The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-19
DECEIVED HERSELF.

aDaisy. did I hear You promise that
that fellow to go with him to the picnic
next Tuesday,
what fellow?' asked Daisy icily.
You know who I mean. Dick was
pale with jealousy and wrath. HAnd you
know that there was an understanding
that / was to escort you." e
Il presume that I can go with whom I
chooset' answered Daisy haughtily.
$50 you can, and ! want you now to
make your choice; but I tell you once for
all that II you throw mo over for that Fem
wick you win be done with me forever"
My goodness, Dicki What a temper
you haye!"
you've driven me to 1t. You've made
me desperatel'' he retorted. stThis thing
must come to an end between us one way
or the other, for I will bear it no longer
what right have you to speak to me in
that tone? | am not your slave, and !
shall go with DR.. Fenwick to tho picnic"
VERY we'll, = he said shortly, and turn
ing On his heel walked of in the direction
OF the barn.
AS Daisy entered tho cool dining room
Miss Maria was standing at the window
with her arms akimbo, gazing after Dick.
s.That boy. she said soleninly, ssthat
boy amt himself. / shouldn't be sur
prised IL he's driven to do something des-
p'rate,n n she looked resentfully at
Daisy.
You don't cat anything, Daisy" kind
" said Uncle Edward, who never saw
much of what was not going on right be-
fore his eyes. maybe you think the
weather's too warm for hot rolls and
cakes2 Well, take some iced milk and her-
ries-why, bless mel What's the matter
with the childY'
Daisy had burst into tears. PLEASE,
uncle-aunt-excuse mo, " she said, and
hastily left the room.
She did not go up stairs. but out of
doors, whore she could relieve her heart by
sobbing unseen and unheard. Passing
through the garden and tho orchard, she
followed the little footpath which led to a
pretty strip Of woodland, where in a cool
ravine ran a narrow but rather deep stream
between messy banks.
There had been a little rustic bridge
leading to the hillside beyond, but this
had been lately washed away after q heavy
rain and-wasn t that Dick, his arms fold
ed, with his eyes bent upon the deep pool
which the rocks had just here pent INF
A sudden fear seized Daisy. Surely,
surely Dick could not be thinking of
drowning himself. She stood still and
breathless, watching him.
Presently he started, as if from a rev
erie, and with his lips compressed into a
firm look Of resolve picked up q coil Of
ropo which lay at his feet. Then he walk
ed round and round a tall straight tree
growing close to the edge Of the stream,
looking up into its thick foliage as If for a
convenient branch to which to attach it.
For a moment she felt paralyzed, but as
she saw Dick carefully make a moose on
one end Of the rope and prepare to climb
the tree the spell was broken. She rushed
forward with a Wild shrek and threw her
arms about him.
.sOh, Dick, dear Dick, don't do such a
dreadful thing. Don't hang yourself,
Dick. For my sake, don'ti Oh, forgive
me, dear Dick, and I'll never tease or
grieve you againi"
He looked down into the white face of
the sobbing girl and his stern eyes soft
ened. But then he said gloornily: How
can I believe you. Eaisy2 You have as
good as told me that you dc not love me,
ard without you I don't care to live"
Don't talk so dreadfullys Dicki III
do love you'll"
Answer me truly, Daisy. DO you real
ly love mea"
sYes," sobbed the girl. Indeed / do,
Dick Please, please threw away that
dreadful roper
mot yet, Daisy. Do you love me above
everybody else in the worlds"
"Yes-oh, yesls
.And will you marry me, Daisys"
Eyes, I will, Dick. Indeed I wini'
@When?"
aAny time. Temorrow-now," said
Daisy in desperation, s'if you will only
throw away that dreadful thing and como
home with me.
Dick flung the coil of rope into thieket
OF laurel on the other side of thes stream
and drawing Daisy to him kissed her sol
emily. "Remcmber 0 have promised
to be my wife, Daisy /.
YES she answered meekly, and So
hand in hand they returned through tho
orchard and the garden to the house.
sOf all the -unaccountable creatures on
the face of the earth" said Miss Maria,
surveying them from the pantry window,
recommend me to a young courtin cou-
pie. l don't believe they know their own
minds five minutes at a time anyways.
Uncle Edward was sitting on the top
step Of the porch c~ontentedly smoking his
pipe.
sWell, Dick said he eheerfully, "have
you fixed that tree with the rope all ready
to pull it down in the right direction?"
NO. answered Dick quietly. sIll at
tend to it tomorrow"
well, don't forget it, for the sooner
that bridge is finished tho better, If we
want to get the hay ever in good time"
Daisy stopped and looked straight up
into Dicks face. "You nave deceived
meI'' she said Indignantly.
HNo, Daisy, I haven't. You deceived
Yourself, dear, and I'm very glad of it, !
assure you."
sGlad?" said Daisy responsibility and
with her face all crimson with bushes
because but for that ! might never
have got you to say Yes, n we might
both have been forever miserable. But
how happy we are going to be for all the
rest of our livesl'
sStill, it was a ~dreadfully mean trick,
Daisy murmured, and If you ever say a
word about it to any one I'll never forgive
London NeWs.
TO JACOB H. VREELAND, INDIVIDUALLY
and as Executor of VIII of Jane 1. Ander-