The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-09-09
Her Gift
By F. A. Mitchell
B. F. a. Mitchell

A girl was sitting on the porch Of
her home thinking. Five years before
on that very day Of the month she had
refused Henry Macmillan. She was
then eighteen years old. and the iu-
direct method In love affairs appealed
to her. II man proposed to her and
she refused him she expected him to
return the next day and the next and
20 on till she accepted him. MacNIi!.
Ian had no conception Of this sort Of
lovemaking. He never said anything
he didn't mean and couldn't under
stand any one else doing 80. But his
experience with women was not ex-
tensive.
On this summer afternoon Luella
Travers was thinking Of Henry Mac
MILAN. She had not intended to refuse
him more than once. When he came
back the second time-which she nat
urally expected he would do-she in.
tended to accept him and at the same
time show him how long she had loved
him by giving him smoking cap, on
which she had embroidered a wreath.
He had no use for smoking cap and
no ambition to wear wreath about
his head, but Luella couldn't think Of
anything else to do for him.
Henry was as stupid about some
things as he was wise about others.
II a dozen persons had witnessed the
refusal he received every one of them
would have known that Luella was
refusing him with her tongue, while
she was accepting him in her heart.
Henry heard her words, but saw not
their denial. He had received a bust
ness offer in distant city and wished
to learn If Luella would marry him.
II SO he would consult with her as to
Its acceptance; If not he would accept
1t without consulting her and go where
he would not be near her and conse-
quently the better able to recover from
his desire for her.
Luella was bit surprised that
Henry should have taken her reply go
seriously, should have bowed, though
reluctantly, to what he considered the
inevitable. He left her without mur-
muir. and she was somewhat fearful!
that he might not give her an oppor-
tunity to recall her refusal. She had
half mind to call him back. But half
mind is not whole mind, and she
let him go, expecting the next time she
met him to draw him to another pro-
posal by those winning ways she I'm.
derstood how to apply.
She did not see Henry for several
days. then she was greatly shocked to
hear that he had gone to another city
to engage in business and make it his
home. Why she did. not write him to
tell him that her refusal Of him was
only temporary does not appear. Per.
haps 1t was for the same reason that
the myriads Of other temporary re-
fusals are not recalled. A woman must
wait for first proposal, and it is equal
ly obligatory for him to wait for a
second.
And now Luella on the anniversary
Of her refusal-the date was as we'll
fixed In her mind as her birthday-was
sitting on the porch wondering-as she
had wondered constantly since her low
er's Departmental could have made
him 80 stupid. And yet had he seen
through her game what would have
been the pleasure in her playing it? 1t
had not occurred to her that she had
better have refrained from the fun
and acted on the principle that bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Who is that tall figure coming up
the road? There is something familiar
in the walk. something in the outline,
something intangible. indescrlbable
about the whole. Luella's heart stood
still. Yes. 1t is Henry. he Is heavier
than he was. his step Is tride less
quick than it used to be. but it is
Henry. the man she refused Eve years
ago, to her regret ever since.
Was he coming to renew his propo-
sal?
Luella had had dts Of anger against
her lover for being 80 stupid. Now, in
stead of hope springing in her heart
that he was coming to tell her that he
could not live without her. with a con.
sequent throwing herself into his arms,
she was seized with desire to punish
him. For what? For having taken her
refusal seriously.
Henry came on. Luella. pretending
she did not see him. looked up at the
sky. He stopped before the house,
then mounted the steps. Luella fore
ed smile. He looked as gloomy as
the day he had left her.
"Why, Mr.. MacMillan" she exclaim-
ed. what long time since have
seen you!"
"Ive not been in this town since I
saw you last" he said.
"Came back to see your mother.
suppose?"
Eyes; to see my mother, but to see
you, too. I've passed an unsatisied
i've years since left here. I've come
back to try to persuade you to recall
what you said to me Just before I left
you"
There was something so miserable in
his appearance and tone that her de-
sire to punish him for his stupidity
broke away. Asking him to "wait