The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-10-01

should marry at oil, but IL she must
marry, I'd rather she married you
than any one else."
''Thank you. sir, for saying that.
Thank you very much" said I, CRATE
fully, seiziDg his hand and wrineine
il hard.
''Just SO" said he, removing IL from
my grasp and looking auxiously at it.
'But why this fervo:?"
/ put Witch's precious epistle in
front of him. He read it twice through
attentively, put it down, and looking
calmly at me, said:
Every interestingi But scarcely to
be regarded as prelude to very
speedy matrimony, 1 should think. "
"Ah, but it is, sir. A girl doesn't
write note like that and have done
with it. No. she continues to write
them. shall probably get similar
note once q month now, and that will
be very firing. / give you my word
that I did not sleep q wink all last
night. The practice won't stand that
sort Of thing long, you know" said 1
earnestly.
"If | might ask, should like to
know whom you would consider In
fault in this little misunderstanding"
be asked.
81 am, sir. II stands to reason; 1
should not be so anxious if she were
in fault" and then l explained the
whole matter, finishing up with, al
can't remember exactly what / called
her, but whatever it was didn't mean
it,"
al am not able to refresh your
memory as to what you said on that
occasion, but | can tell you what |
have heard you coll her myself" said
Mr.. Druitt quietly. And then ho told
me.
His tone was q revelation to me-
Not that I'd call Witch anything
worse than "little fool" But /
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 50, began to stumble out
apologies. He waved his hand,
"All right" said he, "but you SEQ
your language is at times forcible."
He is n wise man, so he said no
more. He showed his wisdom there.
in, for / 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 / 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 Ii must have
been Aunt Betsey Jane who suggested
the letter.
When arrived at the Cedars il was
about twelve o'clock. If oil went well
peace would reign between Witch and
myself in an hour. And if so would
take her of to Richmond, get boat
from Messum's, row up the river.
come to anchor in q backwater knew
of between Richmond and Hampton,
aud then make her name the day.
But things didn't 80 well; they went
exceedingly badly instead. When
Amelia amelia is the Druitts' House.
maid) opened the door, and inquired
for Witch, she said gravoly:
"Miss Druitt is not we'll, sir, but I'll
tell her you're here"
Then she showed me into tho 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--In the dining room before
lunch. Amelia left me and went up.
stairs. lrapidly l diagnosed tie situa.
tion. took out my pocketbook and
wrote: "My darling, shall wait in
the old boat at the end of the lawn till
you can see me-" and then / 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 envelopep Thanks.
Give that to Miss Druitt, please"
The maid left the room and won't
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 the passing boats
by thick dropping willows. 1t was
here that Witch and had come to the
conclusion that we could not live with.
out each other. l sat down in the
boat, feeling very wroth with Witch
and bitter against Aunt Betsy Jane.
/ would have given much to know if
she were in the house at that moment |
l thought out all had heard of the
days of our youth. felt mean and
spiteful. I bethought me of an old
incident in her life wherein Aunt
Betsy Jane had sailed very near the
wind anl hoI hal n a..... 4