Middletown transcript., 1869-08-07

you better position than this. Here,
that group of trees hides from you one of
the very finest points of the landscape, but
just inside my gate is rustic seat, from
which the whole view opens up most char
mingly. Will you Gomez"
Miss Deane accepted the invitation with
unaffected pleasure, but scarcely was her
paper adjusted again, under Guys super
intendence, before Mrs. Gibson appeared
on the river path in front of them. Guy
saw the look of surprised displeasurc dar-
ken over the lady face, and walked quick
ly to the gate, hoping to avert the rising
storm.
"Walk in, Mrs. Gibson" he said with
his most winning smile, "you have not
seen the view which L have had opened
through these pines. have just persua-
ded Miss Deane to bring in her paper and
pencil and make sketch"
'Thank you, Mr.. Britton, L haven't
time just now" She looked at her watch,
shutting the case with spiteful snap.
"Miss Deane, do you know that it is very
near school time ?"
81 will go in directly" was the quiet
answer. II must have mistaken the
hour"
As the two walked away together, Mrs.
Gibson said, in a tone which, though not
intended for his ears, Guy could not avoid
ovcr-hearng, "Miss Deanc, never was
more astonishod in my life Such bold
ness as this from person in my employ !!
Going alone into gentleman's grounds
like that. Making a sketch, indeed!'
The reply was inaudible. Guy flushed
to his very fnger-tips with anger, but re-
fecting that Miss Deane's modification
would doubtless be increased by the know
ledge that he had heard the cruel words,
he pressed back the indignant sentences
tnsst rose to lis lins.
From this moment his resolution was ta-
ken. "She shall not long be subject to
that woman's petty tyranny-not if I can
win her for myself" he said, closing his
lips tightly as he walked up the garden
path.
"Early on the following day he saw the
Gibsons drive away with party of guests,
followed by light wagon packed with all
the equipments of rustic picnic. Miss
Deane was not Of the number indeed, he
had noticed that she very rarely shared
any of their frequent pleasure excursions.
"Shc is alone. | will speak to her this
very day." he thought,
As he passed up the avenue that after
noon, he started to hear her voice again
as on the first day when lie had met her.
| He stood still moment and the words
came floating to his ear on the wings Of ii
melody saddor than anything he had ever
heard:
'Latc, late, late! and dark the night and chill
Late late, so late but we can enter still
Too late too late ye cannot enter now!'
Following with his eyes the direction of
the sound, he saw her sitting on the grass,
half hidden by trellis which supported a
clambcring vine. The last note died away
in tremulous sob and burying her face
in her hands she burst into a spasm of
weeping,
Guy stood irresolute, fearing to startle
her by his sudden approach, but as dry
twig broke beneath his foot she turned
quickly and recognized him. She rose
hastily, dashing away her tears, and her
face glowing with painful embarrassment
Guy was at her side in an instant.
II beg ten thousand pardons," he said
hurriedly, 'indeed did not mean to come
upon you so suddenly"
"The family are absent for the day Mr..
Britton"
81 know it-I don't wish to see them.
Miss Dcane, they are miserably unkind to
you here y' said Guy impulsively.
"No, no, it is not that. they do not
mean it," she answered. striving to regain
composure; sit is because am so utterly
alone-alonc Believe me, am not Of
ten so weak as this!'
"Oh. Miss Deane! if you would only
take a place in my heart and home Tell
me that you will give me the right to guard
and comfort you! Be my wife,
Her face lit up for brief moment with
strange radiance, then the light passed and
left her calm and pale.
"Mr. Britton," she said, II need not
tell you how totally unprepared am fol
this. You do me a great honor-I thank
you, but this cannot be. You are not the
man to be content in marriage that had
its origin in mere sympathy, however no.
BILE; and forgive me that | say it, lonely
and poor as | am, l should want more thar
that in my husband"
Guy would have interrupted her will
passionate protestations, but she silepced
him with quiet frmness.
- am almost stranger to you," were
her parting words; sometime you viii
thank me fer what may seem now like
rank ingratitude." She held out hel
hand with sorrowful smile Guy pressed
it to his lips.
5 "Miss Deane," he said, " don't won
der that my wretched abrlptness ha
5 ruined my cause. Forgive it-and me
am going away tomorrow, on urgen
/ business. l shall be at home in fort
night, then l shall ask you to answer M
) again"
J The end of the fortnight brought Gu.
r Britton back; but Lura Deane had beer
gone week.
/" don't know where she went," sale