The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-24

should marry at al, DuS II she mus5
marry, I'd rather she married you
thar any one else"
"Thank you, sir, for saving that.
Thank YOU very much, said I, CRATE
fully, 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?"
! 7 put Witch's precious epistle in
It of him. He read it twice through
tentively, put it down, and looking
ulmly at me, said:
| 'Very interesting! Bat scarcely to
be regarded as q prelude to very
speedy matrimony, [ should think. "
"Ah, but it is, sir. \ girl doesn't
write a note like thai aud have done
with it. No, she continues to write
them. shall probably get similar
note once month now, and that will
be very firing. I give you my word
that did not sleep wink all last
night. The practice won't stand that
sort of thing long, you know" said l
earnestly.
eff 1 might ask, 7 should like to
know whom you would consider IN
fault in this little misunderstanding
! be asked.
81 am, sir. It stands to reason; !
should not be SO anxious il she were
in fault" and then l explained the
whole matter, finishing up with, 81
can't remember exactly what I called
her, but whatever it YVES / didn't mean
it,"
81 am not able to refresh your
memory as to what you said on that
occasion, but I can tell you what ]
have heard you call her myself" said
Mr.. Druitt quietly. And then lie told
me.
His tone was revelation to me.
Not that I'd call Witch anything
worse than ''little fool" But I
realized what it must have sounded
like to the hearers, and to him, her
father! I don't know how looked,
but I felt mean, cheap, worthless.
Utterly so, I began to stumble out
apologies. He waved his hand,
GAIL right" said he, "but you see
your language is at times torcible. ="
He is wise man, so ne said no
more. He showed his wisdom there
in, for l went Mt once to see Witch in
very contrite frame OF mind. I 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 extravagant thing, such was the
depth Of my humility. Still as jour-
neyed Putneyward I wondered as to
who could have stirred up the strife
between US. Suddenly it flashed
across my mind that Witch had seated
herself beside Aunt Betsy Jane, and
that Aunt Betsy Jane was her god
mother and therefore licensed to
interfere. TO be sure! It must have
been Aunt Betsey Jane who suggested
the letter.
! When I arrived at the Ceilars it was
about twelve o'clock. If all went we'll
peace would reign between Witch and
myself in an hour. And if so I would
take her off to Richmond. get BOAT
from Messum's, row up the river,
come to anchor in backwater / knew
of between Richmond and Hampton,
and then make her name the day.
But things didn't go we'll; they went
exceedingly badly instead. When
Amelia (Amelia is the Druitts' house
maid) opened the door, and Inquired
for Witch, she said gravely:
miss Druitt is not we'll, 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
places--ln the dining room before
lunch. Amelia left me and went up
stairs. I rapidly diagnosed tie situu-
ton. | took out my pocketbook and
wrote: "My darling, I shall wait in
the old boat at the end of the lawn till
you can see me-, and then I signed it
"John."
Amelia came back. eff you please,
sir, Miss Druitt does not feel equal to
seeing you to-day, but will write to
you tonight"
"ExactIy," said I quietly. "Can
you give me- al envelope? Thanks.
Give that to Miss Druitt, please"
The maid left the room and I went
into the garden. At the bottom OF
the garden ran the river; chained to
post, was an old boat. 1t was seldom
used, as the spot was roG picturesque,
but it was secluded, hidden both from
the house and from the passing boats
by thick dropping willows. 1t was
here that Witch and I had come to the
conclusion that we could not live with
out each other. ! sat down in the
boat, feeling very wroth with Witch
and bitter against Aunt Betsy Jane.
I would have given much to know if
she we're in the house at that moment 7