The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-02-06
Why IT NEVER CAME.

Altogether it was very curious at
fair. He had been paying her much
marked attention for some time, and
she had seemed only too pleased to re-
ceive it. Wherever she went, he went,
too, if possible, and if by any chance
he was not there she was dull and rest
less and found things slow. All the
town knew about it and was on the
tiptoe Of expectation for the announce
ment. Then, suddenly, without appar-
ent rhyme or reason, he went back to
town, and there was no talk Of any en-
gagement. Her sisters could not I'M
derstand it any better than did the Cos
sips of the town, for from hints she had
let fall they felt sure that she would
not be unwilling to exchange her posi-
ton of eldest daughter in the large
family Of doctor whose practice was
greater in dimensions than in lucrative
ness for the position Of wife to rising
young lawyer with expectations. She
was not very young, either; twenty
seven is getting on, and four other
grown up sisters did not make one ap-
pear any younger. Besides, she 'hated
helping in household work and always
having to tidy up after tiresome chill
dren," and openly declared that she
would do anything to get away from it
all.
The goss;ps Of the town were very
impartial in their remarks. They said
if he had not proposed to her he ought
to have done so, after making such an
obvious fuss of her, and therefore he
must be very much to blame, for she
certainly would not have said NO.
but they further stated that if he had
proposed to her and she had refused
him, then she was also very much to
blame for having encouraged him to
such an extent. One thing was certain
, ly clear, that there ought to have been
an engagement, and they shook their
heads and said they had always before
thought he was such an honorable
young man, and no firt, while they
had also considered her a very sensible
girl, who knew on which side her bread
was buttered. And there was a good
deal Of truth in these reflections.
Yet he-Roger Blake-was a young
man with right intentions, and he had
been very much in love with her, and
had wished to marry her, and She
Julia Viccars-was as fond of him as
she could be Of anybody, and was only
waiting, somewhat imratiently, for the
momentous question.
And this is how the little town was
disappointed Of it's fashionable we'd
ding
They had been at the vicarage gar
den party, and he had resolved to get
a quiet half hour with her there, and
put the words to her which had lain
for days at the tip of his tongue, and
yet, somehow, he never got a chance,
though both were willing parties. Once
they had really escaped from the crowd
and were strolling toward seques-
tered part Of the scrubbery when the
wears second son, very obtuse youth,
espied them. He was anxiously look
ing for fourth to make up good ten
mis- set, and rushed up.
II say, Blake, make a fourth in this
seat, will your
''I'd rather not, thanks. I've just been
playing. Find some one else."
Il can't find any one good enough.
Jones is playing on the other side land
we have no one his equal but you. Do
come, there's good fellow. am sure
Miss Viccars will spare you.'
"Oh, certainly said Julia; but if a
tone could be frigid enough to freeze
any mortal, the wears son would have
been then and there turned into solid
ice.
He persisted in his request, and they
were obliged to go back to the tennis
lawn.
However, that evening, as Roger
Blake escorted Julia and her sisters the
short distance home, he found opportu-
nifty to say:
II suppose you will take your usual
constitutional tomorrow in the park !?
Perhaps I may see you there"
Just lately Julia, usually so INDECENT,
had given out that she had headaches
and required a brisk walk every day,
and had carefully chosen time and
place so that she might be likely to &C.
cidentally meet Roger Blake and have
him for a companion.
The next morning she dressed herself
with unusual care, chose her most be-
coming hat and went to the extrava-
gance Of putting on her best gloves and
shoes-'a lady is always judged by her
gloves and shoes"-and borrowed her
sisters crimson parasol, for it was Of
newer fashion than her own, and,
moreover, it lent a becoming pink
shade to the whole effect. She strolled
along toward the park, expecting every
moment to hear manly step behind
her, and morniyg greeting in the we'll
known voice, and as she strolled Wis
ions Of her future grandeur occupied
her thoughts. She resolved that there
should be no unnecessary delay in fix
ing the wedding day, though, of course,
she must show little girlish hesita-
ton. Her wedding dress should be
white satin and-yes-her bridesmaids
should certainly wear pink, and the
children should come in, too-nothing
was so pretty as children at a wedding,
and simple little frocks could be easily
made at home. Ugh! how glad she
would be to get away from the little
brats, with their everlasting teasing
and noise, and from the endless con
irving how to make sixpence do the
work of a shilling! The folks should
soon see she knew how to do the proper
thing!
The town clock struck IL and then
the quarter, and she began to wonder
where Roger was and to feel a little
apprehension, and she mentally abused
the wears son for his tiresome inter-
ference the day before, for she was cer-
tain that Roger would have been