Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-18


WAS he from this state?"
mo, but his regiment was" said
Miss Sally, eying the wreath critically.
And this wrcath-is it from you?"
continued CORTLAND, gently.
Yes, thought yo'd like something
fresh and pooty instead of those stale
ones"
And were they also from you?" he
asked, oven more gently.
Dear no! They were left over from
last anniversary day by some of the
veterans. That's the only one l put
therc-that isl got Mr.. Champncy to
leave 1t here on his way to his house.
lie lives just yondcr, yo' know"
1t was impossible to resist this in
vinciblc ndircte. CORTLAND bit his lip
as the vision arose before him of this
still moro ndif English admircr bring
ing hithcr, at Miss Sally's bidding, the
tribute which she wished to place on
the grave of an old lover to please a
third man. Meantime she had put her
two little hands behind her back in the
simulated attitude of n good girl" and
was saying half snilingly, and. he even
thought, half wistfully:
"Arc yo' satisfcd?"
"PCrfcctly."
"Thcn let's go away It's mighty hot
here"
They turned away and descending the
slope again rcCntcrcd the thicker shade
of the main avenue. Here they seemed
to have left the stcrncr aspect of death
They walked slowly; the air was heavy
with the hot incense of flowers; the road
sinking a little left n grassy bank on
one side Here Miss Sally halted and
listlrssly seated herself, motioning
CORTLAND to do the same. He obeycd
eagerly. The incident of the wreath
had troubled him albeit with contend
ing sensations. She had given it to
please h,m; why should he question the
manner, or torment himself with any
rctrospc ctivc thought? He would have
given worlds to have been able to ac-
ccpt it lightly or gallantly-with any
other girl he could-but he knew he
was trembling on the verge of pas
sionatc declaration; the magnitude of
the stake was too great to be impcrilcd
by n lcvity of which she was more a
mistress than himself and he knew that
his sentiment had failed to impress her
His pride kept him from appealing to
her strangely practical nature, although
he had recognized and accepted it, and
had even begun to believe it an essen
tial part of the strong fascination she
had over him. But being neither a
coward, nor Il weak hesitatlng ldealist,
when he deliberately took his seat be
side her he as deliberately made up his
mind to accept his fate-whatever it
might bc-thcn and there.
Perhaps there was something of this
in his face. IL thought yo' were look
ing little white, connie" she said
quietly, and | reclloned we might sit
down spell, and then take it slowly
homo. EO' amt accustomed to the
so'thn sun, and the air in the hollow
| acdS swampy." AS he made slight
| gesture of denial, she went on with a
pretty sistcrly superiority: That's the
was of yo' nO'thn mon. Yo' think yo'
can do everything just as if yo' were
| reared to it, and yo' never male allow
| ancc for different climates, different
blood and different customs That's
where you slip up"
But he was already leaning towards
her with his dark, earnest eyes fixed
upon her in Il way she could no longer
| mistake. ut the risk of slipping up
again, Miss DowS," he said gently
| dropping into her dialect with a win
ming but unconscious fattery, II am
| going to ask you t. teach me every
tfing gen wisll--to be all that you de-
u End-which would be far better. You
have said we were good friends: want
yo~ to let me hope to be more. want
You to overlook my deficiencies and the
| difference of my race and let me meet
l 81
to be the equal of your own
people-that of loving you. Give me
only the same chance you gave the
a h.nt-n IL L. Il L.