The Monte Vista journal., 1900-12-29
TuERE was no doubt in porothy,s

whose prOcllvlties Tor auNlce, htrtio-
fore, We're in i'll proportion to the size
OF their purse.
And though inwardly rebellious, the
idea of sacrificing herself on the altar
of Mammon seemed to her as interest
ing as i, was odd. But money could DO
anything. All the pinching little econ
omies that they had been compelled to
practice for years would vanish like
snow under a MONDAY sun, and some
sense of independence be established.
But there is no getting over the bitter
fact that other thoughts, and, perhaps,
other hopes, had been crushed into the
background.
"All that is past and gone. though"
Dorothy told herself with n stanch
sense Of propriety, and | mustn't al.
low myself TO think too much about it,"
She passed her hand, little wearily,
through the brown hair that waved
back from her face, and leaned one e.
bow meditatiyely on the window sill,
thinking Of the future she had laid out
for herself, and living over, in hun
dred ways, The past.
Then she thought of Harry. and look
ing gloomily for an instant at the din-
mund that sparkled on her finger, drew
il OF, slowly. and with sigh laid it on
her lap No, it had not been an en-
gngcmrnt. eNactly-but-
There wa all the difference in the
world now. Had he not only the night
before, after all that had passed be-
tween them, entirely ignored her and
Hrs.s Al. lpfs .1aa L..
ing brunette. TO the swcllcst hop of the
season, while she remained at home
That was all But It was enough. So
that when Col. Eggcrton, ns usual.
called around, and, As usual, proposed,
she promised. in desperation, a final an
su,r on the morrow
50 that auswer-of accept ance-was
written and signed with a scravl. aud
laid on the library table to bc posted.
In one cay everything had been
changed. 1t did not seem poe sible. yet
as she sat by the low vine-scrcened win
dow, a soft wind lazily lifting the loose
hair on her forehead, each event rose
up in lurid distinctness before her
mind.
Then a brilliant red famed over the
girls face, and faded off suddenly. as a
tall athletic young man cam. quickly
up the walk. As Harry Rainbridgc
stepped on the low vcranda. she left her
scat by the window. and gave him her
hand with fricndliness that jll-hc-
tukrncd any inward agitation.
The shining regard that broke over
his face aI sight uf her. Brought tn.
o. 10 H
little uurasily aud drew her hand on,
of hi-.
"Niil you NJ out here" she said 'It
Is cool, and pleasant"
lie bowed a smiling assent and sank
into the empty chair next to hers.
lou did not expect me-" he
qu'ricd, studying the girls face critic
ally. She was pretty very pretty. \
tall. slim rirl. with regular features.
aud expressly, graz ewes
II knew you were here. aud came.
ho went on. May I tell you why? I
want 10 ask YOU to tell you how much
love you, and 10 ask you TO marry me.
ii you will"
Dorothy flushed aud turnrd away.
sort ot dosolaiion sweeping over her at
his words
u would rather you would not-not
say such thinr-," She returned. u.r,-
ously. moving away from him.
But | must" be continued. half
milling and trying to looN into her face.
1T Is my iirst opportunity to ask YOU.
] did not feel that had right To be-
fore. But now, / am ia fair position
to"
lie paused for one moment to glance
al her face, now turned 10 him. half.
frightened, and with au rarnes,ne.s al
most pathetic.
Won must not. you fuust not. in.
decd, she choked back a little dry sob
III has on been mistake wreich,N
mistake, she went on broktuly. her
lace pale with suppressed feeling.
She was staring past him. ,ucantly.
at the wide green garden. now bril-.
Haut with "a thousand pcrfuia.d bios
SONS, while, with hands cold aud trru.
bling she took the ring from her ian
'nd reaching toward him suddenly laid
The glihicuing thing on his knee.
llc looked at her in dn1ed sor, of
way, the happy light dying on, Of his
face "a his fingers closed mechanically
over the triukct.
why Dorothy what's the natter
Won't you keep it2"
\ look of keen disappointmrn,
crossed his features ~ he lookc, at her.
Il would rather not" she returned.
her voice trcmulous Ia spite OF hrrs.lf.
You set twisting the end of her
aaAh-"l am going to marry some on.
else, and"
Dorothy"
He had ritcn and was leaning
against the banistrr rail. where IA.