The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-01-15


pot, as you can see, by the way the
flowers are allowed To run Wild
But | only want one. he says. and
does not offer to pick it for himself.
Here, them" l say. breaking oil a
small and rather slckly looking bud.
You can have this ii you like.
lie takes il with smile. and walks
away with the rosebud in his hand My
face flushes rs | look after him. cen
sciuus that have acted in very silly
and childish manner. Why did | not
give him one of the roses that are
blooming around me in such profusion!
do not go indoors until it is time
/ for luncheon, and when. after Wa hing
my hands and putting on a clean rolla
and lace cuffs. go downstairs, find
that NJ. Thornton is in the dining
room, sitting at the table with the
others.
Lena is always late" my aunt in-
forms him with an indulgent smile
Now, Sis, | won't have YOU telling
tales out of school," my father says.
He always calls her isis" to distin-
guish her from me. She smiles serene.
ly and says. in that provoking way OF
hers:
But it is true. though, Mr.. Thorn
ton. She is always late for everything"
Even for her dinner" he returns;
and she laughs at his silly joke.
think MIR. Thornton is a hateful
person. and l can't imagine how | could
have thought him nice last night. 1t
was BECAUSE he knew how to dance.
suppose.
Aztec luncheon, he asks aunt to walk
in the garden, and as they are leaving
I the room together, invites me to ac-
company them. | am going to say
mo, when, meeting my aunt's eyes,
! say Yes" instead, out of aggrava-
| ton.
1t is no pleasure for me to walk be-
side Mr.. Thornton, while he addresses
all his conversation to my aunt; but as
she does not desire my company, | feel
n certain kind of satisfaction in inflict-
ing it upon her.
You look like sisters" Mr.. Thorn
ton says, suddenly turning 10 me.
'Ilow odd to have such Il youthful
! auntr'
| Il sometimes think Lena would like
Inc better if had the dignity of years
upon me-" observes my aunt with n
/ smile. What wilderness this garden
is.'' she adds, glancing round with her
gentle disapproval.
You like the geOmctrical style, OBJ
served Mr.. Thornton; ''candidly, |
don t. like Il garden that is Il agarden
all the year round.'
so do l." and uubend little, for
| l have been looking stiff and as unlike
myself rs it is possible to be for the
| last ten minutes.
What in the world makes you look
! SO ill-tempered to-day?" Aunt Lena
iys. My dear, you are cross enough
| TO drive Mr.. thornton away"
As if this were hint, Godfrey soon
| after turns and leaves us, and she evil
IDENTIFY believes she has spoken the truth.
Perhaps she has. | hate him, as L
said before; but still, the idea that he
should fly from my presence gives me
more pain that | care to acknowledge
1 resolve to avoid him for the future
| and contrive to do so for the next few
| days.
But he catches ME one day Just as
| ain crossing the lawn, and, as he stands
right in the path, | can't possibly void
| him
Where are you Off to, my pretty
| maidP" he says.
What a hackneyed question: Isay,
lowering my red parasol so that he
can't see my face.
''Well, then, to speak in the plain
language OF everyday life, why do you
run away from me3 What have done
to offend you?"
Nothing. | am sure you could not
do less. could you?" and with little
bow | walk round him and continue on
my way.
A few days later my aunt comes to
my room with a radiant face. | am
standing before my mirror b. ushing
out my rebellious locks, and she comes
and stands just behind me, looking
over nv shoulder.
''Well?' | say, knowing what is COM
ing, and hide my tell-tale face behind
d merciful cloud of air-merciful be-
cause it shields me from my aunt's keen
eyes.
Mr.. Thornton has proposed"
81 congratulate you with all my
heart"
How glibly the falsehood falls from
my lips.
"Well, ] think ! am rather lucky"
observes my aunt. HE is very well
off. your father tells me; and his con-
nectiOns!-he is connected with several
| titled families, and he is very nice him.
self, - she adds, as if that were an after
thought.
Yes" say mechanically. brushing
my hair with the regularity of ma
chine. until nv aunt leaves, when l
quickly lock the door and fling myself
on the bed, not in tears, but with an
aching heart and dry, wide-open eyes.
Presently get up and go on with my
toilet. One must attend to the ordin-
ary duties of life if one is broken-heart-
ed.
am glad of it, for just as | have
made myself presentable, somebody
knocks at the door.
| open it, and in walks mother, look
ing so pale that | give a cry of surprise.
happened? Father is all right?" in 4
paroXysm of tears, for saw. him ride
off at six in the morning on a spirited
horse that no one else would dare to
mount
''Your father is all right, child she
return%; ''he is downstairs. He came
back half an hour ago"
''Thcn, what is it?''
ucslly SdNS "llO -
Of tremble, lit is your aunt who is so
hurt, so angry.
But why?" l cry in unmitigated
surprise and bew lderment; ''she SEEM
ed so happy short time ago. What
has happened to anger her?'
''She made mistake" returns my
mother. The letter that came this
morning was not for her. She ought
to have known it, too; for he would
have addressed her as Miss Lena Yer
nom not Miss Vernon You are the
eldest daughter of the house"
Whom was it for, then?" l ask
breathlessly. WAS it for me?"
Yes, it was for me. He had loved
me all the time. / am happy wo-
man, indeed, when he clasps me in his
arms and tells me Sd with his dear
| voice.
My aunt has never forgiven me, am
sorry 10 say, but | do not parade my
happiness before her. am more mer-
cltul to her than she was to me in her
/ hlla of