The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-05-25

than you found it to change me from
Christy to Miss Wallace" she said.
with little smile.
THAT happened, and had to hap
pen, when you grow up" he replied,
with faint flush rising to his face.
when are you going to grow up,
then, MIR. John? L was rather slow
at it if it only happened five years
ago, but you are even more dilatory, &"
said Christy, talking for the sake of
talking.
"What do people do when they
grow mp? Get married, like Harold
and Blanche? Well, admit that we
have let our Juniors get he start of us
In that. | hope they will have n
happy life" he ended, dreamily.
"They expect it. and they are light
hearted people. Blanche is not often
out OF spirits"
Then the two lapsed into silence,
and sat gazing out over the landscape.
They were both thinking of Blanche
aud Harold, aud OF themselves as we'll.
The sun set, and the summer twi-
light had it all its own way in garden
and wood and meadow, and here, in
Christy's drawing too, where
the silent figures sat by the window
and meditated.
Christy stirred herself with bit of
laugh, as thrush in the acacias
broke into sudden cry. 81 am keep.
ing you here oil In the dark" she said,
and would have risen to ring for
lights.
"Not yet" besought Mr.. John. 'I
came up here with distinct purpose
tonight, but [ do NOT know how TO
set about it. am IL shy, awkward
man. Will you forgive me if make
blunder?"
.''!Surely," answered Christy, in be-
wilderment.
-" want to show you letter you
once wrote me" and he selected n
note from his pocketbook and handed
it to her. ''Do you remember it?"
Christy opened it and read it by the
waning daylight. He watched her as
she leaned to the window, thinking
what a dainty, delicate hand she had {:
Dear Mr. John-I am sorry you asked me,
because it is impossible. Graudmamma
could not spare mo. Harold will explain ii
TO you. Yours faithfully,
l. CHRISTlNE WALLACE.
She handed it back to him.
II remember it very we'll but it is
a long time ago. 1 thought it must
have offended you somehow, for
then that suddenly grew up"
ut is possible for man to be fl
without being offended. The tie
hurt me, but something was said les.
tcrday which mode me think there had
been mistake. Will you tell Inc
what it was that 1 asked, and you
found impossible2'
Christy began TO feel nervous; there
was something almost portentous in
the extreme quiet of his speech. His
face looked pale through the gather
ing gloom.
ut was a message that Harold
brought from you. You asked mo to
ride with you to Bottoms Cove the
next day, and 1 could not 90 partly
because granny did not think it proper
FOR me to ride with you alone, and
partly because the servants we're going
to confirmation, and Jones had TO
take my horse to drive them. Harold
said he could explain all that in words
better than l could in writing. / was
vexed, because / wanted to go to Boil
tons Cove. You see, i remember it
all very we'll"
"EXcellently WELL" he answered,
with curious information. perhaps
you will be surprised to hear that
never did ask you to 90 to Bottoms
Cove, and that + sent you no message
on that day"
81 donT understand"
"No," he answered, his hands NOV.
ing rcstlessly, in curious contrast to
Christy's, which lny immovablo in her
lap. ct seems that had two friends
just then more anxious for my perma-
nent welfare than my present happ1-
ness. ] was writing letter Of some
importance to myself when my uncle
called mo away. left my desk nm.
locked, not supposing that anyone
would be likely 60 search into my pri-
yate affairs, bni ~ proved that I was
too trust,ui. harold examined my
letter, aud reported upon it TO my
uncle and, as the result, my letter
was suppressed, and a message devised
for Harold TO carry in its place. have
y COW NJ that letter rpot .fp. Hylt a
cuudiU; ] should li.c y5ut,. tcld A.
Christy sat white and silent in her
shimmcring wedding dress, ghostlike
in the faint light from the window
Z Jarcely less so in the little yellow
CLEAN Of the candle Not q pose or
motion Of hers escaped Mr. John that
night.
She was rather frightened now,
when he set the candle down on tho
shelfbeside her and handed her this sec.
ond letter. The paper tromblod in her
hand, snd she bent her head nervous1y
over it. As she read she trembled more
and more, for this was u pain and
simple proposal OF marriage from 10
man to whom she had never dared to