Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-29
A DARK MISTAKE
It Il Unsafe to Make Love With
out Seeing the Object OF
Affection.
fIIIIIIInIITIIIIInIIIIIlIIIIIIIIllIHIlIllllIllI


'sNo use burning all these lights
down here. Eli just have to I'LL them
in the morning, and no use making me
work for nothing" and the old sexton
turned down the one lamp burning In
the chandelier in the room and went
out, leaving the door ajar. The light
fickered for a few moments until an
outer door was opened, and then, with
one bright flash, 1t died out.
4 Up stairs there was much laughing
and talking as the busy hands put the
finishing touches to the church decora-
tions for the morrow.
''There. 1 think that is as well as we
can do," and Nellie Collier stepped
back to survey the work. 1--WE need a
small piece Of rope to reach across that
seat yet, DOCTOR" she said, turning to
DR.. Graham, who was standing beside
her. 'Two of those letters in that GEN.
ter motto are crooked. You straighten
them, please, while I get the rope. l
know where there is piece that will
just do" and she hurried down the
stairs and ran against Mr.. Pitcairn as
he was entering his study.
"WhewI Dark as can be-" she said
half aloud as she entered the small en-
teroom and felt her way over the closet
under the stairs.
Mr.. Pitcairn went into his study, his
thoughts in tumuit. For months Mel
lie Golfers laughing face had been
haunting him. and he often found that
his eyes rested on her when he was
preaching.
He waited a few minutes and then
met the little white robed figure as she
was about leaving the room.
"Nellie, ! want to tell you some
thing" he said, taking hold Of the
hands which were full of rope.
/. 81 have been wanting to tell you for
q long time that love you. 1 don't
think that you can be surprised, for
you must have seen that love you
dearly, and hope that it has, not been
distasteful to you, has it?"
4 There was no answer, but there was
no attempt to withdraw the hands that
he held.
.T am not an adept at lovemaking,
darling. VIII you be my wife, Nellie?"
81 never thought that you cared for
me-" she murmured. "You never no
Iticed me much, and I thought you
cared for Others" came in low voice.
sT must have hid my feelings more
h,rf 7
loved you SO that you thought that I
neglected you. A minister is watched
SO much and has to be so very careful.
But can you love me, darling, enough
ito be my wife?'
He could scarcely hear the answer,
but he suddenly clasped her in his
arms. No matter what happened for
"a few minutes. 1t was the first time
that he had been in love, and the room
was dark. He remembered afterward
that he even then felt surprised to find
that she was SO small.
81 must be going, darling" he said
lat last as he heard some one entering
the next room. @There is a commit
tee meeting in my study. I will come
up stairs as soon as 1 can," and, CIV
ing her last kiss, he hurried from
the room.
He was in no humor for a business
meeting, and the good brethren must
have thought that their young minis
ter was growing frivolous, he seemed
so light hearted and laughed several
times when they were discussing i'm
portant business. The truth was he
scarcely knew what was said or done,
and as soon as the last one had depart
ed he hurried up stairs. Nearly every
one had gone, but Nellie, "his Nellie"
was busy arranging some last flowers
In a vase, and DR.. Graham was stand
ing beside her and whispering some
thing to her while she just shook her
head and laughed.
Nellie merely glanced up as he ap-
preached.
tions?' she asked.
.eThey are fine, very fine" he answer
ed, trying to meet her glance, but she
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