The St. Johns herald., 1901-04-13
THERE was mo doubt in Doffothy's

THERE was mo doubt in Dorothy's
 mind that she had made wise de- cision. That is, according to pc cuniary view of the thing and the smil. ing appr oval of host of poor relations whose proclivities for advice, hereto fore. were in iApropOrtion to the size of their purse.
 And though inwar6ly rebelliOus, the idea of sacrificing herself on the altar of Mammon seemed 70 her as interest ing as it was odd. But money. could do anythingi 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 Isosgetting over the bitter fact that other thoughts, and, perhaps, other hopes, had been crushed into the backgfound. F :" "An that is past and gone, though" |" Dorothy told stefself with a stanch sense of propriety, "and l mustn't al- low myself 10 think too much q ahoAt it. v
 She passed her hand, little wearily,
  back from her face, and leaned one eI- bow meditatively 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 sparkled on her finger, drew it off. slowly, and with sigh laid it on her lap. No. it had not been an en- gugement. exac1y-but-
 There was all the difference in the world now. Had he Eot, only the night before, after all that had passed be- tween them. entirely ignored her and 2 carried Adelaide Hunt, a bright, dash ing brunette, to the swellest hop of the season. whiie she remained at home? That was all. But it was enough. So that wben-Col. ESgerton, as usual, called around, and, as usual, proposed, she promised, in desperation, a final an- sNer on the morrow.
 So that ausweT-oS acceptauce--was written and signed with . scrawl, and laid on the library table to be posted In one cay everything had been changed. II did. not seem pos sibie, yet as she salty the icw vine-scrcencd win dow, a SCH wind azily lifting the loose hair on her forehead, each event rose mp in lurid GistiEctness before her mind.
 Then brilliant rcd famed over the girls face ard 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 he window. and gave him her hand with friendliness that ill-be- tckened any inwa}d agitation.
 The shining regard that broke over his face at sight of her, brought the soft color to her cheeks. She smiled-a little uneasily--and drew her hand out of his.
 'WiA you sit out here?" she said. Tt is cool, and pleasant" |
 He bowed d smiling assent and sank into the empty chair next to hers.
 'You diG not expect me?" he aueried, studying the girls face critic ally. She was pretty-very pretty. A tall, slim girl. with regular features, and expressive gray eyes.
 -" knew you were here. and came" he went on. May tell you why? l want to ask you-to tell you how much l love you, and to ask you 10 marry me, if you will
 Dorothy flushed and turned away. a sort of desolation sweeping over her at his words.
 Il would rather you would not-not say such things" she returned, nerv- ously, moving away from him.
 But ] must" he continued. half smiling and trying to look into her face
 ''It is my first opportunity 10 ask you. I did not feel that I had right to be- fore. But now, I 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 al- most pathetic
 "Iou must not, you must not. in- decd, she choke6 back q little dry sob. ''It has all been a mista&e-a wretched mistake" she went on hrokenly. her face pale with suppressed feeling.
 She was staring past him, vacantly, at the wide green gardenl now bril- liant with a thousand perFumed blos- soms, while. with hands colo and trcm- bling. she took the ring from her lap and reaching toward him stGGenly laid the glistening thing on his knee.
 He looked at her in a 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 mAtter2 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 sas6-"I am going to marry some one else, and"
 ''Dorotby!"
 He had risen and was leaning against the banis;er rail, where he "a lock Ter directiv in. the face, and .->vrt Ia. ,Sc. coC,d see him. Fe had
 ~vG vr raie. and win a deeper
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