Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-16

j meantime ordering the gas TO be lighted.
It was half-past :. Why Eai he called
at that hour7 Why had he not come in
the daytime, while size was SO dull,
4 rather than just when she Was singing?
4 But, upon the whole, she WAS glad to
i zee Horace. who, no doubt, sim ply de-
/ sired to inquire how she. WIS after the
dance of, the previous evening, and had
not been fe@to do so earlier. As h.
betrayed, nevertheless, J "a Ger
tain hesitation in his manner
she led the conversation, and asked him
whether he had euioyed Lady Carna-
by's ball. He had. he said, pretty we'll;
and then ensued pause. during which
Horace rather awkwardly took a seat at
/ Lydia's side on an ottoman and gazeC at
+ the carpet. J. Mr.. Freake was not. alto
/ gether stupid. but even wits often be-
come rather dull when they are med
itating an immediate proposal; and the
man who finds himself in it, that it am
| plv excuses the exhibition Of little un-
easiness and nervousness. Mr.. 'Freake
certainly was nervous, but he soon re-
covered himself.
"Your father is at the meeting,
II suppose. Don't you feel it very
uull al. by yourself here, Miss Lirri-
pip?' ~5'
ooh mol l have been singing; and all
day have been painting"
'But du;l, l mean, without 50 iety? I
know that do; and | have much more
society, suspect, than you have. Un-
lt.ss 20 out, the evenings, | find, pass
very slowly. cannot get the excite
ment of work, for, OF course, one can't
paint by artificial light; and if try to
read I generally 90 to sleep over my
work"
81 think that you must be difficult to
| 81 ease, MIR. FreaKe. You nave lovely
| studio, and you ought always to be able
to amuse yourae!f Among such beautiful
! things as you have in your nou &c."
mo! don't think that am Difficult.
to please, Miss Lirripip, for know ex-
actly what want. The fact is, that a
! bachelors existance is.not suited for a
| man OF my feelings and symDstules. l
live wrapped up III my seiishness, and
feel my heart growing colder aud colder
every day. 1 have beautiful things in
my house, but they don't satisfy me. I
want livi ,g beauty-something which I
may really care for-sonething which
shall make my Lie complete. And it
was to talk to you about this, Miss Lir-
riplp that | came to see you this even
| ing"
Lydia experienced curious sensation
which she had never felt before.
| 'You know, suppose. Miss L,rrip;p,"
he continued, "Whar mean. You knnw
| that since first saw you, three or four
years 20, I have loyed you" And H r.
ace took Lyda's unwil ing hanh. ''Can
YOU" he went on, LEARN to love me?
! Wal you be my"
! Ratatattatal tattat! There was knock
at the front door, and Lydia Was grea "
relieved.
lis some one coming up?" asked Hor-
ace anxiously. ION, / so mucll want to
tell YOU all. Say you are not in. Send
them away. But let me stay. Promise
to let me- stay"
A voice, evidently Mr.. Merton Muir
! ley's, was now audible from belnw, the
| drawlng-room windows being open and
tie Voice being loud.
ut is Mr.. MurIey," said Lydia. 81 ex-
pect that he only wants me 10 give some
message for him to my father. He will
rot detain me But if let you stay, you
must no. talk any more 81 you have
been talking. Mr. Freake!"
| At this moment there were footsteps
on the staircase, and Horace, without
| another word, fad incontinently into
tile back drawing-ro@m and rapidly
| drew the curtains behind him so as to
conceal himself from the newcomer,
who Immediately afterward was an
nounced.
Mr.. Murley was not SO nervous as Mr..
Freake had been upon his frst appear
ance. He shJok hands with Lydia in
an easy and light. hearted manner, paid
her an airy compliment, seated himself
comfortably opposite her, and without
many performances. revealed the object
OF his visit. II know that yoar father
is out, Miss Lirripip," he said, land I
may as well confess 1T once that I have
deliberately taken advantage Of his ab-
| sense to come and see you upon q SUBJ
jet which nearly concerns my happi-
ness. should have spoken about it last
night but that l could not command
your attention save for few moments
at a time. Now, however, we are Safe
from interruption"
"But Mr.. M1rley," said Lydia, "it
would be so much better if you would
call whea my father is in"
con, hat is not ira oor'ant my dear
Miss LirripiD. It is a subject that may
be settled by you alone"
| Please, Mr.. Murley, do not tell me
about it now" pleaded Lydia. ''The
windows are open, you know, and there
Ratatattatattattat!
i This time Horace, as we'll as Lydia,
was greatly relieved; but Mr.. Murley
! was furious, 'Let me see You to-mor-
row." be said hastily,
eyes! no! no." returned Miss Lirripip,
| thankful for an opportunity OF getting
rid of him. "Good-bye, Mr.. Murley,
goodyear and the same servant who
showed up Sir Pertlnax Popiojay showed
down Mr.. Merton Muriey, who glared
at the Baronet with look that spoke
volumes.
"My dear LYDIA" said Sir Pertinax as
| he offered both his hands t., Miss Lirri-
pip, ''you were really charming last
! night. I never saw such a perfect slyph
IN my life, and many people agreed
with me. You are the belle Of the room.
| There is no doubt about it,
I'm sure it is very good Of you. Sir
Pertinax to say so,' returned Lydia.
But thought that the countess her
| self"
"Oh, the countess! She and you can.
| not be mentioned together, nv dear,
Everyone said so. And besides, the
countess of course. is married. She ha,
met her fate. Ha, ha! But you-you
are still my dear Miss LTola. | 'nav b.
fool, but, upon my honor [ have come
here this evening with the determi,,e.1
intention OF asking you whether yuu
viii have ME. You know i worship the
very ground you stand on" A4,I, to
Lvdia's great c,nstcrnation, the old gen.
tlemau. gro size could prevent him, gal.
lantty kneit at her feet and tool, he,
ban.., with the evident intention ..
| pre- ssing it to his lips.
"Do got up, please. Sir Pert;nax," said
| Miss Llrripip, forgetting for nnomen,
hat Horace Freake was within hearing
but anxious that the baEonet should no
| make himself ccessarlly ridiculous
| even to her. sYou can talk just as we'll
| ifyou sit down; but really, don't want