Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-06
I'VE wan, to 20 there; could we walk as

a
stammered, painfully conscious that three
pairs Of roguish lips were trying very hard
to keep from smiling at his very evident
embarrassment.
ITO which of my questions is this an
answer ?" asked the tallest girl who acted
| as spokeswoman, an unmistakable sparkle
Of mirth in her brown eyes.
Whichever you please" he responded,
with crimsoning face, and springing down
the steps he turned his horses head, and
went spinning towards home as if a thou
sand demons were after him.
| Good heavens! what could ! do p he
exclaimed, the cold sweat starting from
every pore. II couldn't take three women
in this little SHE'LL And the bare idea OF
being packed in such close quarters with
three girls, for mile or two drive, sent
the blood to his face in torrent. II wish
knew who they were, he continued; II
wish they might get lost and never find
their way here. And made such stupid
fool OF myself! don't care, I'd not taken
them, and should have had TO if l had
revealed that Charles Clayton was my
father. Those three founced and ruffied
things! each of them would more than fill
the seat No; I'd not taken them in for
all the money in the United States"
"rm sure it is he," said the tall brown
c. girl 10 her competitions on the plat
form, when Joe had SO incontinently fled
from their presence. al have never for
gotten how he looked when we were there
Madge, and you know we've always heard
how ridiculously bashful he is. Won't we
have sport, girls? P" And the brown eyes
fairly danced with delight.
Just then the station-master came by,
and glanced up at them and the three
large trunks beside them.
| 'Do you want carriage, ladies?' he
asked, politely.
"Not for ourselves, we will walk but if
you would send our trunks up to Mr.. Clay
ton's-Mr. Charles Clayton's-we should
like it. And if you would direct us little
about the way, we should be still more
obliged
MIR Clay'on's2 why. his son was here
a moment ago." then, smiling edo you
know Mr.. Joseph Clayton"
1--WE are strangers, sir" she replied, Il
little stitfly.
He bowed, and then gave them the
necessary information concerning the way,
and turned back to his office, smiling a
little to himself, and wishing he had come
out in season to have packed them in with
Joe. sit would have been worth fifty
dollars - he said enthusiastically. to him
self.
Great was Mrs. Clayton's surprise to see
son return alone; for, aside from her de.
sire to see her cousins girls, she had an
ticipated little quiet joke at .Ioe's ex-
pense.
! "You are sure you would know Jennie
and Madge ?" she asked, a little anxiously.
"Of course am" was the confident re-
ply. II remember their looks perfectly"
"Do you know how long it is since you
saw them?"
"Not precisely; three or four years, per-
haps."
"Joseph Clayton she said, in tone of
vexation. II believe you never remember
anything only what you read in books, and
those everlasting rules Of construction and
mensuration, and mercy knows what {;
with the garnet all the time Uttered up with
!. tools. and plans, and things. declare,
, I've no patience left. dare say you eX-
pect Linda's girls are in short dresses
now"
Mother" he exclaimed, hastily, ter
rible suspicion rushing to his brain, chow
old are Linda's girls"
"Well, Jennie is eighteen, and Madge
is almost seventeen she replied, with a
little feeling of malicious delight at is
nine years since they were here, and Jen-
ME was nine then, only she was very small
of her age, and. for that matter, so was
: Madge."
"Why didn't you tell me, mother?" a
} look OF blank dismay settling over his face
Didn't you say if they were young
ladies they might walk"
, IL :, l. ol,t l1x,
81 wouldn't make myself ridiculous, Joe
Clayton!" she said. good deal vexed; 81
T do not think they would have eaten you
leastwise, l wouldn't if | were young
woman"
There's nothing like keeping at a safe
distance" Joe retorted, with a cross-hu-
mored laugh, followed by burning blush,
as he remembered the little episode at Ais
ton station, and the almost certainty that
those three girls were Linda's and at that
moment were on their way there. Then he
suddenly reflected that Linda had but two
girls, and who was this third one? Well,
she couldn't make it much worse; one
wouldn't make much difference, not any to
him, for he intended to keep well out of
their way, and with this consoling thought
he ran up to his room, locked himself in.
aiu III AttcCh udu oISottCh tiiO
whole perplexng subject, in his absorb
ton in plan of a village lot, on which he
was engaged, and which he was to take
to its location. and duly survey and lay
out that week
Joseph. Joseph - suddenly aroused
him from his work, and brought him to a
sense of surrounding things.
"Yes, mother" he answere d, still a lit
tie absently.
Come now, right away: supper is all
ready" came in brisk tone from the
foot of the stairs.
He folded up his papers reluctantly, his
mind still busy with the location of the
church and the common" which he had
been expressively stipulated to be pic
turesquely situated" More from force of
habit than from any particular thought of
his personal appearance, he stood a mo-
ment before the little gilt-iramed mirror,
which hung between the windows and
brushed back the wavy mass of dark hair
from the broad handsome forehead There
was faint flush of excitement in the
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