The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-10

anu IL seeHleu W lie SOIHeIiHeS Iudb
though she'd plenty of other company
she kind O singled me out. I used
to say to myself;
"'Darius, can it be possible that
she can care for your
"'And then l began looking ahead
an laying plans. There was the
Dawson farm; could get that, TAX
in part on mortgage, an | could see
how l could work it to the best ad-
vantage; an with her for my wife I'd
feel strong enough to do anything. |
used to say to myself:
"tDarius, can it be she'd be willing
to marry you? Does she love you?
You mustn't be deceivin' YOURSELF
"It did seem to me, Kitty, to hear
her say true that she loved me would
make me feel to die of joy. made
up my mind, seeing my way clear,
to take care of and do well by her.
I'd risk her answer, and I'd trem-
bling hope for all Then mother
went blind, and father got his stroke,
and there was nothing for me to do
but to stay along with them. l tried
hard to persuade myself it want
duty, but think it over as l could,
there it was continually staring ne
in the. face:
"'Your duty is to stay an take care
of them. They need you
So dropped my plans, and fought
it out by myself. But | knew I
couldn't ask her to come and live at
fathers for love of me. Mother is
queer, you know, and her blindness
frets her, and father is kind O sour
i'll his feelings, and Minty is terrible
set in her ways. 1 couldn't begin to
make up for it.
"'No, nor says l. Il love her too
well to ask her. There's plenty that
wants and will do we'll by her. I'll
stop going there.
$50 l never went there any more.
But one mornin', as l was tinkerin'
up the meadow fence alongside the
road, l See her come drivin' down
alone. | almost wished she wouldn't
see me. Then again itseemed I could
not bear to have her go by Unknown.
She see me and stopped her horse,
and asked kindly about the old folks.
Then she says, blushing up:
"'What have l done to offend you,
Darius, that you don't come to see
me any more?"
"'And then l had to speak guarded
or say too much.
"'I've so much to do nowadays
that have no time for foolishness,' |
said.
"'She colored all up, and her lips
quivered. Then she drove right on.
She never turned her head, and I hung
over the fence like drunken man.
Seemed as if I'd been shattering to
pieces my own happiness. The grass
an the weeds an the sunlight an a
bird singin' overhead seemed mockin'
me. Il hurt herl l hurt herr kept
thinkin' and sayin.' was in fever
heat all day thinkin' it over. l Won
dered if it could be possible she'd
be willin' to marry me an come to
my fathers. I heard her voice, over
and over, saying:
"'What have ] done to offend you,
Darius, that you don't come to see
me any mores' An | see the culver
of her soft chin.
"I'll go tonight says l, AN I'll
ask her forgiveness, an I'll tell her
all, an ask her if she's truly willin'
to come an live at my home for love
O. me.
at seemed as if the night was
slow in comm; it was hardly dusk
when I dressed up and told the folks
| had an errand out. l got out the
buggy and took Racker out of the
stall.
"'Why shouldn't / go?' says !,
fiercely, to myself as l harnessed up.
why shouldn't I go? There's moth
in in law and Gospel again it,
81 jumped in an took the reins.
Racker plunged, hot to go. Minty
hollered sharp to me from the door.
An then, sudden, felt ny selfishness
what I'd set out to do, the sacrifice
| was eager to ask. | saw it plain
enough-her spendin' her days in
thankless tasks, her trials an dis
couragements.
"No, nor says l. 'As l love her,
I'll spare her! I've been out of my
mind todayP | got out and unhar-
messed. suppose Racker and Minty
thought me crazy. That's the end,
Hittie. Arabel was over today, an |
heard her tellin' Minty that Why is
going to marry Sam Reeves. God