The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-11-10


should marry at all, but if sho must
marry, I'd rather sho married you
thar any one else"
"Thanli you, sir. for saying that.
Thank you very much" said i, crate
fully, sci ting his hand and wringing
ii hard.
''Just SO, " said he, removing it from
my grasp and looking auxiously Mt it.
But why this fervor?"
L put Witch's precious epistle in
front of him. He read it twice through
attentivcly, put it down, and looking
calmly at me, said
Every Interestingly But scarcely to
be regarded rs n prelude to very
speedy matrimony, L should think. :"
"Ah, but it is, sir. A girl doesn't
write note like that and have done
With it. No, sho continues to write
them. shall probably get similar
note once n month now, and that will
be very firing. I give you my word
that | did not sleep n wink all last
night. The practice won't stand that
sort OF thing long, you know" said /
earnestly.
eff / might ask, should like to
know whom you would consider In
fault in this little Misunderstanding? 2"
be asked.
"I am, sir 1t stands to reason; |
should not be so anxious if she werc
in fault" and then | explained the
whole matter, finishing up with, 81
can't remember exactly what | called
her, but whatever it was | didn't mean
| IT. F"
81 Hm not ablo to refresh your
memory Ms to what you said on that
occasion, but | can tell you what |
have heard you coll her myself" said
Mr.. Druitt quietly. And then he told
me.
His tone was n revelation to me-
Not that I'd call Witch anything
worse than "little fool" Bat |
realized what it must have sounded
like to the hearers, and to him, her
father | don't know how | looked,
but | felt mean, cheap, worthless.
Utterly so, | began to stumble out
apologies. He waved his hand
'All right" said he, "but you sec
your language is at times torcible.
He Is wise man, so he said no
in, for ] went Mt once to soc Witch in
! a very contrite frame Of mind. l was
ready to make mat of myself, and
let my darling tramplo 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 L 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! 1t must have
been Aunt Betsey Jane who suggested
the letter.
When arrived at the Cedars it was
about twelve o'clock. If ali went well
peace would reign between Witch and
myself in an hour. And if so / would
take her of to Richmond, get n boat
from Messum's. row up the river.
come to anchor in bnckwater / knew
of between Richmond and Hampton,
aud then make her name the day
But things didn't go well they went
exceedingly badly instead. When
Amelia amelia is the Druitts' house
mHid) opened the door, and | inquired
for Witch, she said gravely:
Miss Druitt is not well, sir, but I'll
tell her you're here"
Then she showed me into tho dining
room. This was ominous In the
Druit.s' mcnnSe it is customary to see
people who come on business -dress-
I ' Inn Il o.. l.,
piaces--In the dining room before
lunch. Amelia left me aud went up
stairs. rapidly diagnosed tic situa-
ton. | took out my pocketbook and
wrote: "My darling, 1 shall wait in
The old boat Mt the end of the lawn till
you can see me, and then / signed it
/ John"
Amelia came back. off you please,
sir, Miss Druitt does not feel equal to
seeing YOU to-day, but will write to
| you to night"
Exactly" sal I quietly. "Uan
you give mo m envelope? Thanks.
Give that to Miss Druitt, please"
The maid LETT the room and went
/ into tho garden. At the bottom of
tn, garden ran the river; chained TO
post, was an old boat. 1t was seldom
used, as the spot was not picturesque,
/ but 1T was secluded, hidden both from
I the house and from tho passing boats
10y thick dropping willows. It was
hero that Witch aud ] had come to the
conclusion that we could not live with
out each other. / sat down in the
bDnt, feeling very vroth with Witch
and bitter against Aunt Betsy Jane.
] would move given much to know if
she were ia tho house nc that moment /
thought cut al I Ind heard of tho
duys OF our youth / felt mean aud
spiteful I bethought mo OF nm old
incidcns in her llIo wherein Aunt
Betsy Jane had called very near the
wind. and bad bad narrow escape OF
social wreck.
Would you believe H.? sat in that
boat, except when got up md
stretched myself, til o'clock It
was nearly dark, nm whom ] heard tho
clock strike sworo 10 myself that il
Witch did not appear before the chin.
ing OF tho quarter would row the old
boas down to tho bridge, give % boy
eiHpcnco 20 bring it back again and,