The Union Republican., 1904-12-02
BuffercupS
And Daisies
BY Kafe M. CIearY
COPYRIGHT, 1901, bu Kate NJ. CledrB

| JocelyH ElhHceu Ut Tue Tiny CLOCK on
her dresser.
"Seven ten.' she said. "I'll have
tine to answer that letter after get
the dishes washedw
Her task was accomplished with
brisk dexterity. TO be sure, there were
not many dishes TO be waahed-One
cup, one saucer, one spoon, one plate,
)ne knife, one fork.
"Quite an old maids outiitl' she said,
with Il little grimace as she rinsed out
the diminutive teapot and set 1t on the
shelf with the china. "Now to tell
Ned, dear old Ned, that-that-oh, how
would u girl in a story refuse to marry
a man that was quite the best fellow
she knew, only-only"-
She read Edward Ford's letter
through again, as though seeking some
suggestion as to the most delicate and
decisive manner in which she could de-
cline his proposal
II was charming letter-simple,
manly and straightforward. He loved
her-he had always loved her. She
must know that. There never had been
another girl for him. There never could
or would be while life lasted, whether
she made him happy OF bade him
wait or-or even should she answer
no. He had wanted to speak when she
10 f,Iy In, off I,,,t h,I
not felt free to do so, having others de-
pendent upon him. But now that his
dear mothers sulferings were ended
and that his sister had married and
possessed home of her own he was
able to follow the dictates of his heart.
The old place needed a mistress. 1t
was very beautiful just then, he added.
The syrlnga hedge was white with
blossom. You couldn't see the road
for the clematis and seven sisters rose
across the porch.
The girl, sitting at the window Of
the lodging house, looked out at the
dirty Nottingham lace curtains of the
lodging house across the street and
then afar over wilderness of irregu-
lar brick walls and smoking chimneys
with eyes grown suddenly wistful.
How she hated it all! Even If she
could keep this fresh and dainty-this
tiny room she called her ownl
Maplewild! The big, comfortable
country house, set back in rich orchard
lands! She used to laugh at the quaint,
prim, low ceiled rooms, with their air
of rigid order, of sedateness. Now
she fancled them as a sweet. cool
refuge. If there were only some fresh
swisses and silkoline draperies around,
and magazines and lot Of light, Gre
tonne pillows, what an ideal home 1t
would be! She would do the. dining
room in yellow, as it was on the north
side of the house, and
The changing gong of fire engine
passing in the street below startled
her from her dream. She Strengthened
up with little jerk and glanced
around the shabby little room, with
the crude paper, the aggressive carpet,
the cheap pine furniture, and her
trunk in the corner. 1t was here she
was going to remaln-here. She had
no intention of marrying Ned Ford.
So she hastily dipped her pen in the
ink bottle on the window sill, steadied
her portfolio on her knee and began
to write:
Dear Ned-I have your letter, and I'm
sorry, sorry, so sorry you wrote IT. Not
that / don't want you to be fond of me-
1 do. 1t seems sometimes as If I'm mil
lions of miles away from every one who
ever cared a pin for me. But 1t isn't any
use your loving me-that way. Don't
think there's any one else. There isn't
Two men have asked me the same ques-
ton since I've been earning my living in
town. But / couldn't care for either the
tlnest bit. And do care for you-only,
not in the way | ought to if
She shot a look at the little clock
jumped to her feet.
"Seven ten, stillv
She grabbed her hat, hastily put 1t
on, adjusted her veil with a glance at
the pretty, pale face that looked back
at her from the glass with quite a
frightened expression, and caught up
her gloves.
"Mercy! | must have forgotten to
wind tile clock. l was so tired last
night I'll be late as sure as fate!'
The cars were crowded, and she had
to stand all the way to the store. She
was late and was not only docked, but
received a reprimand from the head Of !
the department. There was a conven-
ton of some sort in town, and the great |
was thronged with sight |
seers and shoppers. The heat of the
day increased, and what with the close, |
sultry warmth, the worry over the
episode of the morning and the inces- |
SAINT demands upon her attention Il
splitting headache began to torture the |
girl. She found 1t hard to retain her
usual calm courtesy of manner when |
a fashionably dressed woman upon
whom she had been waiting announc- |
ed loudly and with suspicious glance
in her direction that she had missed |
her pocketbook.
II had it moment ago. l just laid |
it down here!' she explained to the |
floorwalker who had hurried up. "This |
young lady was waiting on me!'
,,,a,. ba,tn ham tnIyan IN tho loaf