The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-10-23

TITS the fault of there being such
q large family, dear, that is ALL"
"And very bad fault, too"
"Dick! Don't you like the family?"
"Not as L like you, child, and not
enough to like them to monopolize
You and take up all your time and
thoughts and interests, so that /,
whom you are going to marry, can
hardly get so much as word or look
from you"
"Who is with you now, Dick?"
Eyes, for three minutes at the gar
den gate, because if 1 come inside
you will be surrounded by the whole
lot of them the next moment, and for
anything we want to say to one ap-
other we might as we'll be at opposite
poles. You mayn't mind it, Cecily-
you don't seem to do so, at any rate
but, upon my soul, it's hard lines
on a man who loves YOU"
1t is an evening in April. The land
is all adush with the pink blossoms
of the almond and the white blossoms
of the pear.
He is rather handsome always,
rather angry now, my lover, but L
know that the anger comes from love,
and so 1 think more of the first fact
than the second as look up smiling
ly into the brave blue eyes, bright
with a passionate CLEAN, and mark
how well the broad, square cut
shoulders and shapely head stand out
against the golden glory of that even
"And pray, Sir, do you expect me
to be always at your beck and call?"
ask. "I'm sure you get your fair
share of attention"
"Do II" he says gravely. "When
l wait whole week for the chance of
one walk with you, and when the
promised day comes you coolly send
me word that you've got something
else to do, and are too busy even to
see me! 1 might have claimed your
promise to marry me two Summers
ago, and again last Autumn, when l
was offered the making of that new
Canadian line. / refused it, only be-
cause / knew You wouldn't leave home
30 soon after your mothers death,
and could not bear to go away with
out you; but now there is this other
Job Of the same sort in Perthshire,
and they say can have it for the ask
ing. The works are to begin in July,
and if we are married in June-dear
Cecily, my own darling love, do say
that we shall be; do give me what /
ask. Thiuk how long have waited
for You already and how badly I want
you, and come to me. Cecily, dear
est, if you love me say you will. Say
it now"
Gin June!" I repeat, my eyes wide
with dismay, and drawing myself still
further back. "Dick, you promised
not to be in hurry"
81 never promised anything of the
sort; but if / had done so should
have kept my promise over and over
again. Cecily, will you ever find
lover who has waited as long as 1 have
done already? And yet you talk OF my
waiting on for another year still! If
YOU loved me in the least you would
be as tired of these delays as I am;
but you don't, and 1 see it only too
plainly. You don't even know what
love is. YOU"
"Hullabullero, hullabullool Cecily,
Cts, where are your" shouts boys
voice from the laburnum bushes be-
hind.
Don't be silly, Dick. Let me go.
Please let me co." 1 stammered out
hurriedly; but have no need to re-
peat the request. At the first sound
of my rough-tongued little brothers
voice Dick has dropped my hands and
stepped back.
.'Let you go? Oh, certainly" he
saws, with strange, bitter accent in
his voice. "For good, if you like.
expect it will come to that some day.
Goodbye, and off he goes, striding
over the dewy grass and under the
milk-white blossoms Of the thorn trees
without another word or look.
1t is too bad. OF course the chill |
dren don't really mean to hurt me;
but it is too bad; and the worst OF 1T
is that dare not show my vexatlon.
Poor Dicks squirt of temper is for /
gotten, and tea proceeds without fur
Their allusion to him. 1 cannot bear
Dick to be angry with me; Dick, who
for all his quick, fiery nature, is as
gentle as a woman in general with
those he loves, and who has been so
tender and true to me all these years,
that at times his very generosity makes
one forget that those who give much
have right to expect much in return.
A long engagement is very trying