Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-15

l
"0h was Just wondering whether
when the women came 10, the galiaut
olubbers asked tham to say whether or
not they would bs their wives Z" she
r,plled.
~ don't suppose they ssk them any
thing about It," said Frank indiiferently.
81 suppose that vould be the wiser
oourse for q man who courted In that
fashion," replied Lutte In dreamy
tone.
"What put that in you head =" agAin
asked Frank, ''do you think courted
You like an Australian savage y"
"Most assuredly not" she replied and
BiouRhton felt sure that his companion
WAS shaking with laughter. BE paid no
attention to 1t however as he was brsoipg
himself mp for the performance OF hard
duty. Presently he said, "LutIe have
never before had an opportunity to ex-
press to you my sympathy with your loss
last winter. saw Colonel Butler few
times in Washington and was there when
he died. assure you that the mourning
there WAS very general and sincere"
| "Thank you Frank" she answered,
"he was dear old man and was very
fond Il him. l mourned him As sincerely
ss anybody, but for all that think II
was rather shabby OF you TO 90 and tell
Margsret Grantley that was engaged to
him. Uatil told Katie IL was not true
they both must have thought was
| perfectly htartless creature to be going
around enjoying myself aud getting
ready to act IS q bridesmaid. Did you
Dant TO keep me away from the wedding
beeause you knew you would have 10
wait on me p she asked in pretended
wrath as though reason for his Ill oon-
duct had just dSwnsd on hsr.'
Bat Frank pad no attention to her
pretended wrath. He looked into her
eyes by such light as the stars lent him
and she shrAnk not from him. Whatever
II was he saw there II was enough for he |
drew her uuresistinRly to him and |
pRssionately kissed her as he murmured |
words OF endsarment aud delight, during |
all which most unoousinly behavior she |
seemed wonderfully submissive aud cou-
tent. Bat even love could not quiet the |
spirit OF fun In this creature At last |
she laughed and said, "You didn't have |
to knock me down second time, dear"
"Mteht have carried you off the first |
time, Lutte :" he asked.
81 think ysu might II you had turned
bRck," she replied.
"But you said Q while ago that did |
not court you like an Australian savaaef"
he continued.
"No you stopped with the knocking
down." she replied ss both laughed
aloud.
"But," said Broughton after awhile, |
"was mistaken about the colonel,
intentionsf"
"No, you foolish boy" she replied
tGsna To- a6a - Il
moment later, $50 was =" Then follow, |
full confession Of her Jeslousy Of Mar
ghrst, her effort TO reconcile herself 10 the
engagement Of that lady and her cousin
and her determination TO love the dear
old colonel. al thought was succeeding
too" said Lutte "till you came and told
me that you loved me when was ex oeot.
ing you to tell me that you were about to
marry Margaret"
"And what did the colonel thiLk :"
asked Frank.
"He thought Just what you did," she
answered, 'snd when he found me oryinR
In the grove, where you left me so cruelty
without once looking back, he asked me
to be his wife. had hardly the courage
to refuse him, Frank, and l begged his
pardon for having encouraged him, but
told him at last that could not love him
because loved you"
You darling I" exclaimed the young
msu rapturcusly. "Poor fellow" he
continued, "what did he dor"
"Maybe you won't like it II tell you"
said Lutte drawing away and looking at
Frank.
'.oh, can stand anything now ~ hs
said.
"Well then, he put bis arm around me
and stroked my hair as l cried on his
breast, and he offended me against my
own accusations and promised to b4
merely dear and true friend to me. Oh
Frank he was = noble mau I" she ex-
claimed crying q little amidst her Joy At
her recollection Of his kindness.
"He was indeed" said Frapk, though
with less enthusiasm, sand" he oon-
tinuad, "to think that l have been 80
miserable all these months on account Of
mere belief that had no foundation l'
"Yss DEAR" said Lutte In her gravsst
tone, "you always were q great goose,
and that's why we suit each other SO
As they drove up to the house they
cav light In the library aud on entering 4
found Mr.. Curtis buried in the account Of
the South Carolina difficulty. He had
had to postpone reading the papers on
account Of the Wedding. He looked up
aud greeted them pleasantly and his eyes
dropped on the paper again.
"Mr. Curtis" ssid Frank, "Lutie has
consented 10 be my wife"
"Eh 7" said the old gentleman. "Ahl
yes, see," ne continued "Well that's
all right, always supposed she would.
Stay all n ght aud we will talk It over in
the morning"
swell father you seem very glad to
get rid Of me-" said Lutte hotly.
"0h 70, "replied Mr.. Curtis lmperturba-
bly,, only glad TO have Frank come
here. This Ia q better place than yours
Frank, "he added, "And you'd better come
here. However, we'll talk that over In
the morning" Mr.. Curtis' desire to get
at his papers was so manifest that the
lovers left him. As they parted at the
foot Of the stairway Lutte said, Crank
you told papa that had consented to be
your fe. l don't remember that you
asked me lately"
"Weli do II now-Lutie Cui IFS will
yJu be my wife 7" he said.
NOW that's sensible and 10 the pint
as Unole Tom says" she replied ayes,
FrAro's BrouehtoD l will," she added Il
was = minute or two more before she was
permitted to mount the stairs, happier
than she had ever been bsiore In all her
bright and merry life. Next morning
she arose singing like lark and appeared
to her Aunt Jane before that worthy
lady was ont Of bed, and carrying her
spsaking trumpet to her she shouted in
IL, "Auut Jane I'm going to be married"
"Ween 7" asked Aunt Jane slsepily.
IN 1t week, | RuesB,n answered her
niece.
Such shocking haste aroused the
woman's soul in Aunt Jane and she sat
bolt upright in bed and stared at Lutte
That's nonsense" she said, "you can't
get ready"
"why don't you ask who # is :" de-
mapded Lutte,
"Why suppose it's Frank Broughtou
Of course. Who elsa could It be 7" said
Aunt Jane.
Lutte pouted and went ont. "The
perfect readinesss OF this family to fling
me at the head Of that young man, and
Aunt Jsue's calm assumption that he is
my last opportunity, are perfectly dis
gusting," she said aloud to herself as she
returned to her own room.
After breakfast she and Frank repaired
to the old grove and then despite h.r
startling declaration TO Aunt Jane, Lutte
insisted that after KAtis's wedding she
could never consent TO be married till
peach blossoms come again. She finally
listened TO reason, however, and agreed
to be married in TINA to anahla haY and |