Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-02

petty iealousies, and, II she had thought
Rose Morrison likely to make her son hap
DIV, she would have taken her to her heart
at once.
.'She will never be content with one
man." Mrs. Leir sighed. "Just at first
she may be taken up with Reuben, but,
when the novelty wears off. she will flirt
as her mother has ffirted before her Rose
has more of her mother than of her father
in her. My Reuben is to good for the
likes of her-er of any Hookton girl
II.
Hookton is fishing village just two
miles from Mercombe, but much farther
OIL than this distance because of the rug
ged, ill-made, steep road. There is an
other road by the cliffs through the land
slip, but that is a long way round. The
shortest way lies between these two; a
steep climb up the face of the cliff, then
across fields of young wheat and man
colds, till the path falls into the road
again, which hereabouts is more even and
level than it is nearer Mercombe. Just
little way on a huge stone quarry opens
on each side of the road, and it is here
that Reuben Leir stands waiting. The
place is very silent-the quarrymen have
gone home so the little wooden cottages
that peep out like birds nests where gaps
come in the masses of the cream-colored
stone. Far off in front, beyond the ash
trees which border the road, the cliffs rise
high, and, parting, give sudden vision
of sea to blue that it seems almost too
vivid for reality. Reuben has stood for
ten minutes. waiting near the quarry
opening. bit no one comes down the road
to meet him.
He went on along the high-road till he
came to small gate on the left. The
high hedge was cut into an arch above
the gate. and through this showed gar
den glowing with ranunculus and ane-
mones: and behind, wooden cottage
clothed with creeping plants.
A girl in blue gown, almost hidden by
long, white pinafore, was coming up
the path that led to the gate, with her
hands behind her. Her face was hidden
by the straw-colored sun bonnet pushed
down over her eyes.
''At last I" Reuben said, reproachfully.
The face was quickly raised at this-a
pretty, bright, brown face, with laughing,
shy, black eyes, a little nose and mouth !;
and, as she smiled, white, even teeth
showed through the red lips.
"Am late!'' the girl said. carelessly
"Well it is better that you should be first"
Reuben opened the gate, and held it for
her to pass out.
"Never mind, now you are come" he
said, "but want a talk with you' Rose.
/ am worried to DEATH"
Rose gave him sweet look out of her
long. narrow, dark eyes.
''You poor old Reuben-who worries
your"
Never mind; the very sight of you
seems to make me all right. you dear lit
tie girl" Reuben looked up and down
the road, and, no one being visible, he put
his arm round Roses waist, and drew her
toward him.
Rose drew herself away.
''You 60 on SO fast, Reuben How
many times l have told you that can't
take up with man whose mother does
not even speak to me!'
Reuben sighed.
Don't you worry too. Rose darling. or
it will seem as if all went cross with me-
My mother does not know you. When
she does, of course she must love you.
Who could help it my darlng?'
He looked tenderly at the girl, but she
tossed her head. ITO hear you talk. Reu-
ben"-a bright flush rose in her checks,
and she played nervously with the long
strings of her sun-bonnet-"one would
think your mother was queen. You do
not seem to see any offense in her holding
herself aloof from US. Why, every one
comes 10 see mother. and / should have
thought her being home would have
served as reason to Mrs. Leir long ago,
if any reason were wanting" She spoke
very angrily, and flung her bonnet-strings
wide apart. She had turned away from
Reuben while she spoke. He pulled at
her pinafore.
Don't be cross, Rose. | tell YOU my
mother is so good and so loving that she
will come round when she sees | can't be
happy without you"
Rose turned round and looked at him.
Her eyes shone brightly, and her red lip
curled with scorn.
"Mr. Reuben Leir, you scarcely seem to
know who am, or who you are yourself.
1t appears to me that you take it for
granted that am thankful to be your wife
your mother is the only person whose
consent has to be asked. Now | am not
going to creep into any mans family 1t
is your mothers place TO seek me-that is
the way that my mother says such things
should be arranged. No; say good-by
to you Ruben Leir, until your mother
comes to her senses"
She walked slowly back to the gate;
but Reuben was too much vexed to COM
bat her resolution. He did not even fol-
low her. Only, as the gate closed behind
her. he gave sigh which ended in
groan.
"Why is she so winning, or why is my
mother SO prejudiced? She will not even
trust her own eyes-t's past bearing.'
III.
Next morning found Reuben at work
early. On the previous evening he had
gone home and upbraided his mother with
her pride and exclusiveness. You make
my life miserable" he had said; and then
Mrs. Leir had looked at him out of her
Deep steadfast eyes, and had told him
that the girl he loved was coquette.
''She Is too studied in all her ways to
live only for you or any man, my boy.
She will always want admirers round
her."
And upon this Reuben had gone to bed
without his supper, and had gone off ear