Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-13
taking her seat Ut The, piano, Lydia be-

taking, her seat ut the piano, Lydia be-
gan to play and to Sing alternately,
The DRAWN groom st BrHton street
was like many other. London drawing
rooms It occupied the whole of The
first floor of the house, save in one corr
ner where the staircase assembled; and
it was therefore L-shaped, the longer
arm of the j. having three windows
looking ont into the street, and the
shorter arm one window looking out
over some news in the rear. Heavy
curtains Of tapestry hung between the
back and front portions Of the room,
but were usually looped up; and in the
back room wassthe piano at which, with
in the halo Of the two candles, Lydia
Lirripip played and sang. ].
She had considerable knowledge of
music and fine voice, and, wrapped up
in her occupation, she started when the
door of the front-room opened and a
servant, who was to her invisible, an
nounced Mr.. Horace Freake.
Lydia rose and received her visitor,
meantime ordering the gas to be lighted
1t was half-past eight. Why had he
called at that hour? Why had he not
come in the daytime, while she was SO
dull, rather than Just when she was
singing? But, upon the whole, she
was glad to see Horace, who, no doubt,
simply desired to inquire how she was
after the dance of the previous evening,
and had not been able to do so earlier.
As he betrayed, nevertheless, certain
hesitation In his manner, she led the
conversation, and asked him whether
he had enjoyed Lady Carnaby's ball.
He had, he said, pretty we'll; and then
ensned pause, tlnring which Horace
rather awkwardly took a seat at IIydia's
side, On an ottoman, and gazed at the
carpet. Mr.. Freake was not altogether
stupid, but even wits often become rath-
or dull when they are meditating an
immediate proposal; and the situation
is so trying to almost every man who
finds himself in it. that it amply ex-
cuses the exhibition Of a little uneasl
ness and nervousness. Mr.. Freake GER
tam ly IVES nervousness, but he soon re-
covered himself.
"Your father is at the meeting, I sup
pose. Don't you find It very dull all by
yourself here, Miss Lirripip?"
''Oh, no! [ have been singing; and
oil day I have been painting"
But dull, Imean, without society ? I
know that I Go; and have much more
society, L suppose, than you have. I'm
less go out, the evenings, I find, pass
very slowly ! cannot get the excite.
ment Of work, for Of course one cam
paint by artificial light; and il I try to
read [ generally go to sleep over my
book"
Il think that you must be difficult to
please, Mr.. Freale. You have a lovely
studio, and you ought always to be able
to amuse yourself with such beautiful
things as you have in your house.
"No! don't think thai an difficult
to please, Miss Li,ripip, for know ex-
actly what | want. The fact is, that q
bachelors existence is not suited to
man OF my feelings and sympathies.
have lived wrapped up i'll my selfishness
and feel my heart growing colder and
colder every day. / have beautiful
things in my house but they don't Salts
fy me. I want living beauty--some-
thing that ! may really care for, do for
---somctlling which shall make my life
completes, And it WIS to talk to you
about this, Hiss Lillipip, that / came
to see You this evening.
Lydia experienced a curious sensation
which she had never felt before.
"You know: | suppose, Miss Iirri-
pip" he continued, -'wliat I mean. You
know that since I first saw you, three
or four years ago, I have loved YOU"
And Horace took Lydia's unwilling
hand. "Can vor," he went on, "learn
to love ME? Will YOU be my"
Ratatattatsttatatt There was knock
at the front door, and Lydia was greatly
relieved.
els somebody coming up?" asked
Horace, anxiously. 'Oh, so much
want to tell you all. Say you are not
III. Send them away. But let me stay"
4 voice, evidently Mr.. Merton Muir
ley's, was now audible from below, the
drawing room windows being open and
the voice being loud.
''It is Mr.. Murley," said Lydia. I
expect that he only wants me to give
some message for him to my father. He
will not tletain me. But if let you
stay you must not talk any more as you
Lave been talking, Mr.. Freake."
At this moment there was footsteps
on the staircase, and Horace, without
another word, fled incontinently into
the back drawing room and rapidly
drew the curtains behind him so as to
conceal himself from the newcomer,
who immediately aIterward was an
nouncc>l.
Mr.. Murley was not SO nervous as
Mr.. Freake had been upon his first APP
pearance.. He shook hands with Lydia
in all easy and light-hearted manner,
paid her an airy. compliment, seated
himself comfortably opposite her, and,
without any prelininaries, revealed the
object of his visit. II know your father
is out, Miss Lirripip", he said, "and I
may as we'll confess at once that have
deliberately taken advantage Of his
absence to come to see you upon a sub
iect which nearly concerns my happi-
ness. should have spoken about it
last night but that [ could not comman d
your attention save for a few minutes at
a time. Now, however, we are safe
from interruption.
. "But, Mr.. Murley," said Lydia, lit
would be much better if yo, would call
when ray father is in.
! 7