The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-11-11
@F10@Rs

in McAlliste
place, and this is saying a great deal
for all the young people in McAlliste
place We're deservedly popular. Bu
even the boys themselves all praised
Frank, and as for Emma, the only poir
OF difference among the girls was as tc
whether she was more lovely in disposi
tion or in person.
OF course Frank and Emma fell ir
love- Everybody agreed that they
couldn't have helped it if they had
wished to ever SO much. and pretty
nearly everybody agreed that they
ought not have helped it even if they
had been able. Emma must tell nam.
ma all about it first. Even before
you ask her, Frank; it will be so swee,
to confide in her
And mamma-horrors. She actually
said no." and said it in such very de-
cided manner that there was no uues-
tioning her meaning.
And Emma cried her blue eyes dim,
of course: and when she met Frank at
the gate that evening cried again, and
said, between sobs: And Just think.
Frank. she refused to give any reason
at all, but just said you mustn't come
to see me any more. And so now YOU
can't take me to any more parties and
the winter not half over''
Frank hid his chagrin and promised
to find some way out of the difficulty"
and after making an engagement to
meet him at Anna Lewis next after
noon at four o'clock. he went home to
s.ti bn
cided to go straight to Emma's mann
ina. Next day when he called upon
Mrs Cornell, however, he obtained very
little satisfaction from her She ap-
peared embarrassed and said as little
as possible; said, however. that she
must decline to receive him; that she
felt compelled to refuse her consent:
that she dare not consent to the mar
rage; she spoke Gf duty several
times: and once she made use of the
word warming" AT last they both
became somewhat irritated, and she
curtly informed Frank that she knew
of no reason why she should be
called upon TO explain her prefer.
ences or antipathies; and that
the mere fact that she did not
wish to exte nd TO him IL welcome into
the family ought to be sufficient,
whether her reasons therefor were
good ores or not And so Mr.. Frank
Lawrence found himself walking out
the gate, biting his lip in vexutior.
He was puzzled. What could be the
grounds Of her objection to him? She
nd. .2!"ays seemed to cordially well
come him to the House. anef, n,iiiie ne
was not specially egotisticai, he was
aware that he was considered a pretty
good fellow, had no bad habits and
was able to support "a wife, And" he
added to himself rs he swallowed
lump in his throat II know ! would
make ray sweet Emma as loving hus-
band as IA wife ever had"
The more he studied over the matter
the more perpleXed he was. What did
she mean by the word "waruing?" He
knew her almost childish weakness for
all kinds of supcrstitions, from the par
ticular way pin should be picked up
TO her horror of Friday and the num-
Der l3 Was it possible that he was
in some way to be sacrificed upon the
altar OF her superstitions? lie had
N~N'- 49, l'NHtt Ni5llS Dc- !
cause OF some childish superstition,
and he knew with what religious awe
she obeyed the feelings received |
through her old negro nurse. and
which came with her from her child |
hoods home on southern plantation. |
Vas this the basis of her inexplicable |
treatment of him? Was the reason that |
he dare not welcome him to be found
"a some superstitious fancy?
Four o'clock found him at Mrs. Lew
IS where Emma met him in the hall,
while Anna and Tom CONSIDERABLY re-
nuincd away.
.Dearest," he whispered rs he took
both her hands in his, ant held them
ightly, Il am able to support wife
= comfort. have excellent prospects as
~ electrician. and love you to distrac-
ION. Are you willing to be mine even
your mamna persists in her opposi-
i3n?"