The aegis & intelligencer., 1900-04-20
VILLAGE COURTSHIP
There Was a Quarrel.
Then There Was WeddinS
BY JULIET BRADLEY.

1t was just such parlor as we have all
seen q hundred timcs-white curtains at
the window, n pair of tete-a-tetes facing
each other orthodoxy from opposing cor
ners, an open piano and table whereon
lay few pretty volumes, the gilt sides
uppermost. The young men of the vii
lage knew no spot more desirable IN
which to spend an evening.
Such at least had always been the opin-
ion of Harry Reynolds, and sitting there
through the enchanted evening he could
picture only one scene more agreeable.
The good papa called out on business,
Rosalie Ames flushing and confused, and
not very far away another person draw
ing her on to all manner of delicious, un-
maginable confessions.
But on the particular occasion when
our story opens this pleasant scene hard
" appeared to be the point of realism.
The two were indeed alone, but the
young man stood with his hand on the
door, look of grief and displcasure on
his face, while the little lady in the arm
chair was deep in an unmistakable pout.
"If l go, Rosalic," he said, remember
that l shall not return" lie made step
toward her and continued, Have you
not a word for me, Eosalic"
81 do not think of anything further
that wish to say" she responded coldly.
Harry gazed at her moment and then
rushed from the room.
"Cold hearted, selfish girl'' he eHciaim-
ed MS he walked homeward in a wretched
state Of mind.
For a few seconds after his departure
Rosalie retained her Indifferent position,
but all her senses were alive to catch his
lightest movement. or course he would
return, and when he behaved properly
and asked her pardon and submissively
he should have it, but to be lectured and
scoided in that manner was more than
she would bear. In vain did she listen.
An hour, then two, then three hours,
passed by, and, sick at heart, Rosalie
went up to her own room and cried her
self to sleep.
Rosalie was warm hearted and quick
tempered, but was easily appeased. She
was also passionately fond of admiration
and quite rs much bent on having her
own way as was good for her. These
faults, however, did not prevent the vii
lage beaus from being at her disposal,
and hitherto she had been nearly impair
tial in her treatment of them, having no
mind to give up the general homage by
fixing upon one.
But lately there had been a difference
in her feelings. She had acknowledged
| that there was a charm in Harry Reyn-
olds' attentions, such as she had never
! found in any other. \ thrill new and de-
| licious went through her when their eyes
met, and she read the admiration which
he vainly tried to repress. Harry had
high ideal of womanly excellence which
Rosalic by no means came up to, but in
spite Of her frivolities and his own mis-
givings they were frequently together
and fast verging toward an explanation,
when TINT fate which appears to de-
| light the destiny of lovers introduced an
element of discord into their happiness.
Mr.. Clarence Dalton came up from the
city on q visit to his uncle. He was
| handsome, wealthy, agreeable and noted
| for the careful elegance of his attire. The
girls were enchanted with him, and Ro-
sale alone regarded him with seeming
| Indifference. She said to herself with
virtuous resolution she must be careful
| now. Harry might be wounded if she
| received attentions from such lion.
Happy for her had this prudent dispo-
sition lasted. But the old spirit came UP
| after awhile. She was entirely accus-
toned to queenins it in her little world,
anu icL NdhibS was piiutd thab -Ai' DstA
ton did not at all seem struck by her
charms. 1t was quite Il Christian duty
| to give Mr.. Dalton Il lesson in good taste.
So by few little feminine lures such as
| a pretty girl well knows how to practice
| he was attracted to her side, and once
| there he seemed exceedingly we'll pleased
to stay.
At last Harry could endure it no longer
| and in the interview whose close we have
| portrayed determined to put his fortune
| to the touch, to win or lose it ALL" Con-
| scious of her power, indignant with some
| justice that he should assume to dictate
her conduct when he had never openly
declared his love, Rosalie had responded
| by n series Of flippant, eXasperating little
speeches which drove Harry almost to
despair. She intended to relent in time,
but pride, vanity and n certain triumph
in knowing that his whole manly heart
| was hers to play with ut will wrought
sad mischief.
Rosalic had no doubt that Harry would
come the next evening as usual, and all
could easily be made right again. But
the evening came and went and no Har-
ry. What could it mean? Surely he low
ed her, and if so he could not stay away.
She would wait patiently, since it was all
| that she could do.
The next evening Mr.. Dalton called.
but Ilosalie scrit down word that she was
| i'll and asked to be excused. Yet as night
after night went by and Harry did not
return her submissive mood changed.
She would show Mr.. Harry Reynolds
| that she was not suffering from the with
drawal Of his presence! There were 9TH
er people quite delighted to be in her
company.
The next time Mr.. Dalton came she did
not decline to see him, but came down
and was as friendly and pleasant as
could be desired. The young man noticed
a more womanly thoughtfulness in her
| manner than lie had hitherto observed
and wondered what might be the cause.
Poor Harry's state meanwhile was far
from enviahle. For the first "a hours he
maintained Il fierce resentment. But as
the days came and went he Softcncd little
by little until every harsh sentiment had
vanished aud II determination seized him
to seek Rosalie and try to efrace the
memory Of his previous sternness.
Toward evening he wended his way to
her home with the sweetest anticipations
Of reconciliation and affection. With ev-
cry step she seemed to grow lovelier and
lllH UclOIc. bul ue TIE
gate sight met his eyes which speedily
cooled down the fervid tones of his fancy
painting. 1t was Mr.. Dalton assisting
Rosalie to dismount from her horse. The
exercise had brought a bright flush to her
check, and she was fairly dazzling. She
perceived Harry in time to bestow on
him a very distant bow and then turned
with added empresscment to her compan-
Ion. Harry changed his intentions at
once, walked by the house in the most
leisurely and Indifferent manner and pro-
ceeded to call upon that obnoxious Nellie
Kcllis, whom Rosalie regarded so super
ciliously.
Mr.. Dalton meanwhile found his affairs
in somewhat perplexing state. Flirta-
tion had been since his eleventh year the
element in which he delighted to exist.
Matrimony, with its cares and RESPONSE
bilities, was to him the most distant Of
prospects and must offer extra induce
ments to make him forsake his freedom.
Now, however, he began to feel himself
very seriously interested in n person who
had not one claim to fashion, family or
fortune, n little village girl who wore
dresses of her own fitting and made all
the pies and cakes that appeared on her
table. Whether she really cared for him
or regarded him as a friend or simply as
an admirer was impossible to say.
Other people were not as slow in draw
ing their conclusions, and before three