Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-11-29
Mrs. Dawson pressed his hand with

| thoSe OLD Mexican cities, where he Is u
sketch and paint. I'm not much of an
artist myself, but can manage to while
the time away somehow. AT all events,
l can't stay here and see Lillian mar.
ried to that pompous fellow, Darling u
He had not been gone ten minutes to
the village, after that momentous con.
versation, when there came the tiniesi
OF knocks to the door, and in response
to Mrs. Dawson's "come inr' there en-
tered--Miss Lillian Bourne herself.
Fresh from the spring woods, with a
basket of the pale pink, trailing arbutus,
which she herself had gathered, in her
land.
But she paused on the threshold as
she saw the hardening lines around the
mouth of Gilbcrt's mother.
cam in the way?" she asked, tim
idly. ''Have | come at the wrong
time?'
'.Pray, walk in" said Mrs. Dawson,
trying to simulate the cordiality which
her soul refused to offer to the girl who
had broken her sons heart.
81 found these arbutus-stars in the
woods" said she. II knew you were
l.
saucer of water for youp"
Mrs. Dawson assented, still without
much warmth of manner.
Il am much obliged to YOU" said
she, coldly.
IL hope Gilbert is well, said Lillian,
the color flaming hotly up into her
cheek.
'Quitc well, thank you," said Mrs.
Dawson. "He is going to Mexico with
my brother, Mr.. Ravenburn, next week,
and is consequently very busy, because
= Why, what is the matter Miss
BourneP"
For Lillian had grown deadly pale,
and uttered little cry.
''1t's-it's my TOOTH" she faltered.
at has been filled, and sometimes the
cold air makes it jump so dreadfully.
think I'll go home and put little
oil of peppermint on it,"
And so Lily slipped away, and cried
all the way home behind her VEIL
But by the time she reached her own
little room, however, sorrow had given
place to anger.
''What have l done, that he should
treat me SOP" she asked herself with
indignant heart-beats.
And then she gathered up all his
presents-the bunch of withered rose
buds, tied with the faded blue ribbon,
the little agate cross, the copy of
"Aldrich's POEMS" the peach-stone
basket that he had carved himself, and
the glittering crystals which he had
brought her from Diamond Island, and
the two or three little letters and notes
he had written her at one time and an
other.
Il will send them back!" she de-
clared HE may take them to Mexico
if he likes. | don't want them any
longer"
BY n strange coincidence, however,
as she was setting forth to the village
postoflice with the neatly tied packet,
she met Mr.. Dawson himself
He stopped. She stayed her foot
steps also. They both colored, celes-
tial rosy red
Il am glad / met you before you
went TO Mexico!" said Miss Bourne,
haughtily.
"Are you?" said Gilbert, trying his
best to appear like statue of ice.
IL wish to return you these things"
said Lillian. ''Of course, they're of no
consequence, but l thought perhaps
you would like them back again"
"Thanksr' said Gilbert, stifiiy. you
were right. 1t was exactly what l was
going TO ask you for"
Its Il pity you ever gave them to
me, since they meant so little" said
Iilv with n Qlliyerinp lin
at is hardly worth while TO discuss
that question now" said Gilbert. Il
can only hope that you will be very
happy with Squire Darling! And"
ZIP" cried Lily. with Squire Oar
ling? Why, what on earth have / got
to do with Squire Darling?"
Aren't you engaged to him?" asked
Gilbert.
ZIP" echoed Lily once again.
Lilly, don't triflc with me- sternly
uttered Dawson. II am in earnest.
Have you promised to be Rufus OAR
ling's wife, or have you not?"
''Of course l haven't" said Lily, be-
tween tears and laughter. How could
/, when he never asked me. And if he
had
YES" said Gilbert, with kindling
eyes; "and if he had
IL should have said No. whisper
ed Lily.
'Why?" demanded Gilbert, imperi-
ously.
Lily hung down her pretty head.
Because, she faltered, "becausc 1
don't like him. Because | love some
body else"
Something there was in her look and
tone that set Gilbert Dawson's pulses
leaping madly through his veins.
Lilly he cricd-"my Lily-tell mo
whom it is that you loveP'
And she answered, in a paroxysm Of
bushes
"You, Gilbert"
Miss Lorinda Larkins and her friends
were utterly amazed when they heard
that Gilbert and Lily were to be mar
ried as soon as Miss Pcckham could
get the wedding-dress ready.
"Well," Miss Lorinda cried, this
does beat all. We all s'posed, as much
as could be, that you was to be Mrs.
Squire Darling"
"Oh, yes" said LiligN, calmly; 81
heard something of that silly rumor.
Some gossip heard me say at Mrs.
Medbury's that u ga@ed to
Squire Darling. So was, but it was
for quadrille only. It's surprising
how little it takes to set the silly
tongues of Pekasset weighing"
Miss Lorinda turned very red. She
would have liked to have boxed Lillian
Bourne's ears, but she dared not.
All she could say was:
'Oh, indeedl Well, folks will talk"