The Newtown bee., 1904-01-15

Grayson's ca'age done turned in a usses gate, an I'se gwine to open if
 Miss Daw'thy."
 It was almost sunset3 when MT
 Grayson rose togo. She had noticed
 that Mrs Ho]lingsworth was not in ev
 idence when she first came. She hat
 picked up the new book and read th
 birthday inscription on the fly-leaf
 holding it very far from her eyes, al she did not have her glasses; and sh' saw that MT Charlie did not take hi
 leave, but waited for her to go. "It! all settled, and will be announced al once," she decided; and yet she wanted to make sure of it.
 ''Dorothy," she said, as she was talk ing her leave, "I never get such fine Safrano buds as you have on that largest bush of yours. Would you mind picking me few? No, no," she added, as MT Charlie started forward offering to bring them; ia man doesn't know how to pick roses; he never minds how many young buds he cuts off with the stem. Dorothy and 1 don't need your help-do we Dorothy?"
 Dorothy took down her rose-clippers from the nail where they hung. "Why, 1 don't need any help, if you'd rather stay with mamma" she said. But Mrs Grayson declared it was long time since she had looked around the gar cI, foll~ path, misplaced, inelastic figure in the setting of vines and flowers, with the rose-colored bay glimmering through the dark trees and trailing moss beyond. But even Mrs Grayson loved roses. One might as we'll be in- different to asphodels in heaven as to roses in Pontomac.
 Dorothy had handed her one big cluster of buds, and her face bright ened and softened over them. Then she looked from the flowers to the girl ish figure poised on tip-toe, reaching after the treasures of high, stiff branch. Her face grew gentler still, and she touched the girls arm. ''Tell ne, is it all arranged?" she said.
 "Arranged?" asked Dorothy. What are you talking about?"
 eYour engagement with MT Char ie."
 Dorothy let go of the rose branch, md it lifted itself with jerk, while he took step backward from Mrs 3rayson. "I don't know what you nean," she said stiffly. 'I'm not en- ,aged toto anybody"
 Mrs Grayson was one of those wo- nen who had forgotten how girls leart shrinks from touch. She turned lard in an instant. "'Oh, if you're lot ready to announce it, I don't wish o anticipate" she said; but of course very one understands that it's only natter of time, and you needn't be so ensitive about it, for every one ap- 'roves and thinks your mother has cted wisely. When your father died,
 told her to spare no efforts to keep friendly with MT Charlie, for 1 knew hat if she got such husband as that or you her mind could be al rest about he whole family. wish my Juanita lad had your common sense, but she hrew by rich man just because he vas older than she"
 All the color had gone out of Doro- hy's face, and when she spoke it was with an effort, as if she was forming he words out of soue hard, unfamiliar material. "Is that what people Jhink?" he asked. Do people think that mamma and 1 have been planning to ake advantage of MT Charlie's kind 'ess, and toto catch him for his 
 "Nobody used such offensive words," he older woman answered, turning as ed as Dorothy was pale. "In fact, very one would blame your mother if he did not try to make an advantageous marriage for you. When woman is eft a widow"
 "Oh, don t say any more," Dorothy 'roke out, "don't say any moren A ,reat, ugly sordid region, which she had lever known about lay before her un- 7eiled. She stared at it a moment, jhen turned and ran away from Mrs 3rayson towards the beach.
 It was on the beach that MT Charlie 'ound her, ten minutes afterward, when Mrs Grayson was gone. She saw him in time to dash the tears from her eyes, and he did not notice the traces of them; for dusk was beginning to gather along the shore, though the bay still glowed.
 "Dorothy," he said, ''you must have seen what 1 meant. 1 am glad that you are of age, for now I can ask you to marry, me. Will you, Dorothy?"
 His face and voice took her back in. to the sweet country of unquestioning trust, the country she had thought filled all the world. And then she re- membered. "How can you, MT Char lie?" she protested, sharply, "how can you think l would do such thing!'
 He drew back trembling and white. "I beg your pardon, Dorothy," he said.
 For moment they stood silent, won. dering if there was anything more that need be said. Then he lifted his hat and walked swiftly away.
 She took step to follow him. "Oh don't think" she called, "please don't think" but he did not hear, and 8 sharp pain stopped her words. She took few steps and hid her face against tree. Across the fading, ash- en water came murmur of voices from Willie de Terriers boat, which was stealing close inshore. They were