Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-04

would not take No for an answor-pcr.
haps smiling little the was too con.
ceited-at any rate he could not bring
himself to believe that really meant "a
decline tho honor he wished 20 confe,
upon me. He declared that woman's
No always meant Yes and he bothered
me 80 that for the sake of peace agreed
TO take week 10 think over the matter
and at the end Of that time 10 write and
give him my final answer. The week
will be up tomorrow, so must come TO q
speedy decision. told him at the time
that thinking II over would not make
any difference, that my reply must
always be the same; but now-I don't
know-perhaps he was right have
thought and rethought until am half
distracted. and don't know i'm the least
what to say TO him, after all. There,
now-I have told you the whole story,
Susan. and want you to help me-"
at is hard for me to advise you, Pop
pie" l say slowly, after we have sat for
some time in silence. "You see, have
never seen this Mr.. Harris, and never
even heard of him until this afternoon.
What kind of man is he?"
IL don't think he is anything out of
the common, one why or the other" my
sister answers refectively. "He is good
natured and generous after fashion; he
has an exalted opinion of his own merits
and his money; and-yes, decidedly
there is touch Of vulgarity about him.
But he is fond of your" l asked
quickly.
Poppie smiles slightly.
"Well, yes, think So" she replies
at any rate, he no doubt considers that |
should suit his purpose very well. He
wants some one to wear his diamonds for
him, drive III his carriages and fill his
great houses with smart people--in fact,
TO help to show off his wealth; and all
that l could do very we'll"
at would be very nice to be rich,
though" murmur half to myself.
eyes, know that; but is money
everything?" says Poppie.
"Of course you could not be expected
to love him." begin hesitatingly.
"Of course not. What an idea"
"But so many people marry for money
nowadays; and you don't pause for
u few seconds, and then continue ner-
vously-"you don't love any one else, 1
suppose, Poppies"
81 suppose not" she returns.
care yo1 sure? ask, inwardly quak-
ing as to the result of my holiness. "Be-
Cause
Because WHAT" she says a little
sharply.
Because once fancied- may have
been wrong, and you must not be vexed
with me if | was-but / did fancy there
was something between you and Jack
Neville" blurted out desperately.
Poppie fushes scarlet and frowns
then she asks quietly
"What made you think SOP"
"Oh, l don't know-lots of things! "
| reply. "You have been great deal
together all your lives, and But
suppose l was wrong; there was moth
ing
Nothing whatever-you are quite
wrong!" she answers, but she avoids
my glance and moves restlessly in her
chair.
81 am sorry" l say stupidity, II should
have liked Jack for my brother in-law,
and -
Il
has risen quickly from her seat and
stands before me with angry eyes and
flushed cheeks. The next minute. how
ever, she presses her quivering lips to-
gether and turns away.
"You have wandered from the point
as usual. Susan" she says coldly. 1--WE
were discussing Mr.. Harris, not Jack
Neville, and we do not seem to be get
ting any nearer to decision"
Suppose you write q letter and see
what it looks like!" suggest.
She walks over to the little writing
table by the window and, sitting down
before it, opens tho blotter and dips a
pen into the ink.
(Which ought to put, Susan, Dear
Mr.. Harris, or MY Dear Mr.. Harris?"
she asks, doubtfully.
THAT will depend, l think. on what
you are going to say" l reply. TRY
Dear first.
"What comes next, supposing this to
be refusal. you know"
"'Much as | appreciate the honor you
have done me, prompt glibly, al
regret that must adhere TO my former
decision"
alt sounds just like a Polite Letter
Writer" objects Poppie; but | suppose
must put something like that" and she
writes il down. sit looks perfectly hor-
rid, Susanw she goes on plaintiveiy.
"Oh, why,did | ever say that l would
write? had no idea it would be so diff
fcult. If one could put just plain Yes
or No, and sign ones name to it, how
much easier it would be!'
"Try something else then; see what
it would look like if you said Yes"
She takes fresh sheet of paper.
IL suppose it must be My Dear this
time" she says, signing. Well, Susan,
I've committed myself so far; but it
seems more hopelessly hard than the re-
fusal. How in the world am to word
it,"
WhileI rack my brains for suitable
sentence Poppie gazes disconsohtely
out of the window. Suddenly the pen
falls from her fingers and she pushes
back her chair with a suppressed ex-
clamation as some one on u brown cob
rides swiftly past the window.
"Who was it," / asked eagerly, get
ting up.
1T was Jack" replies Poppie slowly.
She has risen to her feet and stands with
her hand on the back of the chair.
Chow nice of him to come over and
see us! don't believe he has been here
since before you went to the Nugents' y
l say delightfully."-, as | throw another log
upon the fire in anticipation of our
visitor. But when turned again toward
my sister perceive that she has hurried
TO the door and is in the act of turning