Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-10-14
AFTER SAYING YES.

pitIh W tue Nlllt nuTrleu u young girl WIN
flushed cheeks. Not till she had entered
the garden of her home did she slackcn her
pace, and instead Of going up on the We
randa she crcpt through the Shrubbcry,
seated herself on the bench under the ma
pie tree and hid her face in her hands
Elise, Elise, she whispered to herself,
"what have you done;,
She had promised herself for life to u
man whom she had met only few days
before. These days had passed like a
dream, in jest and laughter. without an
other thought than the pleasure Of the
moment. To he sure, she had suspected
how it might end, but not that it should
happen 50 soon. And not till the promised
word was spoken did she awaken out of
her dream.
Just now. when he drew her arm more
closely to him and whispered in her ear
that they would be married before the year
was out, she felt the blood grow cold in
her veins and the man who walked beside
her seemed all ut once like any stranger
she might pass ON the street.
And ~ she sat there, asking herself
what She knew Of him and why she liked
him. she could answer nothing And
when She examined her heart She found it
as empty and cold as If no warm feelings
had ever stirred it But her checks burned
hotter and reddcr, until she went into the
house to join the others, SO that she might
escape from herself and her thoughts.
The drawing room clock licked harder
than usual that afternoon, and Elsie kept
looking up from her work to notice how
the hands flew. 1t would soon strike +.
But just before the stroke she cast her en-
bruidcry away from her, sprang up and
rushed out, without answering her moth
err astonishcd questions.
Only few steps beyond the garden she
met him He was punctual to the minute
and beamed with joy because she came out
To meet him But when she passed the
gate and proposed to him to walk n little
farther he looked at her in surprise She
did not appear very anxious to Introduce
her lover to her family.
Elise hastily led the way across the field
and up the hill. She threw herself down
on n messy stone under the spruces. and
he stretched himself on the heather beside
her The stone was large enough to hold
two, but she did not make room for him.
Are you very sure, she began, break
ing a dry twig into tiny hits--''arc you
really really sure that you love me-
At first he looked serious, but then burst
out laughing in his bright jolly way
sure Of il: But there is surely DO one
who has forced me 10 say it,
No. But you don know me. What
is II about nae yeu love
"F3erythinx H. loved the folds Of
her drr~s. he loved thu flower she Wore
on her breast, and be did not understood
that under cach question to him lay a
question to herself, What is it | love in
him:
But why should She he the only one to
doubt and worry And 80 to disturb his
compoeure she began To set forth her
faults She unveiled every bad trait she
had She was quick tempered and a Scold;
she was cnvious and coquettsh; she was
stupid and ignorant. She sat and rcckoncd
herself up in n serious voice; she spoke
frankly and She honestly wished to be be-
lieyed But the smile did not leave his
lips nor did he take his eyes from her
face At each new confession he simply
repeated:
Yes knew that before. F."
Finally the blood rushed to her head 1t
annoyed her to find she could not convince
him He sat there in the secure belief
that she wished only to humble herself
because of her great happiness. Could he
not comprehend at all that he had done
wrong in surprising her as be had and
that "A person cannot be sure Of love SO
loosely rooted?
She knew OF way to make him under
stand. but her tongue seemed tied when
she tried to speak She sat silent for II
/ few minutes, struggling between fright
and the desire to have it out. Finally
tho desire triumphed.
mo, you do not know me, " said she
when answered you as did this morn
ing, it was because-well, hot wholly be
cau~e-but perhaps partly because-be-
caus. Of hartships at home. "
There was IA cracking of twigs. He had
turned on his arm and was gazing AT her
/ without word, but the color was gone
from his face She need worry no longer
about his not understanding
There came over her n feeling Of nm
/ spcakablc regret With few word, she
/ had destroyed something she could never
get back again. And this something, now
it wa, lost seemed dearer To her than al
else in the world She did not know him
well she had not succeeded in getting an
answer to the question what it wa, She
liked IN him, but the power thar first drew
her To- him rose now in rcdoubled might.
The divine, incomPrehensihle mystery She
had tried To explain but only succeeded in
silcncing. awokc To life within her again.
1 And nuW it wa, too late. What could have
this power TO cffacc her Words
"Ah, You are afraid Of hardshipsi'
His voice sounded heavy and his eyes
looked far away over the broad meadows
visible through the opening in the trees,
Then il would be best for you to recon-
i slider he continued. u am cuisines.
man and myposjtionis not firmly secured.
one day there may be money, another