The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-08-01

After while Harvey aud | met face
TO face, aud he said GOOD evening"
with a careless smile and turned 10 his
partner.
So the winter months passed. and
Poynter WIS usually my cavalier,
though now that Haryey's attentions
ceasesl. other gentlemen began to make
advances. But none OF them pleased
me. and Poynter disgusted me SO that
| could hardly treat him with necessary
ciyility. Ia fact. | was often exces-
sively rude to him. which had effect
the reverse OF that desired. aud his
visits and attentions Increased every
day.
Harvey, In the meantime, was as
attentive TO Miss Baker, aud Ii was
soon reported that they were engaged;
and even | was compelled To believe Il
when she displayed an engagement
ring.
Harvey had not been to the house
since that last day. over three months
ago; and now mamma and papa did
not mention him. / never told them
the cause of our quarrel. and they soon
ceased to question me. though | could
not help suspecting that they knew.
At last, one day, Poynter Smith
asked me, In stupid, laundering sort
OF way. If would be his wife; where
upon informed him, in manner suf-
ileiently positive, that | most assured
ly would not. His surprise was inn
mense. and he seemed TO think must
have made mistake; wanted 10 know
If | really meant IT, and said that
should. have everything | wanted. But
fhsa hs,f faGf&faI fafau IN
became; and he AT length took leave.
saying that II / should change my
mind must let him know.
As soon as lie was gone l told mann
ma all about it; and then she drew
from me the story. told with many
tears, OF Harvey's declaration, and how
I | spurned Il, aud how miserable / had
been ever since; and now he WAS en-
4 gagged To somebody else. and l would
never marry anybody. After sobbing
/ "A little with my head In her lap felt a
/ great deal better, aud that il would not
be so hard TO be an old maid after all.
My only regret was that. old ms | might
+ consider myself. no one else could pos
/ sibly consider me SO for ten years yet,
and vet during all that time / should
+ be obliged 10 go into society.
A few days after this mamma and
papa went out Que afternoon To make .
] call and was sitting alone in the par
lor. Suddenly some one pronounced
my name aud looking up ! saw Cousin
Harvey. who. when | sprang up la dis
may, caught me In his arms.
But | shall not tell any more. save
that when papa and mamma came ia
they found us sitting very costly on the
sofa where Harvey held me fast. though
tried hard to assume "a more digniiied
position at a distance when | heard
them coming.
There were a great many eNplana-
tions TO be made. and il finally appear
ed that had been the vic tim of IA con-
spiracy.
Papa and mamma had suspected
something all the time. but had known
nothing for certain until my confession.
Papa had Immediately seen Harvey.
aud had brought about this meeting.
As Tor the latter, his attentions to
Miss Baker were intended solely 10
bring me to my senses. ii had any, as
she was soon to be married To "A gen
tleman who was then abroad.
We were married after short en-.
gagement; aud, though my short mar
ried life has had some clouds. they
have resulted. generally. from my owI
pettishness, and they are becoming
more rare. But of this | am sure. thai
never was SO happy before, aud am
extremely gratiiied that | missed tbs
very narrow escape / had OF losing the
man OF my heart-N A. EreHiHs
IBortd.