Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-05
A WAGER.

sparkling stars cpd the moon beaming
down upon this sleeping garden. But,
say, what is that white, willowy something
emerging into the old maids' gardenf be-
lieve it is indeed Opheliap'
Both men ] mp to their feet and peep
through the l. ticed side
by Jove, Drayton, IL must be an anRelp
mo IL Is a woman" answers the other
soldly
Standing amid the hollyhocks and roses
is the figure OF young girl. She stands
perfectly still, clad all In white. Suddenly
she frightens them by coming toward their
hiding place. Finally she stands 20 close
that they can put their hands over the lat
tice and touch her head, crowned with a
wealth Of reddish brown hair. With lazy
Incidence she stretches out her arms, drinks
in the fresh evening, and the men wonder
what her thoughts may be- That she Is
pretty both acknowledge to themselves.
A sharp voice breaks upon the stiffness OF
the night:
Dorothy oh, Dorothyp
"Yes, dear Aunt Kate" answers she, and
gathering up her charming gown she fits
by the two men and through the cottage
door beyond.
II thought surely would sneeze. Dray
ton"
And l." laughs his companion, ''nevei
wanted to cough 30 much In my life"
Pm sorry ] go back to New York TO-
morrow. I should like to remain and cut
you out"
you need not worry, Dick"
II know you are Indifferent, Mark, old
fellow, but will wager with you that six
months from tonight that divine creature
will be Mrs. Mark Drayton."
His companion burst into merry laugh
and replied:
II will take that bet. Dick. and now It Is
late-let's to bed"
After bidding his friend goodby the next
morning, Mark Drayton, with his fishing
pole, trudged down to the river. He Is
about to throw himself beside an inviting
bush when frightened little cry makes
him change his mind. He meets pair Of
blue eyes belonging to pretty, winsome
creature
II beg your pardon. must have fright
ened you, but did not know you were on
the other side" He raised his cap, and she
looked at him from head to foot curiously,
and at last being quite satisfied deigned to
answer;
"Yes, you did frighten me- You seq !
have been picking Strawberries. let the
pail fall: they all fell out, and have been
eating more than put into the pail again."
May help your" he ventured to ask.
"What-to eat thsmT She looks mp
archly into his face and laughs merily.
mo. mean to put thsm back"
She hesitates, as II trying to decide very
grave question.
"weil yes, II you Ike. Four bands are
better than two. am sure" He knelt
down and went vigorously to work.
"You live next door, believed" he said
by way of keeping up the conversation
yes l ran away from home and came
to my aunt's last evening""
"You ran away from home" he repeated
wonderingly.
"Yea Is that 80 dreadful that you open
your eyes SO wider"
II can't see to pick up your berries with
them closed, can Ir'
"Well, no." and she laughs again. ~
will tell you Just how IL was When was
at school, my uncle informed me he had
picked out husband for me, an old friend
and one who was handsome, good and hor
est; In fact, a perfect angel, 20 he wrote.
When school was out, slipped away and
came here, and did just right"
IL suppose you did"
She opened her eyes wide and answered:
"Of course did. And now the pail II
full again must 60 home. / thank you
very much"
She nodded her pretty head, took her pail
and left him gazing after her until the
brown head vanished into the garden.
The summer days passed on, and Mark
Drayton had made great friends with his
pretty neighbor. In fact, he could not II he
had tried keep away from Dorothy Deane
Then he remembered Dick Hamilton's
wager His friend had not won yet, but he
would In the end, because this sweet, lovely
girl must be his wife. He looked In the
glass at his face and imagined he saw 1t
covered with many signs Of age "Pshawp
he cried "She won't have such an old man
as am, but I will go and tell her how l
love her" And he took his hat and marched
over to the little cottage. Her aunt told
him she had gone out, and going down to
the river he found her at the waters edge,
throwing flowers down the tide. She grew
a little pale when she saw him and held
out her hand timidly. His boat was near,
and Mark proposed rowing her a little way
down the river She assented, and he
helped her into the boat, but after rowing
rapidly for awhile he dropped the oars and
seated himself by her side.
Dorothy" he said suddenly, calling her
by her first name, II came here to say
something. cannot keep It in my heart
any longer 1 love you-l iove you Detter
than all the world. Say that you love me
q little. Dorothy, my little sweetheart"
The scarlet rushed into her face and then
faded, leaving 1t ghastly pale
"Mark," >" she said, II am q cheat-a hypo-
erite. knew you were here. made you
love me, and hate myself Lucy and
Dick Hamilton told me you were 30 hand
some and wealthy, but so Indifferent to
women, and they wanted you to be pun
ished for II. was to act as they told me,
and IL succeeded was to refuse you"
He broke into harsh laugh and said In
a cold, suppressed voice: We'll, ask you
to be my wife. Now refuse me-
"But, Mark, don't want to"-
"Why notf have given you the chance
am sure 1t will not be hard"
"You are cruel, Mark" she cried. II can't
do II, / mean
"You don't mean
"Why, yes, do, Mark, do"-
"You don't mean that you really love me,
Dorothy2"
For answer she raised her face to HIS and
he read the lovelight shining in her eyea
With glad cry he folded her close to hds
heart and kissed her pretty lips.
~ am 80 happy, Mark" and then she
burst into tears He soothed her with sweet
words, and soon her tears had vanished.
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