The St. Johns herald., 1901-02-23
THERE was no doubt in Dorothy's
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 cision. That is, according to pe- cuniary view of the thing and the snil- ing approval of host of poor rela tfons whose proclivities for advice, hereto fore, were in ill 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 it was od6s But money could do anytliingi All the Pinching little econ umies 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 I 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 el- bow meGitatively on the window sill, thinking of the future she had laid out for herself, and living over, in a hun dred ways, the past.
 Then she thought of Harry. and look ing gloomily for an instant at the dia- mond that sparkIed on her finger, drew it of, slowly, and with sigh laid it on her lap. No, it had not been an en- Ragement. exactly-but-
 There was 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 carried Adelaide Hunt, a bright, dash ing brunette, to the swellest hop of the season, while she remained at home? That was all. But it was enough. So 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 day everything had been changed. 1t did not seem possible, yet as she sat by the low vine-screened win dow, soft wind lazily lifting the loose hair on her forehead, each event rose up in lurid distinctpess before her mind.
 Then a brilliant red famed over the girls face, and faded off suddenly, as tall, athletic young man came quickly up the walk As Harry Bainbridge stepped on the low veranda, she left her seat by the window. and gave him her hand with a friendliness that ill-be- tokened any inward agitation.
 The shining regard that broke over his face al sight of her, brought the E soft color to her cheeks. She smiled-a little uneasily-and drew her hand out of his.
 k twill you sit out here?" she said. 'It is cool, and pleasant"
 He bowed a smiling assent and sank into the empty chair next to hers.
 "You did not expect me?" he queried. studying the girls face critic ally. She was pretty-very pretty. A tall, slim girl, with regular features, and expressive gray eyes.
 ''I knew you were here, and came," he went on. May l tell you why2 I want to ask you-to tell you how much l love you, and to ask you to marry me, if you will"
 Dorothy flushed and turned away, sort of desolation sweeping over her at his words.
 ''I would rather you would not-not say such things" she returned, nerv- ously, moving away from him.
 But I must" he continued, half smiling and trying to look into her face.
 1t is my first opportunity to ask you. did not feel that had right to be- fore. But now, am in fair position to-"
 He paused for one moment to glance at her face. now turned to him, half frightened, and with an earnestness all most pathetic.
 "You must not, you must not, in- deed" she choked back a little dry sob "lt has all been a mistake-a wretched mistake" she went on brokenly, her face pale with suppressed feeling.
 She was staring past him, vacantly, at the wide green garden, now bril- liant with a thousand perfumed bios soms, while, with hands cold and trem- bling, she took the ring from her lap and reaching toward him suddenly laid the glis;ening thing on his knee.
 He looked at her in dazed sort of way, the happy light dying out of his face as his fingers closed mechanically over the trinket.
 ''Why Dorothy-what's the matter ? Won't you keep it?"
 A look of keen disappointment crossed his features as he looked at her.
 ''I would rather not" she returned, her voice tremulous in spite of herself.
 "You see"-twisting the end of her sash-"I am going to marry some one else, and"
 "Dorothy!"
 He had risen and was leaning against the banister rail, where be could look her directly in the face, and where she, too, could see him. He had grown very pale, and wi;h deeper throb of pain than any he had yet known. waited in silence for her to say something, but she did not, and he went on, never taking his eyes from her face.
 ''I came nere to ask you to be my wife, feeling and believing that you would give me the right to think of and love you-always. Was I wrong?" he continued, his breath coming quick and dry. after all that has passed between us-to hope?"
 The girl looked up for an instant. but the stern gleam that shot from her companions eyes caused her to turn away Suddenly the thing that she Lad