The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-11-28
ON THANKSGIVING EVENING
lOrigina!.l

u ,.
one moving rapidly up the hill in the twill, hit
gave life and delcacy to ths bleak Novem-
Ter landscape. The man in the light car
riage some distance b,hind her thought 20
surely. He knew her very we'll, dimly as
she was outlined in the shadows and took
pleasure in watching her
For awhile the wheels of his carriage
turned as slowly as tho mills of the gods,
and made as little noise. Forgetfu of all
else, he was dreaming of the woman moving
so silently before him. His horses, taking
advantage of his absent mind ,dness, crawled
along like lazy he5.
The woman walked with an easy, grace
full STEP, apparently uncon. coui CT being
the subj of any mans dreams. She wa,
tall and cad in dark garm She stood
a moment at the top of tn, hill, making
statue clear-cut against the sky.
The man in he carriage suddenly whipped
up and overlook he.
Coed evening, Miss Garnet" he said,
with the Contidenc, of one sure Of pleas
ant reception, as h checked the bays and
sprang out, ''Eermt me TO drive you
home"
This man, though he seemed never to
cCmman |, was apt To lie obayed But the
woman wa, no used 20 obedience While
she felt tho clarmoi his manner, she I'M ler-
stool tie force tia, h.S sentencs, concealed
and resented it.
Won are very kinl, DR.. S,lgewicl, but
am out soc J Toy the pleasure OF walking
Why, thea, Should ride"
Because | should he delighted to have
YOU" he answered with sincere galantry.
Beside. tie evening is delightful, ami we
are going n tn, same dire ction'
All good reasons, certainly" she re-
Piled, In cord al voica Yet she made no
movenrns nj acceptance. On the contrary,
without definite refusing the invitation
she made tue doctor feel that she did nc5
intend 60 accept.
She Leaned careles'ly against tree
that stood close by the roadside, and her
long black wrap slipped from her shoulders
to her waist, where she held it with glove
lss hands that looked white and ghoStllke
in its black folds 1t was the unconscious
expression of an effort t. throw off
thought that was sitting her mental breath.
She was "a picture good to See,' as she
stool there in the dim light of the evening
sky, strong aud han isome as a daughter of
the gods Hers was mature, not calow
beauty. Its CHAIN was strength, not weak
ness.
'An ab,olu ely lerf,cs evening she
sail, half dreamiIy, looking lazily down
the hill into the lent meadow Ia Ids, ap.
parently forgetiUl of the request of the
man who stool waiting her decision, with
the lines of hi, restless horses in enc hand
1T would be absolutely perfect for me,
Miss Garns TIA! ce-if you wouli say but
one word He was leaning toward her in
an attitude of earnest appeal His voice
was full of feeling: his eyes looking earn
estly INTO hers and-he was very hand
some 81 am sure you know that ! love
you but for wears vCu have made me feel
that it would be Useless to SPEAK Eu to-
night | feel .mpe.el to speak; and to hopa
have been 10 lowing you with my eyes as
you walked up the hill, as hav' followed
you with my heart s. long love you. |
want you wi h me ava, VIII you
marry me, AHce| and be cl,Spei her
hand with a pressure as intense as his
voicA.
1t was a ,trange ,ima for a wooing but
Love, ike LIZ, deals in the uuprece tented.
Hour ami place are of no cons, qUance when
its message Is to lie delivered Tne two
tail figures stood alOn, IN til, gathering
darkness; tn horses champaI uneasily in
the road The winl ru,tlAi the lew re-
mining leave, brown and Tsp, overhead
The first star was glmmeru5 iesBly in the
sky, and the night was falling like a cloui
around them.
The woman turnel toward m and bent
her heal We're his words sweet to herr
Did his trush pleas'' She laid her olsen
gagged hand on his arm with frank affec-
ton, ami said slowly: ~ am very fond
of you, Dr. Ssdgewick, but l have never
thought of marrying y gu. Let us be good
friend. as we Away have been, and talk
about other things.'
Blu | cant talk of any thing el 50 just
now, Atica am too deeply in earnest. /
have waite till my hair Is gray to say this,
not because I was a coward, but because
believed hs, my love for you would win
love in. Twas patient.
6he
IL M. why not marry