The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-08-04

$50 late, father!" she said, sur
prised. al did not think it. Where
have you beer-all this time?"
where have You been, Milly?' re-
torted her father, laughingly, "that
you did not think it SO late as .
o'clock?"
T? Oh, I have been in dream
land" she said, smiling.
"And well, wait moment !;
sha'n't we have lights, Milly? Here
comes John"
"No, never mind tho lights-John,
we don't want them yet-this moon
light is pleasanter.
She sat down upon lounge, with
her arm resting upon the study table,
near the armchair which her father
had assumed.
well, where have you been,
father"
Talking Nth friend of yours,
whom l met by chance. Well, it is
somebody you are pretty well nc
quninted with. What do You think of
his having proposed for you, Milly?
: Now you know who it is, don't you?
| mot him Just now, when he opened
the subject to me-"
He leaned back in his chair, laugh
ing quietly and softly rubbing his
hands.
Now Milly knew. He had encoun-
tered Captain Dudley, or rather Cap
suin Dudley had sought him. She
had prepared herself to tell her father
of tho gentleman's proposal, but he
knew of it already, 1t seemed. Tho
captain appeared TO be anxious to mako
sure work of it.
$50 he has spoken to you. father ?"
'To be sure. You seem to take it
rather quietly, Milly. But so, in fact,
did /. Indeed, I don't know that it
should be matter of surprised own
L have been expecting ii tor some time,
and you, L suppose, Milly---but I'll
spare your bushes, my dear, and only
ask you what you have 10 say about
it?"
"Well, I don't think of marrying at
present, SIR" answered Miss Clare.
Mr.. Clare regarded her with mingled
nstonlshment, severity and GOODNESS.
according to your manner of re-
ceivinS his proposal" he said, "I
should say that have most complete
ly misconstrued your actions. And it
is your fault. Can it he possible that
you have been coquetting with this
young man--merely co4uetting with
him---nll this time? Aud after rails
ing his hopes, his expectations -"
"Sir-allow me" interrupted Mil
ly, with respect, yet with dignity,
while she felt her cheek growing warm,
81 am utterly unaware of having ever
raised these hopes-these expectations
of which you speak. If he enter
tains them they are quite groundless. 4"
Her father rose from his chair.
slightly waving his hand, rs if to end
the discussion.
al confess that 1 have not quite I'M
dcrstood you of late. then" he said
And now his voice had III it less of Sc
verify than acute disappointment of
sorrow-it was more subdued than be-
fore. 81 have not understood you. :"
These tones brought the quick rush
ing tears to NIilly's eyes.
Indeed, indeed you have not, she
said earnestly, tremulously; "but l
did not think you cared for him so
veryssFuch, father"
r. matter; no matter, now, Mil
ly aye said. eve will not say any
mofG about this affair tonight. To.
morrow morning he will come over,
and then you can see him and tell him
what you think. At present it is
nearly time to retire. We will have
lights now"
MIlly repressed her tears with diff
Guilty. She tremDled as she gave her
father her goodnight kiss that even
ing He saw how her dropping eve
lashes glistenel with those tears,
how her check wa5 flushed and hot,
and despite what had passed, he could
not help embracing her with all his
accustomed niTectionate tenderness.
His glance followed her anxiously rs
size passed in silence from the room.
Shaking his head sorrowfully he turned
away.
When she met her father ut break
fast she found him affectionate and
kindly as usual, but serious and dis.
posed TO silence. The last nights
trouble evidently weighed heavily
hH'A iAi' Ahihhs 4 HIS ttlSCu lleT the
deepest pain. She longed to open the
subject then and there, again, to as
sure him thousand times of the in
noccnce of wrong intentions; but sho
restrained herself.
"By.and-by,' she said to herself,
twill be better. II Captain Dudley
asserts that | have encouraged him, /
will lay my past conduct before them
both-compel them 70 examine it fair.
ly-aud then if they can, either of
them, point out single instance i'm
which ] have sought TO encourage his
attentions, ] will acknowledge that I
have been wrong i'm doing So.
The morning repast was conducted
in quiet. Mr. Clare, almost from its
beginning to its close, was engaged
in his own reflections. When it was
concluded he repaired TO the library
alone. And Mill went up stairs TO
her own room. But ten minutes had
scarcely passed when word was brought
her that her father requested her TO
come down into tho pnrlor. Instantly
obeyin9 this summons, sho left her
apartment and descended TO the hall
below, where she met her father, who
was Mt that moment leaving tho par.
lor,
'MilIy," he said, "Mr. Anncslcy has