Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-06-04
NOT so EASILY Won.
Harper's Bazaar.

Harper's Bazaar.
"You seem comfortably sure of her, Tom.
swell, why not, my dear Jack, when I've
only to ask, and the little lady's miner I'm
immensely taken with her. but I've hung of
/ about"
The dip Of advancing oars drowned the rest
Of the sentence, but Miss Daisy Campbell in
her hammock behind the alders, had heard
enough to destroy her peace Fearful OF be-
traying her presence by the movement of a
finger, the girl lay rigid as marble, watch
ing with strained eyes two fragrant blue
wreaths OF smoke gliding past her re-
treat, till through an opening in the bushes
further up the brook she caught a fleeting
glimpse Of birch canoe beneath the smoke,
and OF the smokers two gay, sunbuned youths,
with guns and fishing rods. Tom Raymond
sat in the stern-tall, handsome Tom, who had
but now boosted of an oasy conquest OF her
self In that moment of wounded pride and
fierce indignation, Miss Daisy thought that she
could have cheerfully seen him drown.
"'Oh, she's daisy" hummed Jack McKeen
and as the hooking tenor smote her ear the
quivering listener thought she could have seen
Jack drown too--the saucy, idle tell-taie! Why
need he proclaim to the birds of ths air and
the fishes of the water that the lady in ques-
ton, Toms little lady to be had for the asking,
no other than herself Mrs Blunts city niece,
little Daisy Campbell? How indicate out
rageousg
And yet the song hurt her far less than Toms
words If Tom, Tom Raymond, could speak
so lightly of her, why might not Jack sing what
he pleased, and all Oakland listenY So that
was the way Tom was in the habit OF talking
abont her. She had heard before that young
men by themselves were excessively froe in
discussing their lady friends, and nov sh- had
proof Of the fact Unmannerly, fetenable
creatures, especially Toni
"Tve only to ask and the little lady urine,
those were his very words" moaned hspless
little Daisy, hiding herhot face among tie ham,
mock cushions in an agony OF humiliation.
She had always felt that if Tom had a fault il
was self-conceit, but she wouldn't have
believed he could be so conceited al
this What had she said or done to
warrant his boastful assertion? She would
challange Aunt Abby, she would Challenges
Toms slater to say that she had ever been silly
with Tom II there had been any sillino1s it
had not been on her side, unless-truthful
Daisy WINGED at the recollection unless-well,
perhaps she did let Tom hoJ her hand an in
slant longer than necessary the day he helped
her over the fence, and she wished she had not
chung TO him in the thunder storm. But at IL
what girl likes to be a prude? Though, for taat
| matter, had she not more than once during
| their summer acquaintance snubbed Tom Tor
| trying to make love 70 her? Still, he'd only to
| ask, and the little lady was his. That was his
version Of the story, and he had gloated over il
| to Jack Daisy lifted her tousled brown head
| defiantly, and sat bolt upright
Il won't be crushed-l will mott" sho ci.,od
aloud, dashing her tears right and left. VII
go to 'Pinafore' tonight, just as If I'd oYsr-
| heard nothing, and if he chooses to ask for
the little lady, Why he may. She's sure OF
her mind at last She'll have her apsuer
| ready"
Springing from the hammock, Miss D ,isy
| walked with martial tread through the ga den
into the kitchen to help Aunt Abby to rhell
] peas for dinner.
@You must have been lying in the sun c,sld
| said that lady, glancing up from the PA IN
her lap ats bad TO, your eyes, and bad for
| your complexion. l don't believe that's . sood
! place for the hammock"
sits horrid place" responded Dairy, fall
| Ing savagely 10 work I'm going b. ask
| lbra III e. hang it where il was before"
Abrals was the intermittent help of the
! Blunt establishment, who carried on the farm
| and CAM hight and morning to milk the COW.
| From tlTc day sho became visitor IN the
| household, he had been Miss Daisy's slave, and
| now that SIR Blunt was temporarily aonent
| the honest servitor took it upon himself tn look
| in at odd hours "to see to Miss Blunt and thai
posy- faced little neice of hern needed hoine
| foIS
"Msybe :resh buttermlk will help thas sun
burn, pursued Mrs Blunt, still misinifrrret-
| ing the canse of Miss Daisy's heightenej color.
'I'd try II. You'll hate to go to the Falls ~ red
as a hollyhock."
Despite her chagrin, Miss Daisy SMILED al
| the misuse of pronouns, knowing perfectly
well that If she were to look like fri ght hel
| aunt would regret 1t moro than she
| For sensible woman, without undue personal
vanity, 1t must be admitted Mrs. Blunt had 9
| complacent enjoyment of the beauty of hel
stylish niece from the city.
81 hate to leave you alone 80 lac in the
evening, auntie" said Daisy throwing hand
fui of empty pods at the chickens by The dooi
stone I'm afraid you'll be nervous about the
tramp that called this morning"
Nonsense, my dear; I'm not one of the ner'
vous sort. l always stay by myself nights
when your uncle goes to his lodge meetings
! If get tired and sleepy, l lock the doors and
go to bed. When / lie on my good ear cam
hear a sound, you know, and your uncle car
come in without waking me.
"But how does he get in!"
ooh, he takes key; we have two for the
front door. There's the extra one over the
clock You'd better have it tonight; then, il
don't feel like sitting up for you, ] won't
You won't be likely TO get homo before II"
BY twilight Miss Daisy's turbulent crimson
had softeued into a sea. shell pink Aunt ABBY
hattered herself that sac had never seen tn,
child handsomer than when in himy draper
les she foated down the piazza steps 70 Ton
Raymond's waiting phaton.
"The infatuated boy looks as IL he was be
holding an angel from heaven" unused thu
pleased lady, who dearly loved Tom. But sh'
said, prosaically: do drive carefully, Tom