Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-11-30

o y
good times are beginning, AUnty. I am
! to join their party to Black Cliffs to-
morrow, with Mr.. Reynolds as escort
My DEAR said the nightgOwn, i'm
! pressively, it's getting better and better,
and I'm very glad; but doesn't it seem
proper that you should 90 to bed as fast
as possible, and not talk any more to-
night? It's very late
The party to Black Cliffs the next day
was a perfect success. None felt so more
than Daphne.
LanteT Cross had made a desperate eff
fort to retrieve matters in the morning
| by waylaying her in the hall, and invit-
ing to sail with him. He met a smile,
sweet as daybreak, and very cOmpOs-
ed i thank you, but Pm otherwise en-
gagged : and directly had the inexpressi-
bic modification of seeing her handed
deferentially into the stylish buggy at
the door by handsome Charley Reynolds.
The SaxfOrds, peeping through their
blinds overhead, were filled with rage
and dismay at seeing the carriages Of
the gay party drive meTTily off together,
and hearing Belle StamfOrd's clear voice
call to Charley mot to take Daphne very
far away from her
This was only the beginning. Before
the end of the week Daphne was ac-
counted q member of Mrs. StamfOTd's
party. Excursions, drives, prOmenades
followed one another in rapid success
sion. Mrs. Sanford cOntrived, by a seri-
es of mastery maneuveTs, to make the
acquaintance of naughty Belle and in
trOduce her daughter. But for once Sue
Sanford was beyond her depth. She
tried her vaunted arts and destinations
on handsome Charley without any per-
ceptible effect she chartered peTsever-
ingly to Miss Stamford until the heiress
raised her white eyelids in cold aston
ishment, and turned quickly to Daphne
Dale. That was the crOwning stroke
From that moment Sue Sanford Waged
open war with her spirited cousin.
Three, four weeks of uninterrupted
pleasure followed for Daphne. Then a
check, sudden, severe. A telegram
sick-come home Surely it was Urg-
ent, else, why the telegram? Aunt
Rene and Daphne packed their trunks
with swift hands that trembled in their
haste. Hurrying down to the coach
they met young Reynolds, in the hall.
Going? exclaimed he, noting in one
swift, startled glance, Daphne's white
cheeks and wet eyes.
Yes, my mother is ILL., 1t was all she
could say. He was thrown utterly off
his guard.
Daphne-I must see you again! I
cannot say good-by nOw-I will come to
youp He was slightly incoherent, but
She understood him. Come she an
swerad. And then her hands were
drawn from his, he heard her football
die away through the hall, he heard the
distant rumble of the coach, and still
he stood like a man lost, leaning heav-
lily againts the railing. Something SEEM
ed to have suddenly dropped out Of his
life. He was made for the first time
aware how he had looked forward from
day to day to the society and COM
panionship of this young girl. The
hall where he had met her a dozen
times q day, running up and down
stairs; the piazza where they had sat
4 together in the moonlight, the long
pier-he could just see it looking out
! from where he stoOd-where he had
helped her in and out of the sailbOat SO
many times, everything seemed sudden
Iy old and tame and distasteful to him.
/ The whole place was turned hateful =
And he had seen such beauty in it be-
bore.
When, three minutes later, Sue Sax
/ ford said good morning to him, adding
some nonsensical chatter about some
/ thing or other, he held his peace, and
wished savagely that the little fool was
at the bottom of the sea- And when
Belle Stamford came down and discover
ed him standing moody and discOnsolate
upon the step with an unlighted cigar
/ between his teeth, it was long before she
could get anything out Of him. At last
she hit upon the open sesame
Where's Daphne? Seen her this
morning@
Gone away replied Charley, shortly.
( Gone awayY
Yes, Mother sick
'Ah, ah y said Bell significantly, and
stopped. Charley Redeemed, stared for
some time at one particular daisy in the
grass, then finally geve it up and turn
ed round to face the young lady.
It's no use. You know it as we'll as /.
Do you think there is a chance for me
with Daphne%
Judging from what I Ihave seen,' drily
replied Miss Stamford, 4 should say
there was great deal.'
Thank you, said Charley, and in his
frank, manly way extended his hand.
She took it silently, giving it a cordial
clasp. Success to yOu,' she said, and
turned back into the house.
Reynolds was doubtful, nevertheless.
AS he thought over his chance and the
possibility of losing her, suspense grew
more and more tOrturing. The last clasp
of her little hand fingered with him yet
and made his fingers quiver. Her face,
/ in all its purity and innocence, rose up
before him; her eyes so brown, so bright
| her smile sweeter than all. And to lose
her it would not do; he would pack
his trunk and go up to Shairly in the
noon express.
Which he did.
! EnscOnced snugiy at home once more,
much to his placid mothers surprise
she had not expected him under two
mOnths-he waited two whole days be-
/ fore venturing near Wendell street.
| Two days of torment. The evening of
| the third day found him ascending the
steps of No. 81, one Of the most quiet,
unpretending houses on that quiet, un-
pretending street. He rang the bell; the
door opened. The street and mouse be-
came suddenly transformed, illumined.
! She was there.
Daphne's eyes fell upon him, her heart
| gave a great leap; she turned white, then
! red. She was conscious, in a vague way,
of extending her hand; she heard her
own VOice-it seemed q great way OIL
/ 5dy AAl5J MI Ivy AAOANA7j e---S ~ -AN-~@- -
| surprise
Then she was vexed that she had said
/ it. He would think her 50 cold and
strange; and she had been watching and
waiting for him ever since she came
from Sedgely. She recovered herself in
q moment, and asked him in.
For his own part he considered him
self a great, awkward, laundering bear;
it seemed as if ne had never appeared
| less to advantage. He asked after her
mother; was told that she was much bet
ter, though she had been very near to
| death. And Daphne thought of the
tiny sleepy babe in the next room. SO
after little they became their own ma
tural selves again.
They were speaking of Bell Stamford.
/ Have you seen the picture of herself
she gave me p asked Daphne; and Char
lev said No. and came and sat beside
her to examine it.
! She has the most beautiful face said
Daphne earnestly, and l never tire OF
looking at it,
There is one far lOvelier to me, said
Charley, bending over her and growing
suddenly very bold. The brown eyes
flashed up one sudden, half frightened
glance, and then the long lashes veiled.
Daphne's cheek burned she made a
quick, impulsive movement to rise and
make some errand across the room; but
her hands found themselves prisoned in
Charley's firm, warm clasp, and Char
I.