Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-10-28
"You have no objections to our mar

"You have no objections to our mar
rying next month, if she consents?'
None. have no wish that she
should marry at all, but if she must
marry, I'd rather she married you than
anyone else"
THANK you sir, for saying that.
7 hank you very much" said l, grateful
lv, Selling his hand and wringing it
hard.
Just So" said he, removing it from
my grasp and looking anxiously at it.
But why this fervor"
put Witch's precious epistle in front
of him. He read 1t twice through at
tentively, put 1t down, and looking
calmly at me said:
VERY interesting! But scarcely to
be regarded as prelude to very
speedy matrimony, l should think"
"Ah, but it Is, sir a girl doesn't
write a note like that and have done
with 1t. No, she continues to write
them. shall probably get a similar
note once month now and that will be
very firing. give you my word that l
did not sleep a wink last night The
practice won't stand that sort of thing
long, you know" said l earnestly.
you seem to have an accurate
knowledge of women and their ways"
lie remarked dryly.
allowed that speech to pass without
comment. Comment seemed superfu-
Gus.
I ffri,t oh I oh t1Id 10 70
whom you would consider in fault In
this little misunderstanding" he
asked.
II am, sir. It stands to reason; |
should not be so anxious If she were In
fault" and then | explained the whole
matter, finishing up with, 81 can't re-
member exactly what / called her, but
whatever 1t was didn't mean It,"
II am not able to refresh your men,
DRY to what you said on that occasion,
but l can tell you what l have heard
you call her myself" said Mr.. Druitt,
quietly And then he told me.
His tone was a revelation to me. Not
that I'd call Witch anything worse
than a 'little fool" But realize what
It must have sounded like to the heav-
crs, and to him, her father! l don't
know how l looked, but felt mean,
cheap, worthless. Utterly SO, began
TO stumble out apologies. He waved
his hand.
"All right" said he, "but you see your
language is at all times forcible."
He is wise man, so he said no more
He showed his wisdom therein, for
vent at once to see Witch in a very
contrite frame of mind. / was ready
TO make mat of myself and let my
darling trample on me If it should so
please her, or to do any other eXtrava-
CANT thing, such was the depth of my
humility. Still, as journeyed Putney-
ward wondered as to who could have
stirred up the strife between us. Sud
denly it flashed across my mind that
Witch had seated herself beside Aunt
Betsy Jane, and that Aunt Betsy Jane
was her godmother and therefore Ii
censed to interfere. l am not going to
explain how Aunt Betsy Jane came to
be Witch's godmother. am not lady
novelist and therefore don't think it
necessary to explain everything. 1t has
nothing to do with this story; besides,
was only years old when she was
christened and wasn't consulted as to
her sponsors. To be sure, it must have
been Aunt Betsy Jane who suggested
the letter.
When | arrived at the Cedars it was
about II o'clock. If all went well peace
would reign between Witch and myself
in an hour. And if so would take her
off to Richmond, get boat from Mes
SUMS. row up the river, come to an
| Choir in a backwater l knew of between
| Richmond and Hampton and then make
FER name the day. But things didn't
go we'll; they went exceedingly badly
| instead. When Amelia amelia is the
| Druitt's housemaid) opened the door
ard l inquired for Witch she said,
Miss Druitt is not well. sir, but I'll
| tell her you're here"
Then she showed me into the dining
room. This was ominous! In the
Druitts' menage it is customary to see
people who come on business-dress-
makers, laundresses, servants seeking
piaces-in the dining room before lunch.
| Amelia left me and went upstairs. |
rapidly diagnosed the situation. | took
| cut my pocketbook and wrote: My
darling, | shall wait in the old boat at
the end of the lawn till you can see me, =
end then l signed it John"
Amelia came back. "If you please,
sir, Miss Druitt does not feel equal to
seeing you to-day, but will write to you
| tonight
Exactly" said l, quietly. Can you
| give me an envelope? Thanks Give
taat to Miss Druitt, please"
The maid left the room and | went
into the garden. AT the bottom of the
| garden ran the river; chained to a post
was an old boat. 1t was seldom used,
as the spot was not picturesque, but it
was secluded, hidden both from the
house and from passing boats by thick.
dropping willows. 1t was here that
Witch and | had come 10 the conclu-
1