The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-07-21
A MODERN MARTYR.

| stout, rather fair, with an ugly, charming
| face, the kindest heart in the world and q
strong, energetic will. At least it seemed
to be energetic in every direction except
the way that led to marriage.
| Not that / ever doubted the love Of my
LOTUS, nor his fealty, but ] could moi
understand why he seemed so blissfully
content in being my lover-just my lover
No one could Gil the role more perfectly
and his devotion was so established and 81
constantly apparent in even the slightest
detail that every one in Pimley, where we
had grown up together, blamed me fol
LOTUS probation, and ! was openly re
preached for dilly dallying with so honest
man and so true a lover / could moi
consistently inform the public at large
and my censors in particular, that how
ever well deposed woman may be she
cannot marry the man Of her choice until
| he asks her to name the day, and this pre-
| liminary my betrothed had studiously
avoided.
Time Of course brought about many
! other marriages in our immediate circle
| All my brothers and sisters went off In
| regular order until there were left with
my father Tom, my youngest brother, and
| myself. After awhile Tom went on the
road" for Boston commercial house, and
finally was offered a chance in new branch
of the same concern just started in Denver.
| To my surprise father not only urged his
acceptance of the offer, but expressed q
strong desire to go with him and remain a
| year Or two.
"Dell won't want to leave LOTUS" he
remarked, "and anyway they'll be married
before long, l suppose" This had been q
favorite supposition Of fathers for a num-
Der Of years. "We could go by way Of Chi.
cago and see Uncle Eb and the folks. It's
a trip I've always longed to take"
listened to these words and felt them as
IL they had been blows Of a clencbed hand,
but the pride by which an angel fell was
strong in me, as it is in many of the worlds
| commonplace and everyday women. bit
my lips to keep them from trembling as /
said, Wouldn't it be lovely; such an al.
together new life and experience"
Yes" said father lightly, and l loved,
oh, how l loved him for that speech, "but
it won't be such good fun without my
daughter. If she could only come--if there
wasn't any question of that other fellow
that can't spare herr
In a moment had made up my mind.
But am going with you II you CO." ]
said, smiling. "What did you Think or
course l need not stay. / can come back
and be married, or Lotus can come to
Denver If we like it we'll enough to settle
there. You see, there's no time set for the
marriage and year or two won't make
much difference"
/ am afraid there may have been touch
Of sarcasm in my tone, but it passed un-
noticed.
"Why, that's it," said Tom briskly
"Time goes on, and people might as well
have a change from the old rut We can
shut up the house here indefinitely. We
can find some one to keep the grounds in
order. What's to stop us from a picnic of
threeY"
felt in my own mind a vague idea,
rather hope, that LOTUS might, or per-
haps desire to, make it picnic Of four.
That afternoon when he came l spoke.
He usually stopped on the porch every
afternoon on his way home except Tues
days-his bowling club-and Fridays,
which were given to poor little Eunice
Craig, who had been for years an invalid.
/ thought it one Of the loveliest traits In
his character, this kindness to one so weak
and suffering. OF course we all went to
see Eunice occasionally, all of the "old
crowd" both married and single, but
the feeling with which he was regarded in
the Craig household was little short Of
worship. / was never jealous of the time
he gave to Eunice 1t made me love him
all the more. Well when he sauntered
up the walk about 4 and took his seat near
me in his favorite big rocker / broached
the Denver project with much promptness
and gayety. He had begun to swing my
hammock gently and continued to swing it.
But you're not in earnest, really, are
you, DellW he asked at last. was dying
to get a sight of his face, but couldn't
without sitting up.
"Of course Pm in earnest" responded
readily. tom and father are in earnest
why shouldn't be?"
"But Tom and your father haven't-me
to think Of"
"You great baby" Ianswered, laughing,
II won't stay longer than year."
"You might see some fellow you would
like BETTER" said LOTUS forlornly.
"Oh, l think I'm too old now to change
my mind" / was beginning to be little
amused at his resigned yet wretched man.
ner.
II don't know that women ever get too
old to change their minds" said LOTUS in
the same reproachful tone.
"Do men ever get old enough to make
up theirsp was on the point Of my tongue
to ask, but had never been sharp with
LOTUS, and it seemed poor time to
begin.
"You could come and see me once or
twice" / suggested. "It's delightful
trip"
lawfully expensive, DEAR" said this ex-
asperating man.
well, If pay your way out you can
surely pay it back" said, laughing; but
LOTUS did not laugh.
II mightn't want to come back, !" he said
gently. Then there was long silence and
the hammock went on swinging. Had
ever woman such an aggravating lover
and one so dearly lovableP
This was the beginning of many such
discussions, We kept perfect friendliness
while opposing each other on every point,
and our talk always ended where IL began.
He demanded no sacrifice, but, on the
other hand, he offered none. felt that
was only responsible to LOTUS in SO far as
desired his happiness And so the day came
the still, beautiful October day, and LOTUS
walked to the train with us and waved US
goodby from the platform as we rushed
away with shrek and rattle from dear
old Pimley.
But first we had moment to ourselves
ON the shady side of the station, with not a
soul in sight, but | don't think Lotus
would have cared if there had been regi-
ment. He kept his arm around me and
never took his eyes from my face. was
very, vely miserable, but / smiled and
chatted through 1t all. LOTUS scarcely
answered me; he ground his teeth now
and then, and once the tears came down
his face.
"You know that belong to you, wherever