheumatism, and what the
doctor said about it, and he never took no
notice Of my questions. You know that
absent way young men have when they are
in love
az xcuse me- Miss Larkins, says he,
but I'm in little hurry, a-lookin' right
over the top of my head, as if l WASH t
there at all. II you're COIN to see Miss
Bourne, says l, there amt no such terri
bic hurry. Says he, What do you meant
d" And he looked at me sharp enough this
time Hain't you heerd? She's engaged
to Squire Darling, says |. And says be,
1t can't be possible 2 Says [, herd it
from her own lips; and all Pekasset's
talkin' about it, says l.
GO The idea OF young creeter like that
sellin' herself for money and fine house
For everybody knows says I, that that's
all Rute Dsrling's got to recommend him
and he's old enough to be her father into
the bargain, says l. And he just turned
around and without even having the po-
likeness 80 say good-by, went of in the op-
posite direction.
young men amt accountable when
they're in love, sighed Mlss Polonia john
son, who was suspected Of being the poet
ess who wrote the love sonnets in the Pc
kasset Wc,k'y oracle.
81 amt one that NEEDLES with other
folks affairs, said Miss Lorinda, viciously
biting of piece of soda biscuit and but
ter, but l shall never encourage flirting
with any man, while your engaged to an
other. It's clean ag'in my principles"
And before the next days sun had set,
everybody in Pekasset knew all about NJ ISIS
Bourne's engagement TO Squire Rufus Oar
Don'I mind it, Gilbert, said old Mrs.
Dawson. " Do not let a silly girls caprioes
break your heart"
BE lay on be sofa in the pretty little
keepiug-room, where the floor was csrpeted
with blue, because blue was Lillian Bourne's
favorite color, and the wallis were prepared
with white nd-gold lilies because the lily
was her name-hower.
Fringes Of pale mignonette hung on the
window-b boxes, and > canary ohirped glee-
fully in the sunshine for Gilbert had INSIDE
his home beautiful because he wanted Lii.
ian to like it.
Mother, said the young man, with a
tremble in his voice, " l loved her y
BatYounever we're actually betrothed,
spoke the old lady, pitifully.
Not in words, mother but we under
stood each other, and No matter it's
over and past now, ssid Gilbert, sadly.
Mrs. Dawson pressed his hand with true
maternal sympathy.
My poor boy p she whispered. "Try
and forget her.
81 can't do that, mother. But, with
sudden resolve, "Pll go away from here.
III accept my Uncle RaVenburn's invita-