Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-07-12

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left it on bench in the park, and |
can't let her 60 alone, you know. If
we lose this boat there's another an
hour later" But the next boat did not
bring them. Mrs. Erskine spent most
of the night down at the wharf with
some companions, and when / went
downstairs next morning she was still
in her excursion dress, with disheveled
hair, and holding an open letter.
"See what you've DONE" she said,
giving me the letter. "You engaged
to him ! You'll You connived at this,
you hypocrite p
"DEAn MAMMA" (wrote Rose)-" Don't
be anxious about us. Clarence and went
Immediately to the church at Beverly
Springs, and were married before your boat
reached the wharf. 1 knew you'd never con-
sent, and it's so much more romantic to
elope.
Afcctionately your daughter,
"RosE CUTHBERr."
There was note for me, too, very
brief / love you, Linda, but
Would the flame that we're so rich in
Light fire in the kitchen,
Or the little god of love turn the spit p
That's my only excuse for being a
nave."
Lefty and 1 returned to our work.
1t would have been better for us if we
had never tried to make acquaintance
with the world of the idle and happy,
never tried to become part Of it. We
had spent our trifle of money foolishly
enough, and had gained bitter expert
ence. But after while was surprised
to find that 1 didn't feel as blighted as
expected-didn't have brain-fever or
nervous prostration, like my favorite
heroines. l began to think that my
love for Clarence had been only skin
deep after all. 1 had been taken with
his debonair graces; 1 had made no
acquaintance with his soul. began to
compare him with Mr.. Dunn, to Clar
ence's discredit. It was rather late in
the day, to be sure. to appreciate Mr..
Dunn. But fell to thinking Of him
every day. watched for him every
evening, and started whenever the
door-bell rang.
"After all" said Lefty, one day,
throwing down the evening paper, 'it
was lucky you didn't marry Mr.. Dunn
"Why," 1 asked.
"Oh, he has managed to lose all
his money-all but an annuity"
He had said to me once that if ever
| changed my mind, if ever | thought
L could love him, perhaps would let
him know, and had promised would.
He will never ask me again to mar
ry him. I thought, and so kept my
promise. Every day I thought as L
left my work, +" L shall find him wait
ing for me at home" Every morning
when the postman came up the street
my heart beat dorole; but at the end
Of a fortnight nothing had happened.
One summer night, after the days
work was over, Lefty and l were rest
ing in the parlor that opened into the
old-fashioned garden in Roxbury, with
its hollyhocks and Notwithstanding
and London pTide-for ! forgot-to tell
you this was little place which had
been left to US, with the trife of money
we squandered SO foolishly, and from
which we went in and out to our work
in the city, being unable to let it. 1t
was warm night, and we had lighted
no lamps, and the fre-fies
were cropping among the rose
bushes outside, where trees made
a soft shade, and the scent of flowers
blew in at the open window. AS the
twilight dropped down and the stars
trembled through the leaves saw Mr.
Dunn open the gate and come slowly
up the garden. I could not be mis-
taken. 1 had watched for him too
long to be deceived. I few to open
the door, but nobody rang. Then 1
threw it wide open, and there was no
one to be seen. I ran down the gar
den path, but met nobody.
"Oh, Lefty" cried, returning to
the parlor-"oh, Lefty, he is dead-he
is dead p
Who's dead, for PHYS sake?"
"Mr. Dunn, Lefty"
"Mr. Dump And what is that to
your"
"What is that to me, Lefty Why,
it is everything to me. / saw him
coming up the garden path, and the
garden is empty. I couldn't be mis-
taken-don't know every turn of his
head"
"I congratulate you on your dis
covery," said Lefty. "It's rather late,
though, isn't it, to find out That Mr..
Dunn is everything to your
"Better late than never" said a
voice at my elbow, and Mr.. Dunn's
arms were about me. l had left the
hall door open behind me in my alarm.
II was 81 ing away to seek my for
tune in Australia tomorrow" he ex-
planned, still holding me fast "but /
could not go without one last glimpse
of you, Linda 1 didn't mean to come
in. ought not to have come in"
"Oh, yes, yes" 1 cried.
az only meant to see you, if possible,
moving about your pleasant home, /
standing alone in the dusky garden
outside, only to know that you were
safe and happy once more. / was dis