Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-03
WHY SHE REFUSED HIM.
She drew up her horse at my gate.
"Mr. LandOnm

"Mr. Landon!'
l laid down my book aud went down
the path to her. She was always
beautiful in her riding-habit, and the
opal rose tint of her cheek was little
lovelier than usual, | thought that
morning.
How do you do?" she said soberly.
Are you very busy?"
Not very," | answered, glancing
back at valentine Vox" turned up
side down on a piazza chair. What
is wanted? Can | be of any service to
you?"
Not to me. But papa wished me to
direct Tom about trimming our poplar
trees. The row by the south wall, you
know. He knows nothing about it, and
spoiled them five Years ago"
Certainly. l will be at the Three
Elms in an hour or two, Miss Vattie."
She gave me a dainty military salute,
and galloped away. That and all her
little tricks and ways were indescrib-
ably pretty.
Before | came to Bayswater, my sage
sister had warned me how beautiful
Miss Vashti Somers was. She begged
me not to fall in love with her. and |
had promised not to, | believe. But
after my house was built, and 1 had
settled at Bayswater-for the sake of
being near my manufactory-l got IN
the way of spending my evenings very
often at the place where she lived,
called the Three Elms for the trio of
old trees that stood before the door.
The family consisted of Mr.. SomerS,
who was aged and infirm: Vattie, as
she was called; two younger sisters OF
II and II, and their governess, Mrs.
Stowell. Mr.. Somers had taken quite
fancy to me, and entertained me with
the garrulousness of old age; the
children were pretty pets, and Mrs.
Stowell was sensible lady. All this,
to say nothing of Miss Vashti's polite
ness, made their sitting-room an attrac.
tive place for solitary old bachelor.
My sister, who was plain, old-fashoned,
and practical, would have suffered un-
told anxieties had she known it. Being
one of the working bees of this world,
she could see no use or virtue in such
pretty, dainty being as Nashti Som.
ers. The bare suggestion OF her be-
coming my wife would have shocked
her as plan fraught with the most
disastrous consequences
But | don't know that l really ever
thought of such a thing until the morn
ing that | went up to superintend the
trimming of the poplars.
Vattie had returned from her ride.
She had replaced her habit by wrap
per of rose-colored cambria, and was
cutting flowers in the garden, attended
by gentleman. He was a stranger
He was young and handsome | saw
him lift her basket saw her smile in
his face, and-well, l was madly jeal-
Gus.
that / was not prepared for, therefore
] did not go forward to greet her.
turned up side path and went around
to the south door. The two little girls,
who were there studying came forward
to meet me.
MIR. Landon, - said Rose, has Vattie
come home from her ride?"
Il believe she is in the garden" ]
answered.
Then she is with Mr.: Louvois," said
Lilly. 'tHe came while. she was gone
He's very handsome. Mr.. Louvois is"
primly, land Sister Vattie is going to
marry him.
Rose, who was younger and not
romantic. laughed at her.
Lilly thinks beaus are so nice" she
said.
| smiled at the children, but my
heart ached. But I was not fond of
being miserable, and stroye to throw
OF my depression. l called Tom
trimmed the trees, received Mr.. Som
ers' thanks, and went home. | think
l went about my business as usual but
everything seemed changed. | had
strong disposition to ran away from
Bayswater and every body l had ever
known.
did not 90 near the Three Elms for
more than a month. This was unusual,
and | knew would attract more atten-
ton, but | could not help it. The more
l thought of Vattie Somers' marriage
the more deeply miserable | was. i
felt that if she saw my face my looks
would confess all.
So l staid at home. / spent whole
evenings with a book without reading;
/ took long rides over the country,
coming home dull and dispirited. Or
l invited a few guests to my house, en-
tertained the company, and bored my
self excessively.
But one night, as I tossed On my
pillow tormented by my disappoint-
ment, thought occurred to me.
would propose to Vattie; put myself |
out of my misery,or plunge myself into
darker despair.
| am aware that l was not very
brave lover from the first. for / wrote |
my momentous question instead OF
delivering it by word of mouth. | shut
myself up in my chamber and spent
the evening writing letters to her. |
The one which l finally dispatched was
indited with the briefness of despera.
ton:
MISS Waite SoMERs: love you. VIII |
you marry me? AUBREY LANDON"
Then | rested from my labors. Her
reply came back the next night:
MIR. AUBREY LANDoN: / think you arr |
mistaken. No! Waite SOMERS"
Then, of course, there was nothing
for me to do but to forget her. This ]