Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-16
NO. 2s7.

| anu lelt us. L WAS SOIuCWIdb SUI "
see her frequent glances at Mr.. Delamore
while Kitty was speaking, and almost
| feared from the conscious blush and
dropping eyelds, that our sweet Chris
was an incipient flirt. Rollie too, seemed
struck with it tor as she disappeared he
said, ''Dick, my boy. fear you've smit-
actly my query responded Dick, ignor-
ing the first clause MAY ask who your
beautiful friend is, Miss Coles?''
Certainly; she is my dearest friend,
and I'm glad you like her, for she is love-
ly," was Kitty's enthusiastic answer.
"Well, must say that either black is
very becoming to her, or she is an un-
commonly handsome girl, though l am
not so partial to blondes as my friend
there" affirmed Rollie.
my friend" seemed lost in thought, and
fancied his ladies fair were rather dis
gusted at the turn things had taken, and
were ready enough to face homeward.
Most had arrived before us, and the re-
naming hours OF the afternoon were spent
in chatting and music. After tea, Rollie
and Kitty started off for Christabel, and
was rather amused to hear Mr.. Delamore's
offer in the hall to accompany them lust
to even matters coming home, chum' he
explained. l smiled when they had gone,
thinking he would prove Monsieur de
Trop, and fell to specializing over Chris
sizes odd manner in the afternoon. She
was favorite with me, and after the death
of her mother-some years back-I took
the child close to my heart, for she had
very little sympathy in the cold, still
house where, beng the only child, she
had no companion but her father, who
was absorbed in his books, and her grim
aunt, who hadn't thought beyond her
housekeeping. Christabels nature was
as quaint and sweet as her name, and
very womanly withal, and she clung to
Kitty and me with feryor that seemed
odd to one who did not understand the
force of her character. But since the
night of the Halloween mystery she had
seemed dreary and preoccupied; and al
though she never referred to it again in
my presence, seeming to avoid the SUBJ
ject, | still felt sure that she brooded over
it. Meditating thus, l strolled back to
my room, and was putting the finishing
touch to my coiffure, when Kitty's voice
started me from my revery.
She burst into myGoom, dragging Chris
sic fairly off her feet, and closing the door
clasped my waist, and .whirling me about
the room exclaimed: 80 Aunt Jean, Aunt
Jean, isn't it grand-I'm so happv-so
happy" When recovered my breath
held the crazy witch fast, and said:
"Child! what possesses you-what is
the matterp'
"Oh, do sit down here, and I'll tell you
all about it. Chris come here and hold
her other hand You see, Auntie, MIR.
Dick would come with us. and kept asking
atN { hriS oil hn nd yhnr,
we got to the house and they were intro
duced. they acted so funny was COM
pletely puzzled. Chrisse kept turning
red and white, and Mr.. Dick looked at her
in kind of daze. 1t was such an evi
dent ,ase OF love at first sight, that Rollie
and | considered it best to let him escort
her," (prolound Kitty y land they walked
just ahead of us. Well, as we were COM
ing up the avenue-suddenly Mr.. Dick
sand by iove' again, ust as he did this af-
ternoon, you remember; and was about
to Join him. when he added, Il have i'll
have it, and looked so straight at Chrissie
that she dropped her head OH his arm, and
was sure he must be mad to make love
so violently. OF course we asked him
what he had U privately suspected it
was Chrissie's hand) and then he said
that about month ago he was riding
across the country near here, and on
strange road he lost his way. 1t was very
late, nearly midnight, so he resolved to
stop at the first house where he saw
light, and ask shelter or further direction
Soon after he came upon Il large building
and in small one close by was pale
light. Tying his horse, he hurried to-
wards it, and seeing tse door slightly ajar,
was about to enter, when he saw the tg-
ure of woman with long golden hair
seated before table with her back to
him. At first he thought she was praying,
but with his usual love of adventures he
determined to see her face. So he STEP
ped noiselessy behind her, and saw that
she was before Il mirror. That moment
she raised her eyes-'such heavenly eyes,
he said and looked at his face in the glass,
peerlng from behind the golden veil of
her beautiful hair; and as she looked not
Il sound came from her, but every trace
OF color died out of her face, leaving it
like marble; and fearing to irighten her
more, he gave reassurlng smile, and
quietly withdrew us he came. Until he
was fairly in the saddle again and some
distance on, he did not once think of his
errand, so enraplured was he with the
beautiful vision; but he rode on until he
came to village, and finding hotel,
stopped long enough for a few hours rest,
and was oil at dawn. Since that time
those eyes have followed him in dreams,
and come between him and duty"
80, Kitty, dontm pleaded Christabel.
rs she hid her tace in my lap.
"Why, darling, I'm only repeating his
own words, only can't tell it as splendid
ly as he did. Well any way, he never
thought about the locality when Roland
asked him TO come here; and so when he
came on Chrissie this afternoon, her face
seemed like IA dream to him, and he could
not help that exclamation. Still he wasn't
sure about her; yet when he saw her
again, by lamp-light, the resemblance
was startling.
But he thought it must be his fancy
until, as he came into the grounds he
looked up suddenly toward the house, and
it all flashed across his mind in a moment
the large building looming out OF the
darkness, and the smaller one with light
80 n