St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-02-14
"Yes -Yes!''
Il Sounded Better After Nearly
Losing II
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911
By CLARIssA MACKIE

uncle in q distant city. she found few
changes in the quiet village. The morn
ing after her arrival she lay contented-
lv in the slant rooted little room that
had been hers since childhood and
listened to the familiar music of ham
mer and saw from the distant ship
yards
Just then wood smoke reminded her
that her mother was getting break
fast in the Kitchen and with prickine
Of remorse at her slothfulness, Eliza
beth arose and dressed.
IT thought the waffies would arouse
you. Bess" smiled her mother, as the
girl entered the kitchen, flushed and
sparkling Here is the first batch
take them in and begin your break
fast. -
Mother mine" scolded Elizabeth,
leading the rosy checked. plump little
woman info the dining room. sit
right down and eat breakfast with
dad. 1 shall cook waffles for both of
you. Not a word
she smiled back at the two loving
faces as she passed to and fro from
kitchen to dining room ministering to
their wants
ave can't expect to keep her with
us always" sighed her mother. This
last year without her has shown me
how dreary it will be for us when
somebody takes her away"
by somebody | suppose you mean
Norman" doomed Mir. Gray's deep
voice. Il don't know as there's an
other man in Elmwood, to say nothing
of the outside world, that I'd rather
give my little Bess to than Norman
Ryder Perhaps she has met some
body else in the city-yOu can't tell
and Norman's only country bred. Bess
probably met some fine dandifed
chaps in New York"
"Id rather it would be Norman" in
sisted Mrs. Gray, with a little fright
ened futter in her voice that went
straight to Elizabeth's heart. Il
couldn't bear to have Bess marry any
body from the city. We might not see
her from one years end to the other"
Elizabeth FASTENED into the dining
room with a plate of watiies scorched
to crisp and her fair face flushed
and agitated
"I've heard every word you said,
she confessed between tears and laugh
ter. "Dears. I'm not going to marry
anybody. l haven't seen any one in
New York that could tempt me away
from you
Mr.. Gray squeezed the little hand
she had laid in his broad palm and
looked quizzically into her blue eyes.
"How about anybody in Elmwood,
Bess?' he asked.
81 don't want to marry anybody
flashed Elizabeth tearfully. II want
to stay right here all my life"
That evening Norman Ryder drove
over to see Elizabeth Gray, and such
is the cOntrarinesS of womankind
that he who had always found favor in
her eyes. now appeared to be awkward
and provincial in manner and speech
as compared to the snowy youths she
had met when visiting her uncle. AL
though he was bigger and broader
and handSomer than any of the city
bred youths. almost the first words he
uttered seemed to place him in differ
ent class
$50 you knew | had returned Nor
man?" she asked. withdra wing her
hands from his close grasp
Yes, yes" he had cried delightedly
and it was that characteristic double
affirmative uttered with a slight twang
that drew a thin veil of discord be
tween them. There was something
about the expression that smacked
strongly of the rustic; that. with the
twang and the equally favored double
negative. NO. no. seemed to place
Norman Ryder among the farmers and
dairymen who formed the community
about Elmwood.
Elizabeth hated herself for shudder-
ing every time Norman spoke with a
twang. but she couldn't help it, She
was angry with him for speaking so
her father did not. nor did any of their
neighbOrs. 1t was carelessness on |
Norman's part, and it grated on her
sensibilities.
AZ thought perhaps you'd answer
my letters" he said rather ruefully. !
as he drew his chair near the glowing |
stove. but T expect you were pretty |
busy studying your music. I'm going |
to ask you to play some OF your elias
steal pieces for me by and by"
"Of course | will" said Elizabeth. u
didn't write to anybody here except
father and mother. and they said
she paused with sudden confusion.
Il guess they said came over here
most every night while you were
gomez he grinned happily. They let |
me read your letters-and that was
next best To getting EN- myself"
II didn't promise you I'd write" |
protested BiZabeth. rather stiffiy.
mo. no." he uttered quickly. ex-
onerating her from blame. "But-but /
Il kind Of thought you might answer /
one OF 'em. and so | kept on writing"
II was glad 10 hear from you. and
7uppose II was mean Of me never to |
answer any Of them. but did mother
give you the messages I sent?"
Yes. yes. And thar was somethingr'