Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-05-13
My father, who was near enough t

dear, The girl is no fool See what a
desperate Irritation she is getting up
with Jack already"
Jacks demeanor puzzled me. We
| were the next thing to engaged, and
| now he had deserted me for a fresher
face with as little warning as could well
be.
The evening wore on, and it was very
near time for us to break up, when, f.
| nally, Jack left his new divinity for a
few minutes, and sauntered up to me.
sYour cousin is charming girl,
Margaret" said he in a low voice. II
don't remember when have passed
another such delightful evening"
s'Did you come here to tell me SO 2
I asked sarcastically. "You needn't
have taken the trouble"
He caught his breath quickly, and,
bending down, whispered in my ear.
"Bear with me, Margaret. I would
not ask it if it were not right and best
What did he mean? turned, look
ing around with a stare of surprise; but
he had swung on his heel, and was gil
ding back to bask once more in Beseie's
smiles.
Later, when my cousin and had
gone up stairs together, she said to me
with painful flush sufusing her love
ly face:
81 am afraid you are displeased with
me, Ma, garet, you seem so cold, so re-
served. Please tell me if have done
anything so very wrongs l did not
mean to, heaven knows / did not-but
then l am such child, so ignorant Of
the worlds ways, that 1 am likely to
fall into many errors.
She threw her arms around my neck,
and tears suffuse those pretty blue eyes
but somehow they failed to soften my
heart toward her.
II have no occasion to censure YOU"
l said as gently as could.
A spark that did not bespeak amia-
bility kindled in Bessie's violet eyes at
my answer, but she said sweetly.
81 am glad you are not dictatorial.
l don't like people who are always find
ing fault with me, and laying down
rules for one to follow"
81 shall lay down no rules for your
benefit"
'.Thank you"
The tone was as mellihuously sweet
as ever, but 1 detected a curious
twitching about the corners of that
faultless mouth.
Not trusting myself to continue the
subject, l began nervously to detach
the jewels had worn with my evening
costume, and replace them in their re-
certacles. Presently I became aware
that Bessie was watching me with
intent eyes.
"What is it," said, sharply, for l
could never endure being watched.
She shrugged her shapely shoulders.
81 was admiring your jewels-that's
all. What lovely ornament 1t must
have cost a large sum of money"
She picked up pearl cross, and
turned it over and in the cleaning
lamplight. It was Unique trinket-
the setting of dead gold fronted with
pearls that a princess might have
coveted. My father had purchased it
Of Florence jeweler many years before:
81 don't know it's value, but I prize
it very highly"
"Of course"
There was greedy glitter in her
eyes which she took no pains to con-
ceal. She said goodnight quite
abruptly, and went into her own room,
which adjoined mine, and closed the
door.
We were all seated at the breakfast
table the next morning; when letter
was brought in for mamma. She
apologlzed for opening it, studied it
carefully few moments then uttered
sudden exclamation "How odd!
Perhaps you Gait explain 1t, Bessie.
I'm utterly befogged. Here's letter
from your mother telling me not to
look for you until next week. What
does it meant
Bessie had just been saying some
thing in low voice to Jack, who sat
beside her; but at these abrupt words
OF mammals the smile died suddenly
from her lips, and her face grew as
gray as ashes.
"There is nothing 40 very strange
about IT." said she, after brief silence.
81 told you last night that l changed
my mind quite suddenly, and started at
once. That letter had already been
posted. / arrived few hours in ad-
vance of it. That is not remarkable,
is it? The mails are always delayed
more or less.
"Oh, to be sure" and mamma seemed
wholly satisfied with the explanation.