The Portland daily press., 1874-10-24
Destiny and a Blue Cloak.

Destiny and a Blue Cloak.
BY THOMAS HARDY,
Author of Star from the Madding Croacd,"
"a Pair of Blue Eyes," &c.
"Good morning, Miss Lovillr' said the
young man, in the free manner usual with
him toward pretty and inexperienced Country
girls.
Agatha Pollin-the maiden addressed-in-
stantly perceived how the mistake had arisen.
Miss Lovill was the owner of blue autumn
wrapper, exceptionally gay for village; and
Agatha, in spirit of emulation rather than
originality, had purchased a similarly envia-
te article for herself, which she wore to-day
for the first time. 1t may be mentioned that
the two young women had ridden together
from their homes to Maiden-Newton on this
foggy September morning, Agatha prolonging
and leaving her acquaintance at the former
place. The remark was made to her on Wey-
mouth esplanade.
Agatha was now about to reply very nat
urally, 81 am not Miss Lovill," and she went
so far as to turn up her face to him for the
purpose, when he added, ''Pye been hoping
to meet you. I have heard of your-well,
must say it-beauty, long ago, though 1 only
came to Beaminster yesterday"
Agatha bowed-her contra ADDICTION hung
back-and they walked slowly along the es-
planade together without speaking another
word after the above point-blank remark of
his. 1t was evident that her new friend could
never have seen either herself or Miss Lovill
except from distance.
And Agatha trembled as well as bowed.
This Miss Lovill-Frances Lovill-was of
great and long renown as the beauty of Clo-
ton village, near Beaminster. She was five
and twenty and fully developed, while Aga
tina was only the niece of the miller of the
same place, just nineteen, and Of no repute
as yet for comeliness, though she undoubted-
ly could boast of much. Now, were the
speaker, Oswald Winwood, to be told that he
had not lighted upon the true Helen, he
would instantly apologize for his mistake and
leave her side, contingency of no great mat
ter but for one curious emotional circum-
staDce-Agatha had already lost her heart to
him. Only in secret had she acquired this
interest in Winwood-by hearing much re-
port of his talent and by watching him sew
eral times from window; but she loved none
the less in that she had discovered that Miss
Lovilfs desire to meet and talk with the same
intellectual luminary was in fair way of
approaching IuC lAtCuslty VI nCA OWus We
are never unbiased appraisers, even in love,
and rivalry usually operates as stimulart to
esteem even while it is acting as an obstacle
to opportunity. So it had been with agatha
in her talk to Miss Lovill that morning con-
corning Oswald Winwood. .e
The Weymouth season was almost at an
end, and but few lOungers were to be seen on
the parades, particularly at this early hour.
Agatha looked over the lrridescent sea, from
vUhioh tho vol of u1u ric nj
the white cliffs on the left, now just begin
ming to CLEAN in weak sunlight. at the one
solitary yacht in the midst, and still delayed
her explanation. Her companion went on !:
''The mist is vanishing; look; and think
it will be fine, after all. Shall you stay in
Weymouth the whole day?" lst7tsgs
mo. / am going to Portland by the
twelve o'clock steamboat But return here
again at six to do home by the seven O'Clock
train"
81 60 to Maiden Newton by the same train,
and then to Beaminster by the carrier"
$50 do l." "
'tNot, suppose, to walk from Beaminster
to Cloton at that time in the evening?''
shall be met by somebody-but it is only
mile, you know" ac9 ~ ta
That is how it all began; the continuation
1t is not necessary to detail at length. Both
being somewhat young and impulsive, social
forms were not scrupulously attended to-.
She discovered him to be on board the steam
er as it plowed the emerald waves of Wey-
mouth Bay, although he had wished her a
formal good bye at the pier. He had altered
his mind, he said, and thought that he would
come to Portland, too. They returned by
the same boat, walked the velvet sands till
the train started, and entered carriage to-
gether.
All this time, in the midst of her happi-
ness. Agatha's conscience was sombre with
outlines at not having yet told him of his
mistake. 1t was true that he had not more
than once or twice called her by Miss LovllPs
name since the first greeting in the morning !;
but he certainly was still under the impress
sion that she was Francis Lovill. Yet she
perceived that though he had been led TO her
by another'S name, it was her own proper
person that he was so rapidly getting to love,
and Agatha's feminine insight suggested
blissfully to her that the face belonging to
the name would alter this encounter have no
power TO drag him away from the face of the
days romance.
They reached Maiden-Newton at dusk,
and went to the inn door, where stood the
old-fashioned hooded van which was to take
them to Beaminster. 1t was on the point of
starting, and when they had mounted in
front the old man at once drove up the long
hill leading out of the village.
''Ths has been a charming experience to
me, Miss Lovill,' Oswald said, as they sat
side by side. Accidental meetings have a
way of making themselves pleasant when
contrived ones quite fail to do lt.'
1t was absolutely necessary 10 confess this
time, though all her bliss were at once de-
stroyed. f-7
81 am no. really Miss Lovillr' she fall
tered.
'What! not the young lady-and are you
really not Francis Lovll?" he exclaimed, in
surprise.
80 forgive me, Mr.. Winwood! have
wanted SO to tell you of your mistake; in
deed have, all day-but couldn't-and it
is so wicked and wrong of me! I am only
poor Agatha Polin, at the mi.''
''But why couldn't you tell me?" .en
"Because was afraid that if / did you
would 60 away from ne and not care for me
any more, and I-l-l-love you SO dearlyp'
The carrier being on foot beside the borse,
the van being so dark, and Oswald's feelings
being rather warm, he could not for his life
avoid kissing her there and then. A
SWELL" he said, sit doesn't matter; you
are yourself anyhow. 1t is you I like, and
nobody else in the world-not the name.
But, you know, l was really looking for Miss
Lovill this morning. saw the back of her
head yesterday, and have often heard how
very good looking she is. Alb! suppose you
had been she. WONDER
lie DID not complete the sentence. The
driver mounted again, touched the horse
with the whip, and they logged on.
"You forgive ?" she said.
ENTIRELY absolutely-the reason justified
everything. How strange that you should
have been caring for me, and ignorant of it
all the timep'
They descended into Beaminster and
alghted, Oswald handing her down. They
had not moved from the spot when another
female figure alighted, dropped her fare into
the carriers hand, and gded away.
WHO is thatr' said Oswald to the carrier.
gersP'
"WhatP" said the carrier, who was rather
stupid