The Van Buren press., 1869-09-21
MISCELLANY.
+" Wounded. v

Down to the banks Of the Thames
slopes the lawn at Woodland. the resi-
dencc Of Mrs. Christopher Lane, widow
and beneath the shady lines. on what is
termed croquet grounds far enough
away from the geranum and vsrbena
beds to do no mischief to them, stand a
party Of four, mallet in hand, on certain
September evening, not very long ago.
"Well,' said Carrie Lane, "we had
better make haste and choose sides, or
we shall not have time for another game
before we are benighted Remember the
evenings are shorter than they were a
month ago"
With clever stroke Of her mallct,
Carrie sent her croquet ball bounding up
to the spot where Mr.. Hale, the curate,
stoodiRg talking with Major Wardcr OF
4" the Blues,',' and Miss Holroyd, who
like himself, were guests at Woodlands
for the evening. lie gave brisk jump
as the ball came with full force against
his ankle, looking hastily round at the
pretty culprit, who laughed quietly be
meath the shade of her dainty little hat
and plume, her bright, young face radiant
with happiness and bloom.
"You arc hard enemy, Miss Carry"
he said, coming toward her $50 if we
are to choose sides, shall have you on
mine"
VERY we'll" said Garry, no way dis.
pleased, "let us begin at once Come,
Clare, and Major Wardcr."
SO the battle began in real earnest
Clare Holroyd and the Major on one side,
Carry Lane and the curate on the other.
Report said this young curate, OF Thames
town, was courting pretty Carry Lane,
Peihaps he was; at all events, Carry
knew best, and no one had any right to
set reports going until the fact was con
fgmed. But if it was true, then we can
only say the curate was man Of good
taste, and he might have gone very far
before he would have found prettier
wife, or warmer heart than this little
Garry Lanes.
The other girl formed quite contrast
to her; Carry was all brlliancc and color,
with richly-tinted checks, sparkling
roguish eyes, and jet.back locks bu,
Clare Holroyd was pale, wonderfully
pale, and fair; it was only now and then
that faint, soft tingc of color would
come into her cheeks and tighten up hel
deep gray eyes. Her hair was very beau
tiful it formed quite glory round the
pale face, real, bright, waving
gold -colored hair. A little, rare smile
would sometimes part the delicatcly curv'
cd lips and linger there awhile, and thcr
it was that you could call Glare Holroyt
very lovely. She was tall and slender
and on this September evening her dress
was all white. Garry Lane had placed {
bit of.bright scarlet geranium in the gold
hair, which formed fitting contrast.
Carry had been telling the curatc al
about Miss Holroyd. for that young lady
had only lately arrived on visit to some
friends at Thamestown, and was no
known in the :neighbo-hood. She hae
just passed through a +" season in Lon
don, where Carry said she was "ravet
about People called her airt, bu
Garry couldn't it, unless that careless
half-absent way in which she allowed the
assiduous major to arrange her croque
ball, watching him with look of cain
indifference in her beautiful eyes, and
sometimes that rare, sweet smilc on hel
lips, might be called flirting. The maj jol
was a sincere admirer of Miss Holroyd's
but Carry denied 'thore being anything
in it, The curate shook his head, anc
" wasn't sure but what there might be. y
The game proceeded very slowly, ow
ing to the repeated " bad strokes" of tht
major, and slight absence of mind OF
the part Of the curate. Presently there
came out through one Of the library win
dows which opened on the lawn, tall
handsome old lady, to look at the player
q have just left my invalid to himself
for little, poor fellow; wish he wa.
able to be out here" she said, cnsconc
ing herself in garden chair under th'
lime trees.
Inyalid--aw! said the major, ar
ranging his tawny monstache, and gazing
slcepily at the speaker. WHO is be
aw-Mrs. Lane. Didn't know you hat
any one staying here" latd
"He has been with us week now,
renlied Mrs. Lane "He IL 4 sort Of s