Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-06

ing TO milk the COW. From the day she
became a visitor in the household he
had been Miss Daisy's willing slave,
and now that Mr.. Blunt was Temporal
rily absent, the honest servitor took it
upon himself to look in at odd hours "to
see if Miss Blunt and that posy-fsced
little niece of hern needed doing for"
"Maybe fresh buttermilk will help
that sun-burn," pursued Mrs. Blunt,
still misinterpreting the cause of Miss
Daisy's heightened color. "I'd try it.
You'll hate to go to the falls as red as
hollyhock."
81 hate to leave you alone so late in
the evening, auntie," said Daisy,
throwing a handful of empty pods at
the chickens at the door stone. "I'm
afraid you'll be nervous about the
tramp that called this morning"
"Nonsense, my dear; I'm not one of
the nervous sort. always stay by my
self nights when your uncle goes to his
lodge meetings. IT | get tired and
sleepy, lock the doors and go to bed.
When lie on my good ear can't hear
sound, you know, and your uncle can
come in without waking me-"
"But how does he get in?'
"Oh, he takes key; we have two for
the front door. There's the extra one
over the clock. You'd better have it to-
night; then, If don't feel like sitting
up for you, won't. You won't be
likely to get home before twelve"
BY twilight Miss Daisy's crimson had
softened into sea-shell pink. Aunt Abby
fiattered herself that she had never seen
the child handsomer than when, in tllmy
draperies, she tioated down the piazza
steps to Tom Raymond's waiting phae-
ton.
"The infatuated boy looks as If he
was beholding an angel from heaven"
muttered the pleased lady, who dearly
loved Tom. But she said, prosacally:
"Do drive carefully, Tom. Daisy, did
you take the key?"
eyes, Auntie; it's in my pocket"
"Pocket?-can they put pockets in
foam?" laughed Tom, tucking the
linen lap-robe about the young lady's
billowy tlounces. 81 feel myself quite
inadequate to the care of this fluffy ele-
gance, Mrs. Blunt, l do assure you"
"But it's his; he has only to ask and
it's all his, >" thought Miss Daisy, scOrn-
fully, as she bade her aunt good bye.
In the whole region roundabout there
was not a lovelier drive than this five
miles between Oakland and Oakland
Falls. Taking it by moonlight, on
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 enjoy
ment. He had been planning this tete-
.tete for days; indeed he had gone so
far as TO formulate certain momentous
speeches to be delivered on this Occa
sion, but with the strongest desire to
lead the conversation into sentimental
channels, he was continually batfled by
an intangible something in Miss Daisy's
manner. He spoke of lovely bird he
was mounting especially for herself,
and she discoursed of the swallows In
Aunt Abby's chimney; he limited at
mans craving for affection, and she de-
plored Abrams Grazing for drink; he
quoted Aurora Leigh, and she cited
Mother Goose. She sang nasally like
Deacon Shed, mimicked Squire Eddy's
late FourtlI-of-July oration, and, in
word, was as captivating, frivolous and
reckless rs a heavy-hearted girl well
could be. As she passed Grace Ray
mond in the hall, that young lady whis-
pered to Jack McKeen that Daisy Camp
bell was the belle Of the audience.
"with one exception, of course" 5"
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, "T've only to ask, to ask, to
ask-I've only to ask for the little lady"
Her very fan kept time to this refrain.
She was thankful when the opera end
ed. 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 yester-
day, At first she strove bravely 10
maintain her former vivacity, but her
liveliest sallies fell unheeded. The slo-
gan was In the air. Daisy knew Tom
had something particular 10 say. Ah,
well, for that matter, so had she. Clasp
ing her cold little hands together reso-
lutely, she waited in silence.
''Daisy, I've 0een thinking"
Dangerous symptoms, my young
friend; let the doctor prescribe.
T'm going back to the medical school
next week, Daisy"
$50 soon ?'-in a tone of cool regret.
"And want TO ask you, Daisy"
"I've only to ask, and the little lady's
mine" prompted taunting memory,
kindling in Daisy's eyes dangerous fire.
Notwithstanding his vaunted assur-
ance, Tom hesitated over the vital qucs-
tion, fidgeting with the reins till the
horse rebelled aud started of at can
ter. Having soothed the animals ruff
fed feelings, Tom began afresh.
"DAisyW
"Well, Mr.. Raymond?"