The Delta independent., 1895-11-20
.Ion wcre down in the ofIicc2r

~ Ou were down IN the Oulcc?
al had to go down for my dog and to
tell them how mean they were," Mrs.
Minny said, wearily. "And you don't
know what an awful great ghostly
room they gave me, full OF closets and
wardrobes and places for people to
hide. l burned the gas all night and
had dreadful Dreams" She bowed
her head over the flowers and sighed
again. "Roses make me think of
funerals; do they your"
II am sorry l troubled you with
them" Oliver said. stiffly.
Now you are cross, and you've got
that little wrinkle on your forehead" /"
She looked at him thoughtfully
"When you arc smiling think you are
the kindcst friend in the world.
guess 1 am cross myself. Doyou know,
l dreamed Henri came into that room
last night. The bathroom had a lit
tie window looking into the room, and
l dreamed he looked through this Mt
me and made dreadful faces. He used
to frighten me that way once"-shc
blushed and hung her head then, and
was silent n moment-"whcn we were
first married, You know. He'd wake
me up by staring ut me-testing the
power OF the eye, he called it. ] was
afraid, anyway, because my mother
had just died, and had never seen a
dead person before. l can see her yet
in her coffin, SO drcadfully waxcn and
strange. Henri swore once over the
Bible that il he died first he would
come back and haunt me. After that
dream couldn't sleep, but lay shiver-
ing with fear until daylight. l must
go away from here to-day. Another
night in that room would frightcn me
to death"
She trembled so ut the thought, Oil
yer felt his task doubly difficult.
Don't you think" he asked, gently,
that those fears are very childish?"
''Of course, she said, bricGy,"I know
am not sensible; you, Aunt Hannah
and DIR. John call me frivolous; yet l
have tried to do right. came here on
my way to save your good name, and
get scolded. tried to go home once, the
time i was so sick; and even Aunt Han
nah said was brave then. When my
horse ran away in Maine held on,
and that red-headed young man said
was game"
She looked at him wickcdly out OF
the corner OF her eye. A little smile
curved her pretty mouth Us she saw the
wrinkle on his forehead.
II wish that you could be serious for
a little WHILE" Oliver muttered. ~
want to talk to you about something
that concerns your futurc-something
that has happened"
Oliver hesitated now; how could he
tell her? She listened with her eyes
on the carpet, dolcful expression on
her face. lie went OF on a new tack.
In an easy conversational tone he
asked:
Would you not like to live in
Francee"
mo" she said, promptly; ~ should
hate it."
"Why?'
"Becausc-becausc," answered Mrs.
Minny, picking viciously ut one Of her
roses, scattering the petals on the
floor: "from IIenri's descriptions his
relations must be horrid. Then he or
they think America queer and not
nice; everything is France. / should
be mad hundred times day. The
English up in the park used to sny:
This blarsted country, you know un-
til felt like saying: Why don't you
go back to England and stay therc?'
To the Dc Rcstauds ! should be the un-
pleasant foreigner our poor son mnr-
ricd; in my own country l am myself,
un American. think II is very mean
of you to talk about my going to
France; and il that is the serious thing
you needn't talk any more. II you are
going to he horrid think ] shall go
out and take my dog for walk"
How sweet she was in her willful-
ness. Oliver forgot his errand, looking
ut the lovely childish face with its
pouting mouth and rcbellious eyes.
Il think you are cruel to my poor
rose" he said, softly.
''You are cruel to me-"
'Minny," he drew nearer and took in
his firm warm clasp her little hand, ~
must tell you soncthinG-somethin
that will shock and grieve you. Try
and be brave"
Not the little baby?' she cried, pit
eons,v. "Hr Is not '"nd?"
IN A VERY