Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-01-31
THERE was no doubt in Dorothy's
mind that she had made a wise de-

view VI NAAN NiihS NiAN Wv SAaAs
ing approval of host of poor relations
whose proclivities for advice, hereto
fore, were 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 ii 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 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 a 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 ell
bow meditatively 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 dia-
mond that sparkled on her finger, drew
it off, slowly, and with sigh laid il on
her lap. No, it had not been an en-
gagement, exactly-but-
There was all the difference in the
word now. Had he not, only the night
before, after all that had passed be.
tween them, entirely ignored her and
carried adelaide Hunt, n bright, dash
ing brunette, to the swellest hop of the
season, while she remained at home
That was all. But it was enough. Sc
that when Col. Eggerton, as usual
called around, and, as usual, proposed
she promised, in desperation, final an
swer on the morrow.
So that answer--of acceptance-was
written and signed with scrawl, and
laid on the library table to be posted
In one Gay everything had been
changed. II did not seem possible, yet
as she sat by the low vine-screened win
dow, a soft wind lazily lifting the loos,
hair on her forehead, each event rose
up in lurid distinctness before heI
mind.
ThCn brilliant red famed over tn,
girls face, and faded of suddenly, as q
tall, athletic young man came quickly
up the walk. As Harry BainbridgS
stepped on the low veranda, she left hel
seat by the window. and gave him hel
hand with friendlness that ill-be,
tokened any inward agitation.
The shining regard that broke over
his face at sight OF her, brought tn,
soft color to her cheeks. She smiled-a
little uneasily--and drew her hand out
OF his.
"Will you sit out here?" she said. II,
is cool, and pleasant"
lie bowed smiling assent and sanl
into the empty chair next TO hers.
you did not expect me?" h,
quericd, studying the girls face critic
ally. She was pretty-very pretty.
tall, Slim girl, with regular features
and expressive gray eyes.
81 knew you were here, and came, >
he went on. MAY tell you why?
want TO ask you-to tell you how much
love you, and to ask you to marry me
you will"
Dorothy flushed and turned away, q
sort of desolation sweeping over her al
his words.
Il would rather you would not-not
say such things" she returned, nery
ously, moving away from him.
But | must" he continued, hal
smiling and trying to look into her face
III is my first opportunity to ask you
| did not feel that | had a right to he
fore. But now, am in fair position
to"
He paused for one moment to ghnc,
al her face, now turned to him, half
frightened, and with an earnestness al
most pathetic.
ou must not, you must not, in
deed, ~ she choked back little dry sob
at has all been mistake-a wretchet
mistake she went on brokenly, hei
face pale with suppressed feeling.
She was staring past him, vacantly
at the wide green garden, now bril-
liant with a thousand perfumed bios
SONS, while. with hands cold and trem
. bling, she took the ring from her lar
and reaching toward him suddenly laid
the giistening thing on his knee.
lie looked at her in dazed sort OF
way, the happy light dying out Of hi,
face as his fingers closed mechanically :
over the trinket.
why Dorothy what's the matter;
Won't you keep it2"
\ look Of keen disappointment
crossed his features as he looked at her
81 would rather not" she returned
her voice tremulous in spite Of herself
"You twisting the end OF her
SASH am going to marry some one
else, and"
Dorothy"
He had risen and was leaning
against the banister rail, where h,
could look her directly in the face, and
where she, too, could see him. He had
grown very pale, and with deeper
throb Of pain than any he had vel
known, waited in silence for her to say
something, but she did not, and he went
on, never taking his eyes from her face
81 came mere 10 ask you 60 be my
wife, feeling and believing that YOU
would give me the right 10 think Of and
love you-always. Was / wrong?" he
continued, his breath coming quick and
dry, after all that has passed between
us to hope2"
The girl looked up for an instant, but
the stern CLEAN that shot from her
companions eyes caused her to turn
away. Suddenly the thing that she lad
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