Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-29

had turned back to DR.. Graham, an,
for moment he was angry.
""Pshaw! How unreasonable 1 am,
he said to himself. "How much NOR
thoughtful she is so as not to attrac
attention"
So he walked away until he saw he
preparing to leave.
"Are you ready to go now?' he asked
in low tone. "Do you want to TAX,
this basket along?"
"Why, yes-but," she hesitated 81
instant, "Dr. Graham will help m,
with my things"
he suddenly dropped the basket.
"Why, Nellie, it is my place, not thai
fellows" he exclaimed.
Nellie Golfers face flushed. ST dt
not see how you can claim that righr
any more than you have to speak OF
DR.. Graham in that manner" she sale
haughti.y
"Why. Nellie. I think that what pass
ed between Us this evening would GER
tainly give me the right
"Why, Mr. Pitcairn, what could pos
sibly have passed between us? You
must be laboring under some mistake" !"
she exclaimed in surprise. 81 saw you
when you came into the church and
had scarcely spoken to you until you
came here q few minutes ago."
"What do you mean, after what was
said in the anteroom when you were
after roper
'Mr. Pitcairn, if you had any conver-
sation with any one down stairs it GER
tainly was not with me. went down
after rope, but was not gone two min
utes, and you must remember that I
was not the only one who had been
down stairs after things, and if you
have made any arrangements to ac-
company young lady home this even
ing it was not with your humble serv-
ant" and her black eyes danced merri-
ly, and he knew that she was enjoying
his discontinue.
/ Mr.. Pitcairn grew pale.
"I'll forgive you for calling DR.. Gra-
ham a fellow If you don't do it again,
for he is"-she hesitated and blushed-
d Vel Pdi tlS0ldl IllCA0 VI ulluO, dAu
you and have been such good friends
that l will tell you secret-we are en-
gagged"
"Oh, you little torment! might have
known that you would try he ex-
claimed, his face all aglow.
"Why,. Mr.. Pitcairn, how could you
have known it, when we did not know
it ourselves until this evening? And
don't know what the doctor will say to
my telling you"
Mr.. Pitcairn staggered back against
a seat. "I-I wish you every happi-
ness" he stammered, then he turned to
examining the flowers until after they
had left the church. He felt dazed, and
he certainly pinched himself to see that
he was not dreaming as he went down
stairs to his study.
"A pretty kettle Of fish I've got into"
he exclaimed, as he threw himself into
chair and kicked the footstool which
Miss Reynolds had made across the
room, Lost the girl wanted and en-
gagged myself to something I don't
want, and haven't any idea who it
isr
He lit a match and went over to the
anteroom. There lay piece of rope on
the floor and beside it daintily per-
fumed handkerchief. He picked them
up and went back to his study. He re-
membered now that he noticed the
scent of violets as he held her in his
arms. 1t cost him struggle to give up
Nellie Collier. He sat and thought un-
til long after midnight. He studied
over all the Nellies of his congregation.
There was Miss Reynolds, but she was
too stout, he thought, with great sigh
of relief; Miss Mattern was too tall. 1t
was some one whose head just reached
his shoulder. He had called her Nellie,
epithets thrown in. She was small and
dainty and, whoever she was, evident
" loved him.
If he found she was some one who
would not suit him, well, he would
have to get out Of it in some way.
But, whoever she was, her presence
seemed to haunt him as he sat there.
He could feel her arms around his
neck and the pressure Of her head
against his shoulder, and he felt an
intense longing to again hold the little
white robed figure in his arms and feel
her warm breath on his cheek. And
he-dignifed minister that he was
picked up the handkerchief and kissed
it passionately.
He scarcely knew how he got
through the next day. He was thank
full that the services were such that
he did not have to give regular ser
mon. He studiously avoided looking
at the choir, where Nellie Collier was
sitting, until near the close of the
evening services, when, while Elinor
Vandever was singing solo, he turned
that way, and for a moment their eyes
met, her voice faltered for an instant
and then rang out clear and sweet. He
nearly let the hymnbook he was hold
ing fall to the floor in his surprise, and
a sudden feeling Of relief came over
him.
Elinor vandever! He had never
thought of her, and yet he knew that
her pet name at home was Nellie. She
had always been so reserved that he
had never dreamed that she would