The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-14
WHY SIZE REFUSED Him.
She drew up her horac at my gate.

|
She drew up her horse at my gate.
"Mr. Landon" '-. 9'hl'f
laid down my book and went dowl
the path to her. She was always beau,i
full in her riding habit, and the opal ros
tint Of her cheek WIS a little lovelier tha,
usual, l thought, that morning.
"How do you do" she said sobcrly
Are you very busy?'
"Not very" answered, CHANGING bacl
ut valentine Vox" turned upside dowr
on piazza chair. "What is wanted
Can be Of any service to your"
"Not to me. But papa wished me Il
ask you II you could come up and direc'
Tom about thinning our poplar trees
The row by the south wall, you know
lie knows nothing about it, and spoiled
them i've years ago."
Certainly. l will DO at the Three
Elms in m hour or two, Miss Vattie." ,
She gave me dainty military salute
and galloped away. That, and all hei
little tricks and ways were indescribably
pretty. slilrrl aI ui7.Nj,'
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 prom.
ised not to, l believe. But after my
house was built, and I had settled at
Bsyswater-for the sake Of being near
my manufactory-1 got III the way OF
spending my evenings very often at the
place where she lived, called. the Three
Films for the trio OF old trees that stood
before the door. - The familyconSisted
Of Mr.. Somers, who was aged and iniirm !;
Vattie, as sho was called; two younger
sisters OIL and14 and their governess,
Mrs. Stowell. MIR. Somers had taken
quite fancy TO me, and entertained me
with garrulousness Of old age the child
rem were pretty pets, and Mrs. Stowell
was sensible lady. All this, TO say
nothing Of Miss Vashti's politeness, made
their sitting.room an attractive place for
solitary old bachelor. My sister, who
was plain, old.fashionod, and practical,
would have suffered untold agonies had
she known it. Being one OF the work.
ing bees Of this world, she could see no
use or virtue in such q pretty, dainty
being as Nashti Somers. The bare sug-
gestion Of her becoming my5wife would
have shocked her as plan fraueht with
the most disastrous consequences.
But | don't know that l really ever
thought OF such Il thing until the morn.
ing that l went up to superintend the
trimming OF the poplars. s-tg :
Vattie had returned from her ride.
She had replaced her habit by a wrapper
Of rose'colored cambria, and,was cutting
flowers in the garden, attended by a
gentleman. He was a stranger He waa
young and handsome. j saw him lit
her basket; L saw her smile in his face,
and-well, was madly jealous. :,
1t was q revelation OF my own heart
that WAS not prepared for, therefore ]
did not 80 forward to greet her. ]
turned up side path and went around
to the south door, Theitw little girls
who were there studying, came forward
to meet me.
"Mr. Landon," said Roso, ''has Vattie
come home from her ride?"
~ believe she is in the garden" I an
swercd.
Then she is; with Mr.. Louvois," said
Lilly. ale came while che was gone
He's very handsome. MIR. Louvois is,
primly, "and Sister Vattie is going to
marry him." -
Rose, who was younger and not 70
mantle, laughed at her. / ! -
LILLY thinks beaus arc so nice" she
said. 8 s 3 4
Lsmiled at the children. but my hear
achcd. But I was not fond OF beipl
miserable, aid strove to throw Oft my
depression. ! called Tom, trimmed thu
trees, received Mr.. Somers' thanks, ant
went home. | think l went about my
business as usual, but every thing seemed
changed i had strong disposition tc
run away from Bayswater aud everybody
l had ever known.
l did not go near-t the Three Elms iol
more than o month. This was unusual
and knew would attract attention, bu
| could not help it, The more T though
Of Vattie Somers' marriage the NOR,
deeply miserable was. | felt that i
she saw my face my looks would confess
all. =, -
So I staid ut home. 1 spent who'll
evenings with book without reading
| took long rides over the country, com
ing home dull and dispirited. Or in
viled few guests 10 my house, enter
tanned the company, and bored mysel
excessively. ri, ! =
But one night as I tossed on my pillow
tormented by my disappointment,
thought occurred to. me. l would pro
pose 10 Waite; put myself out of III,
misery, or plunge myself into darker dc
spair. & "a ~ EP
+ Lam aware that I was not very bray
lover iromthe first, fos ! Wrote my nc
momentous qupslioniinstead Of deliver
ling by word or mouth: I shut mysel
up in my chamber and spent the even
ing writing letters to her. The on
which finally dispatched was indite
with brjefness OF desperation ~ (
"AtISs VATTIE SoMgRs: Il lovel you
VIII you marry me?
AUBREY LASDoS,"
Then / rested from my labors.V He
reply came, back the next night:
"MR. AUBREY LANDoS: l think yo
arc mistaken. No! Waite SoMEgs."
Then, OF course, tfere was nothing 70
me to do but to forget her. This di
not succeed in doing.
But time waits not for miserable 10,
ers more than for happier men. ! TIL
summer went by, and it CHANGED that
never once saw Vattie Somers' face unit
n certain day about Christmas.
! During the hot weather ! drove to IN
counting.room, but on the, fine = inte
days preferred TO walk. The road Ia
along the edge Of a large sheet Of wate
called Swans pond. This by the midi
Of December was frozen across
y But one morning ], was rather. late
my business, and, wishing 10 make
I. short cut, / started to 80 across the pom
On the ice l had proceeded but ha
way across when the brittle substan,
, gave way aud l was plunged into Il
, cold flood beneath. !,
> at first l went under ithe ice, b,
: though l could not swim I struggle
back 10 the aperture and laid hold Of Il
cdgo Of the ice. 1t was thin, howeve
and kept breaking in my grasp, and
numbness began to come over me.
felt myself grow pale and my heart sal
as struggled. s
Meanwhile I was half conscious