The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-22
STARK COUNTY DEMOCRAT, TUESDAY MAY 22, 1900
her side and leaned over her chair.


her side and leaned over her chair.
II did not mean to agitate you, my
darling" He was trying to take her
hand. Don't keep me in suspense
longer than is necessary"
You are kind" she said, politely,
but don't believe I care about accept
ing your Offer"
He stared.
you are fippant; this is hardly a
time for joking"
She sprang angrily to her feet.
Joking! Joking! Because refuse
you? Did you think 1t so impossible
that I could decline such an honor?"
He flushed dark crimson.
you gave me considerable reason to
think you would not decline"
How dare your" she cried. do you
mean that deliberately led you on?"
Something very like 1t, IL you are in
earnest. But I will not believe"
THAT I am in earnest? am very
much so. have not the slightest idea
Of marrying you. never led you on
You bored me to death. Was 1t my
fault II your conceit kept you from see
ing my smothered yawns?"
She had dealt him the crulest blow
hurt his vanity. A man can stand any
thing better than that. He was silent
a minute; then gave harsh laugh.
"And you are the woman wanted to
make my wife!"
Don't take that tone to me-" she said
quickly. IT am not to blame"
You knew why l was coming this
evening. You might have spared me
this"
He leaned on the mantel and dropped
his face in his hands. She was dis
tinctly embarrassed and ashamed, as he
|could see out Of the corner Of his eye.
You never cared for me-" she said,
and her voice shook a little. "You were
always so busy telling me about your
self and your doings." Her indigna-
tion was getting the better Of her SYM
pathies. you had no time to think
about me. Why you don't even know
the color Of my eyes. I suppose you
felt 1t was time you married, and your
mother approved of me, and so you con-
descended to honor me with your hand,
thinking I would be grateful"
He was looking at her but she refus-
ed to met his gaze. He was so surpris-
ed that he grew pale. His voice was
You are wrong about my not being
interested in what you do or say.
have been thinking of you, and you
only, since first met you. beg your
pardon for acting like a cad. I have
been spoiled all my life. My friends and
relatives are largely to blame for my
conduct. You did me good, for in your
quiet way you let me see sometimes
what fool you thought me. I ought
to have seen that I bored you. I tried
to please you, and I was only making
you despise me-"
He had never looked so manly or so
handsome, and her heart warmed to
him. said he was clever. and he saw
her Indignation vanishing. His slf-
possession returned.
II love you, my little girl" he said,
tenderly. Forgive me for seeming in
different. never was" There was
no confidence now in his tone, only en-
treaty. Can I hope to win you in
time IL I try to be what you would
have me?"
Where was her anger? She tried in
vain to find 1t. Was a pleading voice to
undo all her determination?
Look at me, please" he begged.
Let me See those blue eyes once more
before you send me away. You see you
wronged me when you said I did not
know their color. They always remind
me Of violets. Must I go without a
word? Are you not going to speak to
me? At least you will say good after
noon."
Nothing could have been better than
his hurt tone.
She rose slowly and gave him her
hand, still refusing to lift her eyes,
Goodbye" she said in a would-be
firm voice. There was a twinkle in his
eyes that perhaps 1t would be just as
well she missed. but she said nothing,
only took her other hand and lifted both
to his lips. Twice he did this; then,
signing deeply, let them go and turned
to the door. AS he reached the thres-
hold he turned for a last look. She
was glancing at him, and she buried her
face in her hands as she cried. "Come
back."-New Orleans Times-Democrat.