The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-24

thsn he caught . glimpse q ths girl, but
ghS did not come to the house again when
he was likely 10 be home. One day, bow
ever, Black Bess went lame and he re-
turned from the first ditch, He heard the
sound Of the piano ~ hs crossed the lawn,
and Just as he reached the door 1t opened
and the girl stood before him.
Although he had not seen her face, he
had known she was beautiful and when
she blushed her face was like some sweet,
delicate flower.
Excuse me-" she said n didn't
know
Elicit smiled. "You are Miss Thomp-
son. Cousin Margaret told me you came
in to awaken the echoes sometimes l am
glad you do" His tone was so pleasant
that the girl smiled as she again bowed
and passed on.
He did not go to the hunt the next day,
and when the girl came across the lawn
he went to meet her and asked II he might
come In and listen to the music
at has been long time since have
heard really good voice, he said.
"Do you like my voices' she asked
frankly.
II do. came in the other day when
you were singing Douglas Gordon 1t is
my favorite song. Will you sing 1t for
me now?'
She sang it and many others, and so it
came about that she promised to come ev-
cry morning, while he sent to the city
for his violin, and he hunted no more
mornings or afternoons. Miss Carruth
noted day after day that he was absent
from the chase. and her woman's heart
told her the cause.
One morning the girl did not come, and
Elliott paced uneasily up and down the
hall, drew the bow across the strings of
his violin, went to tho window and at last
wondered at his impatienoe. II never
knew / cared 10 much about music, - he
said to himself. Just then the girl came
through the gate. She had pulled few
blossoms of the pink cosmos and wore them
in her belt, and as she saw Elliott az the
window she looked up and smiled.
II a thunderbolt had fallen out Of the
autumn sky Elliott Raymond could not
have been more astonished than he was at
the throb his heart gave when he saw her.
His surprise at his feelings was SO great
that he leaned against the window to
steady himself for moment.
, Thirty five years old, " no said to him
self, land have never And then she
came In.
"You were waiting" she said.
"Yes l was waiting"
She looked up in surprise at his tone.
When she saw his face, she flushed. He
held ont his hands. Alice" he said, II
want you always. Will you Gomez I
want you to be my wife"
He was surprised that he could not OK
press himself better. Sho looked up at
him. her eyes moist and glad.
"Do your" she asked.
II do. Will you, Alicof"
She held out hor hands and met his.
II will, she said softly. "You are very
surep''
"Quite sure, Alice"
And 80 1t comes about that Elliott Ray
mond will undoubtedly carry out his
promise to himself to spend all next sum
msr in Flint valley, because Mrs. Ray
mond will want to go back to her old
home OH the farm after the winter OF
gayety in the city.
And Miss Carruth's gift to the bride
and groom is a water color sketch of II
slender, dark haired girl seated at a piano,
with autumn sunlight streaming In at The
window, and the card accompanying 1t
has most informal line, with the best
love of Gertrude CArruth. "-katharine
Hartman in Buffalo News.