The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-28

constantly, making, as he did, his home with
his sister; but, for all the help that was to
him, he might as well been the most formal
of visitors. Without the slightest affecta-
ton or impoliteness, she quietly kept him at
such a distance that he had not even chance
to remonstrate-only once, at least, and it
was gone before he fairly realized that he
had it.
He was smoking alone in the hybrid little
apartment dignified in the Hamlyn house
hold by the name of library, when Miss
Courtenay entered. From his position she
did not see him until the door was closed;
then, as he sprang up, she started back.
"You are not going to run away because /
happen to be here, l hope, Miss Courtenay,"
he said, smiling. "If it is so absolutely nee
essary that one of us should go. let it be meW
Spite of which speech. however, he made no
corresponding movement.
But Miss Courtenay, it appeared, had al
ready repented of that first impulse. "Pray
don't disturb YOURSELF" she said; my errand
here was to get French book for Nina"
"Pray allow me-" he said, opening the
bookcase. "What was it you wanted?' and
he took down the volume she named but
instead of giving it to her, held it in his
hand, turning over leaf here and there.
'sMiss Courtenay," said he suddenly, lido
you never think OF old times?'
''Why should not ?" she answered, quiet
ly.
"But-you are so changed"
81 suppose we all change with time," said
she.
But all don't change into ice, do they"
said Locksley,
"That is a question 1 really can't answer;
universal knowledge is not required from a
governess," and the gray eyes were lifted for
moment with something Of the old CLEAN in
them. But directly in the usual chilly tone:
"Give me the book, please, Mr.. Locksley;
Nina's lesson is waiting"
Laura he said softly, (she had BEEN
Laura to him in those days.
But, with little impatient frown, 81 beg
your pardon, but my time is not my own,"
she said and then she took the book from
his hand and retreated before be could gather
his wits. And, after that, Miss Courtcnay's
visits to the library were made at hours when
Mr.. Locksey was known to be out of the
house. So the weeks went, and he could find
no second opportunity without more direct
advance than her reserve allowed, and so,
after time, he declared to himself that he
ne longer desired one; that she was quite
changed from her old self; that she no longer
interested him; and that he would leave her
to play propriety undiSturbed; which threat
he would perhaps, undoubtedly, have carried
out but for his sister. a
Midsummer was coming on, and town, as
Mrs. Oracle declared, was getting unendura-
BILE. Useless to appeal 10 Mr.. Hamlyn-by a
pleasant legal fiction, he and Mrs. Hamlyn
were supposed 10 be one, but he was really
and truly welded to the ledgers and invoices,
and all the other dusty counting room para
phernalia, wherein his heart and soul were
bound up-it would have done about as much
good to ask him to 60 off tor a couple of
months pleasuring as it would to request the
same favor of Cherokee chief on the war
trail. Mrs. Hamlyn knew this only too well
but, as she said;"I was so stupid going off
alone! Now, why can't you come with us
dear boyp'
''Well, Gracie,'. said Locksley, after some
elaboration, II will, to please you, on one
condition; that you don't go to Saratoga or
Newport, or the White Hills, or any of those
fashionable man-traps; but just find out
some quiet country place where we call our
souls and our bodies our own"
Mrs. Hamlyn gave one sigh to the feminine
vanities to be renowned, but consoled her
self by the reflection that such a place as her
brother insisted on would be the very best
thing for the children. 'And do believe"
she cried. in another minute, 81 know ex-
actly the place for us-Back Harbor; Mrs.
Tenant took her invalid sister there last
year; the air is magnificent, she says, and it's
quiet as the grave"
Cheerful place for an invalidr' parenthe.
sized Locksley.
"And dare say" continued his sister, alb
sorbed in her plans, "we would be accommo-
dated in the same farm house where they
staid. Let me see what room shall we want?
There'll be Miss Courtenay and the children,
you, 7, and Augusta Lollard -"
"Miss Lolard is going with us?" inquired
Edward Locksley quietly enough, but with a
certain CLEAN in his eye, which, fod some rea-
son or other, appeared to disconcert his
sister.
eyes, then, after a pause, "what on
earth is there against her going?"
Nothing on earth or in heaven against it,
so far as I know" replied Locksley. care
lessly; 81 merely asked the question:
A short time found the party safely estab-
llshed on the terra incOgnitd, and proved to
them the truth of Mrs. Tenants descrip-
ton. Black Harbor has not yet been "ds-
covered" in the fashionable, acceptation of
the term. One may lie on the cliffs for hours
together with no other voices in his ear than
the murmur of the wind and wave, no other
movement before his eyes than the sailing
cloud and the shifting sea-may lie there. if
hunger will let him, from morning till night
without having his attention called to the
flight of time by that rotation of toilet, which
at a fashionable watering place marks the
hour almost as accurately as the sun-dia
As change this pleased Locksley amazingly.
SO it did the two Hamlyn children, who
could scramble and shout on the rocks to
their hearts content. Whether their mother
and their mothers friend, Miss Lollard, were
equally satisfied is another question.
no BE CONTINUED,