Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-10-25
WHY SHE REFUSED HIM.

VIII OllL I'LL oOLu illih
She drew ,rp her horse at my gate.
MIR. Landonm
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 check was little
lovelier than usual, l thought that
morning.
How do YOU do2' she said soberly.
Are you very busy?
Not yery," | answered, glancinS
back at valentine NuN' 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
ask you il YOU could come UP aud
direct Tom about trimming our poplar
trees. Tho row by the south wall, YOU
know. He knows nothing about Il, and
spoiled them tive wears ago.
Certainly. | will be 1t the Three
Elms in an hour or two, Miss Vattie. =
/ She gave me dainty military salute,
and galloped away. That and all her
1 little tricks and ways were iudcscrib-
ably pretty.
Before | came to Bayswater, nv sage
sister had warned me how beautiful
Miss Yashti Somers was. She begged
me not to fall in love with her, aud
had promised not to, | believe. But
after my house was built, and | had
settled at Bayswatcr-for the sake Of
being near my mandatory got In
the way Of spending my evenings very
often ut the place where she lived,
called the Three Fins for the trio Of
old trees that stood before the door.
The family consisted OF Mr. SOmers
who WAS aged and inlirm; Waite. as
she was called; two younger sisters OF
IL aud H. and their goycrucss, Mrs.
Stowell. Mr.. Somers had taken quite
fancy 10 me, aud entertained me with
the garrulousness Of old ago; the
children were pretty pets. and Mrs.
Stowell was sensible lady. All this.
to say nothing Of Miss Vnshtis polite
ness. made their sittiug-roOm an attraC-
tive place for solitary old bachelor.
My sister, who was plain, old-fashioned,
and practical. would have suffered I'M
told anxieties had she known it. Being
one Of the working bees Of this world.
she could see no use or virtue In such
a pretty, dainty being as Vashti 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 | really ever
thought of such thing until the morn
ing that went up to supcriuteud the
trimming Of the poplars.
Yattic had returned from her ride.
She had replaced her habit by wrap.
per of rose-colorcd cambria aud vas
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, | was madly ical.
Gus.
Il was a revelation of my own hear
that / was not prepared for therefore
/ did not 90 forward to greet her.
turned up n side path and went aruunt
to the south door The two little girls
who were there studying came forwar,
: to meet me.
/ mir. Laudon, said Rose. has vatti,
come home from her ride?n
Il believe she is in the garden. -
; answered.
Then she Is with Mr.. Louyois,r sal,
: Lilly. HE came while she was zone
7 He's very handsome. Mr.. Louynis Il.
; primly, and Sister Yatte is going +
marry him.
Rose, who was younger and no
romantic, laughed at her.
} Lilly thinks beaus are so NICE" sh
, said.
. / smiled at the children, but m
! heart ached. But ! was not fond 4
being miserable. and stroye to thro,
, OF my depression. / called Ton
: trimmed the trees, received Mr.. Som
crs' thanks, and went home. thin
; ] went about my business as usual. br
everything seemed changed | had
! strong disposition 10 run away frol
Bayswater and every body / had ey,
Q known.
8 ! did not 20 near the Three Elms Il
/. more than a month. This was unusna
D and knew would attract more attei
/ ton, but could not help il. The mo,
/. l thought Of Yattie Somers' marin,
. the more deeply miserable / was.
J felt that If she saw my face my lool
, would confess all.
: So staid at home. ! spent who
evenings with book without readin
: / took long rides over the conntr
: coming home dull and dispirited. {
invited few guests to my house, Q
q tertained the company, and bored m
z self excessively.
n But one night. as ] tossed on n
h pillow tormcnted by my disappear
X ment thought occurred to me.
d would propose to Vattie; put mys
out OF my misery,or plunge myself IN
darker despair.