New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07


flushed
You perceive that Mr.. Bradfcrd's mind was
very much occupied as he walked over from
Middle Village
He hoped the Turtles would have had their
supper He wondered If they had Johnny cake,
and milk and herring every night IN the year.
He had survived seeing Rowena partake of that
fare. He had even partaken of it with her ana
found it delicious. But when removed from her
presence ne could not honestly say he liked the
odor of herring He did not know that this
fish was only eaten for a certain time in the
spring
1t was not lovers fancy that made it seem
as If Rowena possessed of a simple and en-
tirely unconscious dignity that enabled her to do
what others could not do, in the same way.
Bradford was within couple OF miles of tho
futile farm He was thinking of trying cut
across a pasture when he saw pair Of horses
attached to a light wagon coming brskly along
the road.
He thought he heard shrill bark proceed
from The carriage He hesitated, leaning on the
fence he had been going to Jump.
Now he saw that the occupants of the wagon
were Rowena, with Marmadulse standing on her
lap and barking at him in great excitement, and
a young man whom Bradford recognized as the one
whom he had seen at the theatre with Miss Tut
tie. 1t was Philip Barrett who now stared at
him as he went by Rowena returned Bradford's
greeting in a manner that he could not dislike.
The dust few round him from the turnout. He
| felt ignored and sighted 1t had not once oc-
| CURED to him that Rowena might have some
other employment than that of being ready to
receive him when he came He was furious. His
| imagination had not gone so far as this. He
struck his stick violently against the post. / am
almost afraid he swore. He felt as if bucket
| Of cold water had been flung in his face. He
could not tell himself at first that it might be
| only a natural thing that Miss Tuttle should 90
out driving with old acquaintance.
But Bradford possessed Of perception
| enough to discover that Barrett was not mere
| acquaintance. He remembered the fellows face
at the theatre
Here's Philip. Roweny," Mrs. Tuttlc had
said while the family were at the supper table.
II guess he's come to take you out. There
| amt no better feller'n Philip. OF course you'll
60"
And Rowena went But she took Marmaduke.
The terrier had way Of barking or of suddenly
rising to lick her face that might be very exas-
perating to her companion, but that she found to
be protective and comforting. Marmaduke gen.
orally desired TO caress her at the most inoppor-
| tune moment, in the eyes Of some one else.
| Young Barrett well as he liked dogs, could have
| found it in his heart to fling this small specimen
over the wheel before the first mile had been
passed But he tried to control himself. He
had come filed with desperate resolution.
Everybody was talking about that city feler'
| that had come out from Borston" and who was
hanging round Roweny Tuttle. OF course she
would take up with him; and who knew anything
about him, anyway? He might be gambler.
That very morning Philips mother had talked
all breakfast time on the subject. She said Ro-
weny was actin shameful She guessed Philip
wouldn't write any more letters TO girl like that,
| she want deservin' of such letters"
At last the long-suffering Philip had risen from
the table. He stood a moment looking fercely at
| his mother.
| If you ever speak like that agin' bout Ro-
weny, III clear out. She couldn't do anything
shameful I mean what I say"
| He had then gone to the barn, leaving his
mother covering. She was sickeningly subser-
Went all the rest of the day. She made no re-
mark when her son appeared toward night in that
| dreadful suit he had bought before he went to
Boston. Yes, it is true that he arrayed himself
in those garments, and that intuition told him
not to do so.
When the horses were hitched to the carriage
be walked into the kitchen where his mother was
just taking the herring from the oven.
II
| He stood with the door in his hand I'm
| goin' over to ask Roweny to marry me-, he said,
| and want you to understand that If she don't
| faint no fault of hern. faint no crime not to
| want to marry me-"
Mrs. Barrett opened her lips to speak, but she
did not quite dare to say the words that came to
her.
It was in this resolved condition of mind that
Philip drove over to the Tutte house. His mood
was such that really it did seem pity that
Rowena should assume that Marmadul<e was in
cluded in the invitation But there sat the ter
rier perched on the girls knee, and he kept such
q very sharp watch that Philip almost began TO
think that the dog knew the whole state of affairs
| Every time the young man turned particularly
toward his companion lie met the terriers bright
eyes, or the terrier would give lurch and bark.
and Immediately absorb Rowena's entire atten-
ton
This party had not driven many rods before
the girl had OWNED Philips intention. Indeed
il required no particular power to divine this, for
in some inexpcable way Philips present deter
mination was written boldly all him, even
in the creases of that dreadful suit of clothes
Rowena tried to converse topics quite for
ern to ANYTHING in her companions mind. Each
| attempt was very much like throwing stone into
an extremely deep well; you suppose the stone
reached the water, but you cannot sec nor hear
ANYTHING to hint that 1t does.
Finally in despair Rowena became silent. She
| was now convinced that she could do nothing
| toward avertng the inevitable.
| With all his will and nerve, poor Philip from
moment to moment put off the fatal Question.
| He GREW more and more depressed and silent.
With the cruelty with which fate seems to
like to inhict a man, never had he thought
Rowena SO entirely what lie lonGed for as now.
He had been blind fool to think of her
Useless to tell himself that. He had thought of
her and loved her ever since ne was a boy.
scbooI ON his sled on winter afternoons, he would
not have anybody But he usually could ID take ak
her She had always Dd kG n hose days there had