The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-12-05
you have no objections TO our mar

! should marry at all, but II she must
marry. I'd rather she married you than
anyone else
THANK you. sir, for saying that.
hank you very much" said |. grateful
ly selling his hand aud wringing 1t
hard.
"iust So said he. removing II from
my grasp and looking anxiously at 1t.
But why this fervor?'
put Witch's precious epistle In front
OF him. He read It twice through at
tentively, put It down. and looking
calmly at me said:
Very interestingl But scarcely to
be regarded as a prelude to very
speedy matrlmony. | should think"
"Ah, but 1t is. sir. girl doesn't
write a note like that and have done
with 1t. No. she continues TO write
them. ! shall probably get similar
note once a month now and that will be
very firing. give you my word that
did not sleep a wink last night. The
practice won't stand that sort Of thing
long. you know" said 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.
IF might ask, | should like to know
whom you would consider In fault In
this little misunderstanding" he
asked.
Il am, sir. II stands to reason;
should not be so anxious II she were in
fault" and then explained the whole
matter. finishing up with. Il can't re-
member exactly what l called her. but
whatever 1t was | didn't mean IT,"
Il am not able to refresh your mem
DRY to what you said on that occasion.
but | 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 fatherl | don't
know how | looked. but | felt mean,
cheap. worthless. Utterly so, | began
TO stumble out apologies. He waved
bis hand.
"All right" said he, but you see your
language is at all times forcible."
He is a wise man, so he said no more.
He showed his wisdom therein. for
vent at once to see Witch in very
contrite frame of mind | was ready
10 make a mat of myself and let my
darling trample on me If 1t should so
please her. or 90 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 1t flashed across my mind that
Witch had seated herself beside Aunt
Betsy Jane, and that Aunt Betsy Jane
was her godmother and therefore H.
censed to interfere. | 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. 1t must have
peen Aunt Betsy Jane who suggested
The letter.
When | arrived at the Cedars 1t was
about - 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 knew of between
Richmond and Hampton and then make
FER name the day. But things didn't
80 well; they went exceedingly badly
Instead. When Amelia amelia is the
nruitts housemai0 opened the door
ard | inquired for Witch she said.
Miss Druitt is not WELL sir but I'll
iell her you're here
Then she showed me into the dining
room. This was ominous, In the
Drultts' menage II Is customary to see
people who come on business-dress.
lAakers, laundresses. servants seeking
piaces-in the dinlng-room before lunch.
Amelia left me and went upstairs.
rapidly diagnosed the situation. l took
cut my pocketbook and wrote: MY
darling. | shall wait in the old boat mt
the end of the lawn till you can see me.
end then | signed 1t John"
Amelia came back III you please.
sir. Miss Druitt does not feel equal to
seeing you today, but will write to you
o night"
Exactly" said |. quietly Can you
give me an envelope? Thanks. Give
iaat to Miss Druitt. please"
The maid left the room and I went
into the garden. AT the boston of the
garden ran the river; chained to a DOS;
swas 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 II was here that
Witch and | had come to the conclu.
sion that we could not live without each
Ctheri | sat down IN the boat feeling
very wroth with Witch and bitter
against Aunt Betsy Jane. | would
nave given much to know II she were
IN the house at that moment. thought
out all had heard Of the DAYS of her
youth. felt mean and splteful I be-
thought me Of an old incident in her