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

cities where he is to sketch and paint. I'm
not much of an artist myself, but l can
manage to while the time away somehow.
At ali events, l can't stay here and see
Lillian married to that pompous fellow,
Darling" =,
He had not been goRe ten minutes to the
village, after that momentous conversation,
when there came the tiniest of knocks to
the door, and in response to Mrs. Dawsons
"come in" there entered-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
hand.
But she paused on the threshold as she
of Gilbert's mother.
"Am 1 in the Way" she asked timidly.
Have come at the wrong time y
"Pray, walk in, said Mrs. Dawson, try.
ing to simulate the cordislity 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. 81 knew you were fond
of them. May put them in saucer Of
water for you ?"
Mrs. Dawson assented, still without
much warmth of manner.
Il am much obliged 30 you, said she,
coldly.
81 hope Gilbert is we'll, said Lillian, the
color flaming holly up into her cheek.
"Quite well, 1 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 Bourne p
For Lillian had grown deadly pale, and
uttered little cry.
"It's-its my tooth, she faltered. sit
has been filed, and sometimes the cold air
makes it Jump SO dreadfully. l think I'll
90 home and put little oil of peppermint
on it.
And SO Lily slipped away and cried all
the way home behind her vail.
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 so p 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 him
self, 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 another.
81 will send them back, she declared.
"He may take them to Mexico if he likes.
| don't want them any longer"
By a strange coincidence, however, as
she was setting forth to the village Post
office with the neatly tied packet, she met
Mr.. Dawson himself.
He stopped. She stayed her footsteps
also. They both colored, celestial rosy
red.
81 am glad l met you before you went
to Mexico p said Miss Bourne, haughtily.
care you ?" said Gilbert, trying his best
to appear like statue of ice.
81 wish to return you these things, " said
Lillian. "Of course, they're of no conse-
quenoe, but I thought perhaps you would
like them back again.
Thanks !' said Gilbert, stiffiy. "You
were right. 1t was exactly what was CO.
ing to ask you for"
'' It's pity you ever gave them 70 me,
since they meant so little, said Lily, with
q
sit is hardly worth while to discuss that
question now" said Gilbert 81 can only
hope that you will be very happy with
Squire Darling And"
81? ?" 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.
"I?" echoed Lily once again.
Lilly, don't trifie with me, sternly ut.
tered Dawson, 81 am in earnest. Have
you promised to be Rufus DArling's wife,
or have you not p
"Of course I haven't" said Lily, be-
tween tears.and laughter. "How could I
when he never asked me. And if he had"
eyes" said Gilbert, with kindling eyea;
" and if he had"
81 should have said No." whispered
Lily.
"Why ?" demanded Gilbert, imperiously.
Lily hung down her pretty head.
Because" she faltered, because l
don't Ike him. Because love somebody
else."
Something there was in her look and tone
that set Gilbert Dawsoh's pulses leaping
madly through his veins.
"Lilyf' he cried-"my Lily-tell me
whom it ia that you love 2"
Aud she answered, in paroxysm of
blushes,
"You, Gilbert"
Miss Lorinda Larkins and her friends
were utterly amazed when they heard that
Gilbert and Lily were to be married as soon
as Miss Peckham could get the wedding
dress ready.
"Well, " Miss Lorinda cried, this does
beat all. We all sposed, as much as could
be, that you was to be Mrs. Squire Oar
ling"
"Oh, yes, said Lillian, calmly; 81
heard something of that silly rumor. Some
gossip heard me ssy at Mrs, Medburys
party that I was engaged to Squire Oar
ling So l 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
Beurne's ears, but she dared not.
All she could say was
Oh, indeed Well, folks will talk"
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