“What has caused you to make such a quick decision? I supposed you were going to stay with us two or three weeks. Something has offended you I fear, or you would not decide so quickly to go home.”
“No, Warren, nothing has happened of any account: please don’t scold me,” said Nettie sorrowfully, as she was nearly overcome with the burden on her mind.
She turned her head away to hide the tears from prying eyes. She turned to go when Warren said, “Please excuse my last words, cousin, I did not wish to scold you. See! yonder comes Mr. Burton. He is coming this way.”
He was calm but pale. As he drew near to them he said, “Mr. Hilton, get my hat please; it is time for me to be going.”
As Warren left to do his bidding Paul said, “Miss Spaulding, if I have said aught to offend you, pardon me. As God is my witness, what I have told you is the truth. I will do as you have bidden me to do, and I ask in return to remember me some times when alone.”
He gently pressed the little hand he was holding.
“Goodbye, and may God bless you forever,” said Paul solemnly.
Soon Warren came with the hat, and Paul taking it bid them all good night and went homeward in a sad frame of mind.
One hope she had given him, viz: “If you prove faithful to me in the future I am yours.”
These words cheered him, and he fully resolved to be true to her until death.