The Portland daily press., 1876-07-24

sort. Ihave not exchanged condolences with
your friend"
''Do you mean to say that you have not
told him-any of thern-that my-that Mac
kenzie was not deadP'
''That is exactly what mean to say. In
deed, haven't told any one that there ever
was any Mackenzie. Why under heaven
should meddle?'
The lady manages TO look a trife Modified.
Her eyes-always mangeable-take softer
expression, but her mouth shows anything
but good humor. -
"Forgive me-" she says; 81 ought to have
believed ia you better-but l have so few
true friends. Tom, some one has been tell
ing Mr.. Vanvoorst everything. He told me
this morning that it was all over; that he
had been foolish; that he feared had not
confded in him as I should have done; that
our lives had been very different; and guam
tity of such things. In fact" with sudden
assumption of her hardest manner, she de-
clined the honor-in the most civil way, it's
true-but still he declined it. If I could have
been man for a minute, I would have killed
him." Wy *
''Being WON an" says Blake 81 fancy
you contrived 10 hurt his feelings, which.
though not as thorough as manslaughter, yet
has its advantages"
Sand now you can make fun of me, you,
the only friend have in the place. 'Well,"
she says, turning YEARLY into the house, 81
deserve it 1 suppose. must go and make
myself presentable. am going to drive
with the family this evening. Can you i'm
agine what jolly party we will be? Good
bye.
And she sweeps into the house, leaving
Tom, rather sorry for her, and considerably
astonished, to start off at very good pace,
which rather increases than otherwise as he
gets out on the road. The simple rustic
stands open-mouthed and aghast at this I'M
accustomed spectacle of a five-miles-an-hour
gait; divers gentlemen jogging along behind
broken-winded beasts offer the pedestrian a
''lift;" but he strides steadily on, and as
steadily back over the same road; and when
he slackens his pace under the lengthenlng
shadows of Mr.. Vanvoorst's trees, he is un-
doubleday the better for the walk. His face
is certainly rather dark, and as for collar, he
cannot show much; but his mind is made up
and peaceful. '' f
The house is as quiet as when he left. A
pampered mental informs him that "the fam
lily hev gone drivin', all but Miss Stuart"
After receiving which satisfactory informa-
ton, as well as the announcement that
sfthere won't be no dinner not for an hour,'
Mr.. Blake goes up stairs, and presently
comes Gown again, cool and trim in his eve
ming dress-a concession to the Anglican
tastes of Lis entertainers which he makes
very willingly, knowing, perhaps, that his
chest and shoulders come out rather well in a
dress coat. In the drawing-room he finds
Miss Stuart, looking more than ever thing
to be petted, and made much of, and adj
mired. What is there in the world SO pleas
ant and altogether delightful as girl with a
clear, fresh, pure face? She may not be ex-
citing, she may never he stupid, but there
ia q cart ain otpnocnhnro of 1,urifu and
guilty about her which every man feels, and
is the better for--as long as he does not dis.
turb it by making love to her.
Blake, when he comes thoroughly under
the influence of Miss Stuart's calm gray eyes
and quiet presence, begins to feet that he is
very much in love with her. and revolves in
his mind whether he shall longer let conceal
ment prey on his damask cheek, or take his
chances now. This question, however, is to
be decided for him.
''Do you still have the blues sometimes,
Mr. Blake? You used to talk nonsense to
me about your being fai.ure-.-you, who are
so popular, failurep'
"Sorry 1 bored you with my complaints,
Miss Kate. fancy every fellow has got fits
of that kind of thing, but always try not to
whine about ito
''Don't call it that; I know you must get
lonely sometimes, though don't think you
are sentimental. You are very much alone,
and only wonder you don't confde more in
me--only perhaps you confide in some one
else. 1 have fancied several times lately that
you were rather distract. You must be-
what is that charming name you have for il?
fetched I adore that word; it is no des-
criptive of passionate attachment.
'That kind Of thing try to keep out of,
"Miss Kate" says Tom, gazing intently at
the leg of a table, and trying to shut out the
vision Of fair hair and earnest eyes looking at
his brown face. ''Pm too poor a man to
afford that luxury" afs
"sDid you ever think that was, after all,
rather selfish argumente You may not be
the only person who has any feeling about it.
Mr.. Blake"---very earnestly and softly
-"don't you ever expect to meet any one
you will care for very much?"
He must be more than mortal to stand
that. So he speaks out, as his manner is,
looking the dfficulty-that is, the girl
straight in the face. .-.
miss Kate, I never meant to say word
to you, but must. Can't you see that there
is no one in the world care for as I do for
you? Pm bad lot enough, but there's no
man loves you better"
Now that the mischief is done, the girl
rises with jayerted face, and saying family,
'.Oh-Mr. Blake-I never thoughtv' tries to
put off the evil day by leaving the room,
but the young man, the crisis having come,
faces it, man-like, and detains her, not unwill-
ingly. He holds both her hands in his big
brown fist. and says, atrying to look in her
downcast eyes. "For heavens sake don't 60
tell me something am to 60 on
telling you what a darling you are, or
whether it's all up with me. can't stand
this kind of thing any longer" ,e.-
She says nothing, but slowly, sweetly with
q dnIioinna cbuyccs mo hia and
Certain events happen in every mans life
which glorify their surroundings, SO that the
commonest things are ever afterward made
sacred. It may be flower, or tune, or a
street even. Blake's pieasantest association
so far in life has been linked to a common
enough tune, which especially if prayed out
with much brass, will bring before him the
little lake at Worcester uinsigamonn with
its still waters quiet nnder the July sun, its
wooded banks swarming with the roaring
crowd, and the crew of the rival university,
three lengths behind as the boats sweep down
the last half mile. But in future the fresh
ness of calm summer evening, after recent
rain will fill him with foolish recollections
of the perfect bliss that was his for moment
just because a certain fair-haired girl lay in
his arms, and hid her face on his shoulder.
But only for a moment, Then she suddenly
slips away from him, and stands motioning
him away, and says quickly, mo, no, you
must not say another word. For Gods sake,
don't tempt me. 1t can never, never be-"
There is short time for explanation or en-
treaty. for the sound Of wheels on the gravel
gives warning of the return of the driving
party. go
What do you ?" demands Tom, saw
agely. ,--. &C.,. ...
"Oh, Tom, forgive me! didn't dream
that this could happen. Nor it can never be!
I-Pm engaged" ...-..
"Jilted by Cd 1 beg your pardon, I
forgot myself. should say, congratulate
the man very heartily. May ask -"
ooh, don't ask anything don't say any
thing. Here comes the people. Tell them
have a headache" And Miss Stuart rush
es up stairs, and Blake has to saunter
quietly out to meet the others, and to hear
what a delightful evening it is for driving,
and wasn't it very warm walking, and he and
Miss Stuart must have enjoyed quite tete-a-
tee. and similar platitudes, which are any,
thing but soothing when one is hard hit.
Dinner at the Vanvoorst's is always good
thing, considered solely as dinner, but this
evening there was certain amount of gloom
around the festive board. Mrs. Mackenzie
does not trouble herself to be agreeable; Miss
Stuart begs to be excused for the evening;
the old gentleman'S most elaborate cOmpli-