Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-01-30

!
you take the key?"
"Yes, Auntie; it's in my pocket"
'Pocketi-can they put pockets in
sea-foamp laughed Tom, tucking the
linen lap-robe about the young lady's
billowy flounces. 81 feel myself quite
inadequate to the care of this fluffy ele-
gance, Mrs. Blunt, do assure you"
''But it's his; he has only to ask and
it's all his.n thought Miss Daisy,
scornfully, as she babe her aunt gay
goodbye.
In the whole region roundabout there
was not lovelier drive than this five
miles between Oakland and Oakland
Falls. Taking it by moonlight, on q
perfect July evening, with fascinating
young lady by his side, and spirited
horse obedient to his will, Tom Ray
mOnd mentally acknowledged that the
conditions were favorable for enjoyment.
He had been planning this tete a-tete for
days; indeed he had gone so far as to form
ulate certain momentous speeches to be de-
livered on this occasion, but with the
strongest desire to lead the conversation
into sentimental channels, he was con-
tinually bafiled by an intangible some
thing in Miss Daisy's manner He spoke
of lovely bird he was mounting espe-
Cially for herself, and she discoursed of
the swallows in Aunt Abby's chimney {;
he limited at mans craving for affection,
and she deplored Abrams craving for
drink; he quoted Aurora Leigh, and she
cited Mother Goose. She sang nasally
1IEYn nnopnn Gho1 ,,,i,,,tnlynl 1Sn,,irn
Eddy's late Fourth. of-July grafton, and,
in word, was as captivating, frivolous
and reckless as a heavy-hearted girl well
could be. AS she passed Grace Raymond
in the hall -hat young lady whisper cd
to Jack McKeen that Daisy Campbell
was the belle of the audience.
"With one exception, of course, "
amended gallant Jack.
Proud, sensitive little Daisy! She
pretended to listen to the music; but
from Lord Admiral to Little Buttercup
the entire company seemed to her to be
chanting, 'Tve only to ask, to ask, to
ask-Pve only to ask for the little lady. ="
Her very fan kept time to this refrain.
She was thankful when the opera ended.
For all that, on the homeward drive she
wished herself back in the hall 1t was
so hard to meet Toms lover-like gaze
with indifference, to school her warm,
wayward heart against his tenderness, so
precious but yesterday At first she
stroye bravely to maintain her former
vivacity, but her liveliest sallies fell I'M
needed. The slogan was in the air.
Daisy knew Tom had something particu-
lar to say. All, well, for that matter, so
had she. Clasping her cold little hands
together resolutely, she waited in silence.
"Daisy, I've been thinking"
Dangerous symptoms, my young
friend; let the doctor prescribe"
'Im going back to the medical school
next week, Daisy"
$50 soon"-in tone of cool regret.
"And want to ask you, Daisy"
'T've only to ask, and the little lady's
mine," prompted taunting memory, kind
ling In Daisy's eyes dangerous fire.
Notwithstanding his vaunted assur-
ance, Tom hesitated over the vital ques.
ton, fdgeting with the reins till the
horse rebelled and started off at canter.
Having soothed the animals ruffled feel
ings, Tom began afresh.
'Daisy?"
"Well, Mr.. Raymond"
"Now, Daisy, you promised to call
me Tom"
"Did 1? 1t isn't half so pretty name
as Mr.. Raymond"
'I'm glad if you like my name, Daisy.
I wish you'd take it too keep"
'You're too generous, Tom. Pm not
strong minded woman. Shouldn't want
to be called Mr.. Raymond.
"Don't tease, Daisy. You know what
I mean. Pm just dying to make you
Mrs. Raymond, my beloved little wife. "
II should have to die if you did, Tom.
Beloved wives are always under tomb
stones"
"Do be serious, Daisy. You must
know I've been in love with you from the
first day | saw you"
"Ah," thought Daisy, with curling
lip, ''if l hadn't played eavesdropper,
what happy little simpleton l might
bel" Serious, Tom?' she said aloud !;
'Tm literally serious as the grave.
You've made my stay at Oakland very
pleasant you've given me glorious
drives and sails and I'm no end obliged.
But in regard to this new favor you pro-
pose to confer upon me, no, no, Tom; l
must decline it, thank YOU"
"Favor! Really, Daisy, fail to see
how I've provoked that sarcasm"
Lets not talk about it, Tom. All,
we're nearly home"
"But, Daisy. l must talk about ii, :"
pleaded Tom, seizing her hand. "Do
you mean you never can care for me2
oh, Daisy, Daisy, don't say it?"
His manner was eager, his tone peril
ously sweet, though now at the door, he
made no movement to alight; it seemed
as if he could not let Daisy go till she
had promised to love him.
Don't be absurd, Tom," cried she,
almost beside herself with the fear lest
she might yield in spite of everything.
"rll never marry you-never! never
Why, Tom Raymond, I'd as soon marry
that hen -coopW
To do Daisy justice, she hardly knew
what she said. Bent on convincing her
overwise lover that she was not his to be
had for the asking, she had hurled the
hen-coop into her sentence simply for
emphasis. 1t wounded Tom beyond all
expression. To offer himself to young
lady as husband, only to be rejected by
her as hen -coop--this he felt was too
much for human nature to bear. With
out further dallying he helped Daisy dis
mount, and drove away with curt
adieu.
Wrctched Miss Daisy gazed after him
with lack-lustre eyes, feeling as spirit
less as a glass of yesterdays soda water.
How angry he must have been to have
left her to unlock the door for herself
And, oh, dear, what allied the keyl