The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-10-06
VOL. XXIx.-NO. 40.

too rOSeate at such times. so embarrassed
did she grow she could scarcely talk, her
manner, her very attitude, grew constrain-
ed and awkward. 1t was an intense re-
lief to her when Veronica said pleasantly
"Mr. Vane, do come and see our con
servatory, we are very proud Of our flow
ere By the by, Mary, do you much
mind telling Smithson we'll have tea on
the lawn
Mary ran away with heart like lead.
"Why, oh why didn't dress for visitors r
she exclaimed in the privacy of her bed
room.
Then she tore off the soiled white dress
and flung it on the floor, apostrophizing
it as "hateiul thing" Well might she
thus apostrophize it, for it had cost her
seven thousand year. Mr.. Vane had
made up his mind even before the objee-
tionable dress had disappeared from view.
"No thank you,n he said to himself, as he
strolled by Veronica's side to the eonserv-
atory. "a slovenly girl won't suit me-
Fancy bringing man friend unexpectedly
into your house, and seeing your wife
whisking away through doorways because
she has dirty gown on, and is too untidy
to be seen
The conservatory proved very interesting.
Veronica loved flowers, and never showed
to such advantage as when amidst them.
As she moved to and fro among the
plants, daintily touching blossom here
and there, and explaining their respective
characteristics and merits, Mr. Vane, who
followed her closely, grew quite enamored,
and each moment thought her more and
more charming. When at length she pro-
posed to move, she found him unwilling
to depart from the conservatory. Reflect
ing that Mary might not even yet be quite
ready she settled herself for few moments
in leaning position near the open door,
still holding her flowers in her hands. An
arching branch of blossoming wistera hung
over her head, her attitude was gracefully
careless, and the Inconsistencies that it
was her bounded duty to entertain this
young man little longer gave her man
ner frank ease, seldom observable in her
when in the presence of her mother and
sisters. She talked for little while as
though enjoying herself thoroughly, then
said, with almost girlish laugh
Chow remiss | am have been proud
ly showing you all our flowers, but have
never offered you even bud.
Theodore felt glad at that moment that
he had not accepted the rectors offer of
rosebud. Utterly forgetting Mary's ex-
istence, he pressed close up to Veronica's
side, and, looking at her very tenderly,
said "Give me one of those sweet white
roses in the front of your dress
. Rather shyly, for his sudden change of
manner had taken her by surprise, she
detached rose and gave it to him. He
took it, and the hand that offered it, and
with deep blush Veronica looked up at
him. Her eyes were pretty and soft, and
blush was very becoming to her some
what pale face. For the moment she look
ed a young girl.
Suddenly, before she could realize what
was happening, she found herself receiv-
ing proposal. In her confusion and as
tonishnent her first impulse was to refuse
it.
ooh, no !" she exclaimed, drawing back
trembling, Kit is impossible. You can not
think of me in that way"
This little demur on her part acted as a
FLIP to Theodore. His ardor increased
on the spot, and so fervent did he become,
and so vehemently did he press his cause,
Veronica, at length, could not but believe
his happiness hung upon her answer.
"You really love me?" she asked, look
ing wistfully up at him.
Theodorc's answer was absolutely i'm
passioned.
Veronioas eyes wandered out 10 the
lawn. For years she had had an empty
feeling in her heaft~ For years she bad
longed for that greatest Of all GOOD gifts,
the true love of good mau. The lover
Of her youth had died, the lover of her
womanhood had so far lived only in her
dreams, but never had she pictured him
like Mr.. Vane. The dream-loyer was old
er, more cultivated, man of stronger
character and finer mold. But he still
lurked vaguely in dreamland, and here was
flesh and blood lover at her feet. Should
she-should she not-oh should she take
him?
Round the corner came suddenly the
clatter of teacups and the high voices of
girls. Tea had appeared on the lawn, and
with it the family-Veronica's stepmother
and stepsisters, None of them gave her
much love, all of them would be glad to
have her out of the way. Here, close to
her side, was the only man who had offer
ed to take her away since the lover of her
youth had died; possibly no one might
ever again make to her such u proposal.
IF she refused this chance she might re-
main at the grove-unloved, unwanted-to
the end.
Again Mr. Theodore Vane pressed his
suit. A quarter of an hour later he Joined
the tea-party on the lawn, au accepted
lover.
Veronica could not face the family.
She went straight to her room, and left her
iance to break the news over the tea-table.
He executed the task very bunglingly.
For some time he could not make either
mother or daughters understand, and when
at last he did force the truth upon their
comprehension he was quite disconnected
by the manner in which they received the
news. They were at first too amazed for
anything but silence, and their congratu-
lations, when at last given, were cold in the
extreme, Nothing could have been fat
ter. Theodore's spirits sank steadily as
tea progressed; he noticed that Mary was
now fauItlessly attired, and looking rather
pale and unusually pretty, and with fain,
pang of fear he began to wonder whethert
after all, he could have made mistake.
A remark Mrs. Hooker had made ranked
unpleasantly in his mind
"We can't help being surprised" " she
had said, 'for somehow We had got in
to way of regarding Veronica as quite
confirmed spinster, and you seem so
young
1t annoyed him to think that any one
could speak of the girl-no, he realized he
could not use the term girl-the lady he