Smyrna times., 1891-06-03
A LOVE STORY.

CnaG 1 could nave looked at all day, but
I've made another as pretty, so I'll not
grieve. May come imp
"And welcome, iir, said 1, and I set
a chair, for he was grandfather's land
lord; but for all that felt uncOmfort-
able, for was not used to fine company
He talked away, paying me more com
piments than l was used to, for grand
mother, who brought me up, said,
Handsome is as handsome does" and
Beauty is but skin deep"
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell the
truth. I had done wrong about one
thing. Neither of the old folks knew
that l wore Evan LOcke's ring in my
bosom, or that we'd taken VOW to each
other beside the hawthorn that grew in
the church lane. never meant to de-
ceive, but grannie was old and a little
hard, and that love of mine was such a
sweet secret. Besides, money seems to
outweigh all else when people have
struggled all their lives through to turn
a penny, and they knew Evan was a
poor, struggling young surgeon.
thought I'd wait while until I could
sweeten the news with the fact that he'd
begun to make his fortune.
Grannie came in from the dairy five
minutes after the squire was gone and
heard he had been there. l didn't tell
her Of his fine speeches, but there was a
| keyhOle to the door she came through
and have a guess she heard them.
That night we had something else to
| fhTrnlr of NTfcenrAy,r,o, 1,,,T
grandfather; but l didn't foresee that
when the half years rent should come
due not penny to pay it with would be
found.
All this time Evan Locke and had
been as fond as ever Of each other. and
he came as often as before to talk with
grandpa on the winter nights; and still
every little while our young landlord
Squire Turner, would drop in and sit in
his lazy way and watch me knit or spin
Once or twice he was flushed with wine
and over bold for he tried to kiss me
But squire or no, boxed his ears for his
pains, and no softer than 1 could helI
either.
could not help his coming, nor hell
seeing him when he came, and did mo-
deserve that Evan should be angry will
me. But he was Eh, so high ant
mighty, and spoke as though one Ik,
the squire could mean no good by com
ing to 50 poor place as the schoolmas
ter's.
He made me angry and spoke up.
For that matter, the squire would b,
glad to have me promise to marry him,
said l. "He thinks more Of me than
May be you like him betterl" sait
Evan.
81 don't say that" replied I. "Bu
bad temper and jealousy scarce eve
make me over fond of another. pra,
may never have husband who vii
scold me-"
For he had been scolding me. N
other name for it.
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with hinl-not heart deep, though,
thought-and did not see him for NOR
than a week. / was troubled much
though. knew he would come roun
again, and mayhap ask my pardon. FO
before You are wed you can bring you
lover to his senses.
So I did not fret after Evans absence
nor quite snub Squire Turner, who like
me more than ever. But one nigh
grandfather came in, and shutting th
door, stood between grandmamma an
me, looking at me, andsO strangely ths
we both grew frightened. At last b
spoke:
'Pve been to the squire's, said b,
''For the first time had to tell him thS
could not pay the rent when due"
opened my lips. Grandmamma
hand covered them. Grandpa drew N
to him.
''Thou'rt young, lass" said he, ''an
they are right who call thee prett.
. Child-could'st like the squire we
enough to wed hinl?"
! "Ehr' cried grandma. ''Sure, you'l
not wandering?"
Squire Turner asked me for this la
of ours tonight OF all women in Il
world there is but one he loves as l
D should his wife, and that is our Agatha
~ dreamt of golden rings and whi
. roses on Christmas eve" cried granni
!. 81 knew the lass would be lucky"
But 1 put my head on grandfather
shoulder and hid my face. The trut
must out, knew.
y ''Wilt have him and be rich lady
# said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an a
swer I burst out with mo" and 81
together.
"She's frightened, said grandmamm
"Nay, we must all we'd once in our live
my child"
! Then grandpa talked to me. He to
me how poor they had grown, and ho
kind the squire was, and l had but
marry him to make my grandparer
, free from debt and poverty their liv
b, through. If 1 refused and vexed t
= squire heaven only knew what mig
happen.
She'll never ruin u.s." sobbed gran
mamma.
y Ahi it was heard to bear-bitter haI
but now there was no help for it. to-
the ring from my bosom and laid it
, my palm, and told them it was Ev
- LOcke's and that 1 had plighted my tro
to him. And grandmamma called me
decsitful wench, and grandfather look
as though his heart would break.
Oh, would have done anything
them--anything but give up my tr
love-
That night kissed his ring and pray
z: heaven that he might love me always.
the morning It was gone, ribbon and a
81 from my neck. looked for it high q
low, but found no sign Of IL. And I
gan to fear the loss Of that dear ri
~ was a sign that / would never mar
Evan Locke.
The days PASSED on, and he never car
near me.
''Oh, it was cruel in him." / though
- ''to hold such singer for hastY word
had provoked, when / spoke it that
must know lelved him 80.
And grandma would scarcely look
: me q know why now), and grand
sighed and mlianed and talked Of {
work house. And thought shor
Ie- die Of grief among them.
One day grandma said to me,
seems that your sweetheart Is nos os
fond of you, nor over anxious to /
you"
"Why notri said ].
Where haa he been this month bacl
asked grandma.
Busy, donbtless," said !, with
r smile, though thought my heart wor
burst
you're going with him. maybe"
an "Whereg said i
She weat to the kitchen door a
*. u 441I.