Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-23

from an Old plcture) Tor Whlch-When
l wanted the bill-I found Sally had
paid. There was a crush at the recep
tion, but it only lasted two hours
After the bride and groom had gone
with showers of rice and satin slip.
pers. we stayed and had dance-just
the ushers and bridesmaids and few
young people who were intimate
friends Of Carolyn's.
It was then that my greatest trou.
bles began. On q pretense Of show.
ing some wedding presents which be
said l hadn't seen because they were
In different room from the others
Potter got me alone and proposed
again. This time he didn't laugh and
joke. as he had before, SO that I could
take 1t half in fun even while It made
me uncomfortable, but was very seri-
Gus indeed. When l wanted to 60
out be stood in front Of the door and
wouldn't let me pass, and his chin and
eyes looked so horribly determined
that he was more like Mrs. Ess Kay
than ever.
"My dear little ladyship," he said,
you're not going to get away until
you've given me my answer"
"But have given It." said l.
II don't call what you've given me
an answer, because. you see, / want
you so much, and I've made up my
mind so hard and fast to have you
that | shan't take mo- for an answer" /"
II don't see how you can help 1t. as
it's the only one have to give, and
I've told you that two dozen times at
least" said. beginning to feel irrita-
BILE, as I always have from the first
whenever Potter talked about love.
II know you have, but that doesn't
count There's no such word as fail In
the bright lexicon Of my youth. Look
here. dear girl. you don't quite realize
perhaps what a good time I'd give you
II you married me I've got as much
money as my sister has, and I'd do just
as you liked about staying in the army.
You could have house in New York
and a whole. real live castle in your
own country If you liked. ! wouldn't
care a rap how much you spent on
clothes, and there isn't woman in
America who's got better jewels than
you should have. I'd see to that. Be-
sides, you could do what you choose
for your own people. couldn't stint
you. | want to be friends with them.
| never talked like this to you before,
but you see what | mean. And now,
isn't what I've said any inducement"
81 wouldn't need any such induce
ments II loved you," answered, "but
don't and can't, and somehow I never
have been able to believe that you real
ly loved me-"
"If that's the trouble you can make
your mind easy. | want you badly"
"Then I'm sorry. for simply can't
marry you. I should be miserable and
SO would YOU"
an risk that. You're too much of
an English rosebud to understand any.
thing about love. What you must do
Is to trust others who know what you
ought to want better than you do your
self-your mother, for instance. You'd
like to please her and your sister and
brother, wouldn't you? Well, they all
want you to say yes to me-"
"How do you know?''I broke out.
II do know. You can ask Kath If 1t
isn't true"
II don't want to talk to her about it."
"You needn't If you'll only be good
girl and do what everybody expects
you to do. Come now, do say yes, and
let's be happy"
That did make me furious.
"Any one would think was
naughty child and you were some kind
of medicine the whole family was wait
ing for me to taker' exclaimed. ITS
q wonder you don't get out your watch
and give Inc five minutes to do it in."
His eyes began to sparkle with anger.
I.'beIieve he. would have liked to box
my ears, and know | could have
boxed his.
~ thought English girls were brought
up to be sensible" said he. land amia-
ble."
II can't help what you thought" l
answered rudely. for was getting
desperate. you've no right to keep
me here like this. and 1t won't do you
A bit of good, for If you stand there
till we're both In our second child
hood won't change my mind. You
ought to know that now. Mr.. Parker
Please let me go"
He didn't move.
"If you don't I'll scream at the top
of my lungs" said. And he must