Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-09-11
WHY SHE REFUSED HIN.
She drew up her horse at my gate.
"Mr. Landonm

the path to her. She was always
beautiful in her riding-habit, and the
opal rose tint of her check was little
lovelicr than usual, l thought that
morning.
How do you do?" sho said sobcrly.
Are you very busy?'
Not very" | answered glancing
back at valentine Vox" turned up
side down on n piazza chair. What
is wanted? Can be of any service to
you?"
Not to me. But papa wished me to
ask you if you could come up and
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 Mt the Three
EIms in an hour or two. Miss Vattie."
She gave me dainty military salute.
and gallopcd away. That, and all her
little tricks aud ways were indescrib-
ably pretty.
Before | came to Bayswater, my sage
sister had warned me how beautiful
Miss NaShti Somcrs was. She begged
me not to fall in love with her. and |
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 III
the way of spending my evenings very
often at the place where she lived.
called the Three Films for the trio of
od trees that stood before the door.
The family consisted of Mr.. SOmerS,
who was aged aud inlirm; Vatlie, as
she WAS called; two Younger sisters of
II and IA, and their goycrncss, Mrs.
StowCil. MIR. SOmcrs had taken quite
4 fancy to me, and entertained me with
the garrulouSneSs of Old age; the
were pretty pets and Mrs.
6towcll was sensible lady. All this,
to say nothing Of Miss Vashti's polite
ness, made their sitting-roOm an attrac-
TIVE place for II solitary old bachelor.
My sister, who was plain. Old-fashioned,
and practical, would have suffered I'M
tod anXictics had she known it. Being
ono OF the working bees of this world,
She could see no Use or virtue in such
a pretty, dainty being as Fashti Som
tI7. The bare suggestion of her be-
coming my wife would have shocked
her rs a plan trauTht with the most
disastrous consequences.
But don't know that | really ever
thought Of such thing until the morn
ing that l went up to superintend the
of the poplars.
Yattie had returned from her ride.
She had replaced her habit by ~ wrap
per of rosc-Colored cambria, and was
cutting flowers in the garden, attended
bv gentleman. He was a stranger.
lie was young and handsome. | saw
him lift her basket; | saw her smile in
his face, aud-well, | was madjy ieal-
Gus.
1t was a revelation of my own heart
that | was not prepared for, therefore
did not 90 forward to greet her.
turned up a side path and went around
to the south door. The two little girls,
who were there studying came forward
TO meet me.
Mr.. LandOn," said Rose, has Vattie
come home from her ride?'
Il believe she is in the garden" ]
answered.
Then she is with Mr.. Louvois," sad
Lilly. He came while she was gone.
He's very handsome. Mr. Louvois is,n
primly, and Sister Vattie is going tc
marry him."
Rose, who was younger and not
laughed at her.
LILLY thinks beaus are so nice" she
said.
| smiled at the children, but my
heart ached. But | was not fond OF
being miserable, and stroye to throw
oil my depression. | called Tom,
the trees, received Mr.. Som
2rs' thanks, and went home. | think
went about my business as usual, but
everything seemed changed. had
strong disposition to run away from
BaySwater and everybody l had ever
known.
did not so near the Three Fins foI ]
more than a month. This was unusual,
and knew would attract more atten-
ion, but could not help il. The more
| thought of Nattie Somcr5' marriage
the more deeply miserable l was.
ie.t that if she saw my face my looks
would confess all.
So l staid Mt home. l spent whole
evenings with book without reading;
took long rides over the country,
coming home dutl and dispiritcd. Or
invited few guests to my house, es-
lcrtaincd the company, aud bored my
self excessively.
But one night, as / tossed on my
pillow tormented by my disappoint.
ment, thought occurred to me.
would propose to Waffle; put myself
out of my misery, or plunge myself into
darker despair.
l am aware that I 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
tho evening writing letters to her.
The one which finally dispatched was
lndited with the briefness of despera.
ton:
Miss Waite sonERs: I love you. WIN
you marry me? AUBREY LAEDoN"
Then ! rested from my labors. HeI
reply came back the next night:
Mr.. AUBREY LANDON: think you are
mistaken. No! Waite SoMERs."
Then, OF course, there was nothing
for me to do hut to forget her. This ]
did not succeed in doing.
Bat time waits not for miserable low.
ers more than for happier men. The
went by, aud it CHANGED that
never once saw Yatue Somers' face un
I'll n certain day about Christmas.
During the hot weather | drove tc
my counting-room, but on the fine
winter days | preferred to walk. Ths
road lay along the edge of large
sheet OF water cal ed Swans pond.
This by the middle of December was
frozen across.
But one morning | was rather late to
my business, and, wishing to make
Snort cut started to go across this
pond on the ice. ! had proceeded bu,
bali way across when the brittle sub-