Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-05

house, saFing something about ordering
tea, and then Maggie and were left to a
certain extent alone, As the house was a
square surrounded by piazza, the step
or two I had taken in rising had carried
me round one corner of it. a newly-leafed
and thickly. growing Virginia creeper
screening us from the rest of the party:
There was silence for moment, ana
then she said, Come and see the mon
key"
Perhaps the reason for our undue par
TALLY for the monkey was that he lived IN
house, suitable as to size, at the end OF
q long avenue, which house by fortunate
coincidence, and lucky contrivance of
art and nature, was not visible from any
window of the villa. After moment
spent in laying in a stock of nuts for Dol
II we started cautiously and rapidly on
our little excursion.
1--WE must not be long" said Maggie,
''for tea will be ready directly"
sit may be the last time shall ever see
the monkey" said pathetcally.
v"Capt. tombstone was telling us you ex-
pect to be recalled soon, but hope it is
only false report. We should miss you
all--really!n
II don't suppose you'd care" said ],
" that two or three hoped out on to the
STOPPING to pick them up. Ii two faces
did get close together for a second what
matter. There was only Dolly, the mon
key, looking Oh, and he could not tell
tales-luckily
IL don't suppose you'd care, said re-
peating the question.
She did not reply: she did far better,
raised those darkly- fringed lids and gazed
full at me- Was there tear trembling
on the lash l caught her round the
waist, and drawing her INCREASINGLY
toward me, began, "My darling!' In
another moment should have poured my
love tale into her ear, when rustling in
the neighboring bushes and a laugh star
tied me, and had hardly time to release
Marguerite when from behind the monkey
house appeared tombstone and Ia belle
ingenue.
sas Maggie, who had fed from my grasp
like a startled fawn, had instantly re-
gained her composure, and began to feed
poor, neglected Dolly.
AT that moment, halked rs 1 was, hat
ed Eunice, JOhnstone, the monkey. every.
thing but Marguerite. whom loved with
q passion which astonished myself
II came for the keys" said Eunice with
pert smile.
Margaret made one effort to renew our
tete-a-tete by dispatching her sister to the
house with the Keys in great hopes that
Capt. tombstone would escort her on her
return journey, but tombstone stuck to us
perseveringly from that moment until /
took my leave only Just managed, as l
pressed her hand at parting. to whisper,
keep the first dance for me to morrow
night" and even this was overheard by
tombstone who said:
"He'll not be there to claim it, Miss
-Duyal. Don't you wait for him; he was
never known to keep an appointment in
his life''
Johnstone was really friend of mine
and a good fellow, but possessed as then
thought, of no tact whatever. Directly
we were off he began, eheerily:
Whats the row, old fellow? Won't
she have anything to say to You ?"
II beg you will not make Miss Duval
the subject of any foolish jesting," re-
piled.
He gave whistle long and low.
why yon don't mean to say, Charlie,
it's as serious as all that ?n
] vouchsafed no reply, but gave the
mare savage cut. My companion lit q
cigar, and after a puff or two began:
'Bnt, seriously, Manners, hope you
are not caught. You are far too young,
and the girl has nothing but her looks
these. l admit, are good enough to turn
an older head than yours; but still you'll
be great fool to give up all your future
to a pair Of fine eyes
''What can it matter to you what | do ?''
retorted, further incensed by the con-
tempt expressed for my two-and-twenty
years. ''And consider the expression
You use in reference to being caught ex-
tremely offensive. in the strongest sense
of the word, to Miss Duval whose name
Iagain REQUEST may not be mentioned in
my presence
"Oh, these boys, these boys" grum.
bled my adviser; then laying his hand
firmly on my shoulder. he said, "Now
look here, Manners, you are a capital
good fellow--far too good fellow to
make fool of yourself and quarrel with
your best friend. You are irritated Just
now, and not likely to take favorable
view Of my conduct. Some day you will
thank me for the last hours work. | am
many years older than you. and | have
saved more than one youngster from
marrying in haste. and repenting at leis-
ure, and, by Jove. I'll save you, whether
you like il or no.
l was provoked at his obstnacy, but
his good-tempered face and little. twink
ling eyes upset my gravity, and forget
ting my dignity, burst into a hearty
laugh.
That's all right said my unthwarta-
BILE friend; II see I'm forgiven. Charlie,
wish, at the same time, could see any
signs in your face of taking my advice
and letting the matter drop, now and
forever"
lCoNCLU DED TOMORROW
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