The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-16

| hrSt and then walked down the Shadowy
road toward the Rose house. The Roses
were not meeting folks, and he could not
walk home with Althsa, and so break the
ice. However Silas was not bashful. 1t
| is doubtful if he realized he was going
counting at all He had a great bunch Of
| flowers in his hand, and he was merely
going to carry them to Althea; he did not
look much beyond that His horizon, blue
and sunny though it was, came close around
him always So he sat in Mrs. Resets sit
ting-room that evening and eyed Althea
| sweetly and kindly, but was not perturbed,
though he said very little.
"He's comm after you, Althea" said
her mother, after he had gone.
Althea, Sinking behind her mother,
What are you crying forl" asked her
| mother sharply
| 'l-don't want him to-"
"Get your candle and go to bed.n
Silas came regularly every Sunday even
ing after that, but he met with an obstacle
in his wooing which might have nonplusSed
| some lovers-the mother always Staid in
the room when he called. There she would
sit, straight and tiercely watchful, her
| bushy short bair curving round her ears
| However, Silas was not annoyed. The
need of formal declaration never sug-
gested itself to him; he supposed Althea
| knew, and there was no need of saving
puzzled any one to have told Altheais
opinion when Silas' attentions became
persistent; she was shy and docile, but
never expressive. Still IL was all right
with Silas, as long as she did not repulse
| him. He had had so much to do with
| flowers that he derived his notions of e. Is
| from them. He did not look for much re-
turn but sweetness and silence. At last
| Mrs. Rose grew impatient, Spring had
| come round again, and Slas had visited
| Althea whole year, and still nothing de-
cisive had been said. She could not see
why. 1t was singular that With her keen
| character she should have been so stupid,
but she was. She did not dream that her
own watchfulness and intense interest
might delay matters.
One night she spoke out blun,ly when he
was taking leave. 'Look here Silas Vim
ton, think if you an Athea are goin' to
| git married, you might as wellbe about it %
Pm ready when Althea isl said Silas.
! lie gave one glance over at her behind her
mother, then he did not dare TO look again.
He was outwardly calm. butthe shock of
| Mrs. Roses sudden remark was over his
very soul. He felt as if he were still in
| paradise, but as if some angel had given
| aim a rude shake.
90 she's ready enough, - said Mrs Rose.
''She don't need to have any thing more'n
a dress new, an we can make that in a
week.
"A week2" repeated Slas, half in rap
ture half in stupidity, well, I'm all
ready when Althea is Pm all ready" He
kept saying it over as he backed down the
steps.
"Tll git the stuff for the dress tomorrow,
then, called Mrs. Rose after him, standing
in the door.
Pm all ready when Althea is" Silas'
voice answered out of the darkness.
As for Althea, when tn door closed after
him she began to cry. Her mother turned
round and saw her
"What.air you cryin' for9" she demanded
| 80. mother, | don't want to get married
in week. / WON'T Sop
'Althea Rose" said her mother, eff you
don't quit cryin', an light your candle, an
| go to bed an behave yourself, Ill shake
you"
And Althea lit her candle and went. The
old whip-crack was too much for her, But
when she was in her room alone, she
| clinched her fists, and shook her stubborn
head at herself in her little looking glass.
Il WON'T" muttered she. Sol"
The next morning tho trees were all in
| blossom, and Silas was out in his garden
working. He was all over his excitsmenl
| of last night. His mind was running in the
larger circle into which Mrs Roses pro-
posal like stone in a pond, had thrown
| it, just as calmly as it had in a smaller
He felt as if he had always been going to
be married in a week.
Its jest such mornin' as twas last
year" saidhe, when counted her in after
the daffodils"
.'Slasr
"Why, Althea, you've come ag'inp'
She was flushed and trembling but her
eyes were keen. Il want to tell you some
thing, Silas"
why, Althea, what is it2'
"You won't tell mother! Promise you
won't tell; promise-promise.
Course l won't, if you don't want me
to. Althea, what is itP'
"She'd kill me- You won't tell!"
mo, never, longs live"
She gave scared glance around her
''Mother's making me marry YOU" said
SIDE, bluntly, AN Ldon't want to-"
80, Altheaw
cts the truth"
Silas stood staring at her pitifully. "You
was so afraid of her you didn't dare say
any thing, weren't you:" said he.
Eyes, Twas"
'You poor little thing!" Great tears ran
down Silas' cheeks.
Then l needn't marry you, need IP'
Course you needn't"
"Well. how can we fix it," You know
we've got to tell mother something"
Il guess l don't know just what yoU
mean"
"Motherll make an awful fuss; she's sci
on my having you; she thinks you've got
property. An if she knew | was the one
that broke it off, she'd kill me. You've got
to make her think you're the one"
''But amt"
"That don't make any difference; you've
| got to make her think 500
'But what shall say the reason was?n
Say you've thought it over, and you
| don't know how to support wife" Shell
| believe that. They all know your father
was awful tight"
The bewilderment in Silas's face almost
obscured its awful sadness
you won't let her blame me, anyhow,
| will you, Silas!"
mo; she sha'n't blame you. rll tell lies
before she shall blame you"
"You are awful good, Silas. Say, you
don't mind much, do youln
"No. Don't think nothin' about me
! sha'n't mind; I've got my flowers. AL
| thea"
"Whatr
81 don't know as you'll want to; jest
| happened to think of it, that's all YoI
know folks when they're goin' to get IN ar
| ried, the way we was, kiss each other. YoI
| 'ain't ever kissed me. | never though
much about wantin' you to till now, wher
| you are goin' Would you mind it to kiss
me once2 don't suppose you will want
| to"
ayes, 1 will" said Althea; and she pu
up her sweet face and kissed him.
He choked back sob. You'd better 90
| now,n said he, ''or your mother'll be won
| derin' where you are"
She looked frightened "You be sure MOI
to let her blame me, she said as she turned
to 60. ~, - ~.