Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-06
NOT so EASILY WON.

"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 of about"
The dip of advancing oars dre Sned
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 bv the movement of 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 fur
ther up the brook she caught fleeting
glimpse of birch canoe beneath the
smoke, and of the smokers, two gay
sungburned youths with guns and fish
ing-rods. Tom Raymond 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
thought that she could have cheerfully
seen him drown.
"'Oh, she's a daisy hummed Jack
McKeen; and rs the mocking tenor
smote her ear the quiyering 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 Daisy
CampbellS How indelicate, outrageous
And yet the song hurt her far less
than Toms words. If Tom, Tom Ray
mond, could sing 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 talk
ing about herl She had heard before
that young men by themselves were ex-
.cessiyely free in discussing their lady
friends, anG now she had proof of the
fact. Unmannerly, detestable creatures,
especially Toni
"T've only to ask, and the little
lady's mime 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 II Tom had
fault it was self-conceit, but she
wouldn't have believed he could be so
conceited as this. What had she said or
done to warrant his boastful assertionS ?
She would challenge Aunt Abby, she
would challenge Toms sister, to say
that she had ever been silly with Tom.
If there had been any Stiffness, it had
been Oh his side, unless-truthful Daisy
WINGED at the recollection-unless-
well, perhaps she did let Tom hold her
hand an instant longer than necessary
the day he helped her over the fence,
and she wished she had not clung to
him in the thunderstorm. But at eigh-
teen what girl likes to be a prude?
Though, for that matter, had she not
more than once during their summers
acquaintance snubbed Tom for trying
TO make love to her? Still, he'd only
10 ask, and the little lady was his. That
was his version of the story, and he had
yloated over 1t to Jack. Daisy lifted her
tousled brown head defiantly, and sat
bolt-upright.
~ won't be crushed-I will not" she
cried aloud, dashing her tears right and
left. "I'll 60 to Pinafore Tonight just
as if I'd heard nothing, and If hc
chooses to ask for the little lady, why,
he may. She's sure of her own mind at
last. She'll have her answer ready"
Springing from the hammock, Miss
Daisy walked with martial tread
through the garden into the kitchen to
help Aunt Abby shell the peas for
dinner.
"You must have been lying in the
sun, child" said that lady, glancing up
from the pan in her lap. "Its bad for
your eyes and bad for your complexion.
don't believe that's good place for
the hammock.
'It's horrid place." replied Daisy,
falling savagely to work. "I'm going