Milford chronicle., 1885-01-23
NOT so EASILY WON.
BY PENN SHIRLEY.

"You seem comfortably sure of her
Tom"
"Well, why not, my dear Jack, when
I've only to ask, and the little lady's
mine? I'm immensely taken with her,
but I've hung off about"
The dip of advancing oars drowned
the rest of the sentence, but Miss Daisy
Campbell in her hammock behind the
alders had heard enough to destroy her
peace. Fearful of betraying her pres
ence by the movement of a finger, the
girl lay rigid as marble, Watching with
strained eyes two fragrant blue wreaths
of smoke gliding past her retreat, till
through an opening in the bushes
farther up the brook she caught a feet
ing glimpse of a birch canoe beneath the
smoke, and of the smokers, two gay
sunburned youths with guns and fish
ing-rods. Tom Rly mond sat in the
stern, tall, handsome Tom, who had but
now boasted of his easy conquest of
herself. In that moment of wounded
pride and fierce Indignation Miss Daisy
hought that she could have cheerfully
seen him drown.
"'Oh, she's daisy" hummed Jack
McKeen; and as the mocking tenor
smote her ear the quivering listener
thought she could have seen Jack
drown too-the saucy, idle tell-tale
Why need he proclaim to the birds of
the air and the fishes of the water that
the lady in question, Toms little lady to
be had for the asking, was no other than
herself, Mrs. Blunt's city niece, little
Daily Campbell? How indelicate, out
rageous
And yet the song hurt her far less
than Toms words. If Tom, Tom
could speak so lightly of her,
why might not Jack sing what he
pleased, and all Oakland listen? So
that was the way Tom was in the habit
of talking about her She had heard
before that young men by themselves
were excessively free in discussing their
lady friends, and now she had proof of
the fact. Unmannerly, detestable crea.
lures, especi lily Tom
I've only to ask, and the little lady's
mine,' those were his very words"
moaned hapless little Daisy, hiding her
hot face among the hammock cushions
in an agony of humiliation. She had
always felt that if Tom had fault it
was self conceit, but she wouldn't have
he could he so conceited as
ibis. What had she said or done to
warrant his boastful assertion ? She |
would challenge Aunt Abby, she would |
challenge Toms sister, to say that she
lad ever been silly with Tom. II there
lad been any Stiffness, it had not been
IN her side, unless-truthful Daisy |
Viuced at the ecollection-unless-w |
perhaps she did let Tom hold her hand |
n instant longer than necessary the
lay he helped her over the fence, and
he wished she had not clung to him in
he thunder storm. But at eighteen !
hat girl likes to be a prude. Though,
Or that matter, had she not more than
nee during their summers acquaint
nee snubbed Tom for trying to make
I've to her? Still, he'd only to ask, and
he little lady was his. This was his
ersion of the story, and he had gloated
yer it to Jack. Daisy lifted her tousled
rown head defantly, and sat bolt
pright.
81 won't be erushed-I will not I" she
,ied aloud, dashing her tears right and
1t. 'I'll go to 'Pinafore' tonight Just as
I'd overheard nothing, and if he
loOses to ask for the little lady, why
, may. She's sure of her own mind at
st. She'll have her answer ready"
Springing from the hammock, Miss
aisy walked with martial tread through
e garden into the kitchen to help
unit Abby shell the peas for dinner. J
You must have been lying in the sun,
hid, said that lady, glancing up from
e pan in her lap. "It's bad for your !
es and bad for your complexion. I
MT believe that's a good place for the I
Its horrid place, " responded Daisy, /
ling savagely to work. I'm going
ask Abram to hang it where It was v
fore.
Abram was the intermittent help of 4
Q Blunt establishment, who carried on n
farm and came night and morning
milk the COW. From the day she he
ne visitor in the household he had o
On Miss Dlisy's willing slave, and now n
1t Mr.. Blunt was temporarily absent. a
honest servitor took it upon himself b
look in at odd hours ''to see if Miss
mt and that posy-faeed little niece of a
n needed doing for. n
Maybe fresh buttermilk will help that n
lburn, pursued Mrs. Blunt still mis- I
the cause of Miss Daisy's b
ghtened color. I'D try it. You'll
g to go to the Falls as red as holly "
X. O,
Despite her chagrin, Miss Daisy smiled hi
he misuse of pronouns, knowing per- h,
ily well that if she were to look like a eI
hit her aunt would regret it more than e.
For a sensible woman. without la
ue personal vanity, it must be ad- h,