, 1876-12-16

Rut after that evening he lid not come, which
was strange for Battles l,cau. My, more; his
Indy mother mentioned, IN tn: c01rsc Of a call.
That they would return to New York In the mid
die of Orthber.
1--WE have staid tn the country much longer
wish could persuade Chatlton to 70 to tho city
at n,,cc."
)" III wants to stay an 1}c]lc's account muscl
Ghrsty;, Gu, tyy "eut wonder he does not tom" n'a
One thing was certain: Bell was unusually
cross, ~ cross that Cllrtsty was fatn TO DO her
st,tat:s ont of donrt OF locked in her own room.
y lItt1e slitnIneraIuHse covered with vIncs wa:
altr tayDrlte retreat, md ththcr she fcpaircd
etrcry afternoon npuit returning from school.
Sfie had no murc river expeditions, for+ poor
CHILD, alle waa afraid vi meeting the proprietor
o. the scarlet wl,erry. Hut perhaps the secret
o. her liking the sanamcr'lsouse was because
sc coul'l sec tue aforesaid wherry pass md re-
pass, and watch the rower from behind the
hheltcrtny vines.
Two weeks passed. Then crisis came. One
1ndIa.stsmrner afternoon. when Belle nnd her
mother we're out calling, Chrsty was having
rotnp with tho dog on tile side piazza. III tho
midst Of this ronip she WIS hnrrtaed to nercetye
Nr. Ross entering tic street.gate. Her arst
Impulse was to run nway: hut, knowing that lie
had scen her, there was nothing ,for 1t but To
tirc. The dark eyes that had haunted her wnk-
Ing md sleeping dreams so long were lit by
tneFfy smile:
inyth,n he ta!d, With one Of lta bright laughs.
"hHl'at nse you going to say to inc III e1cusc
for running away q fortnight ago, and keeping
af "wf1y sreT ,1s poyou kn"w 'oa robbed me
"I-I-Beile-that Is, ,iamma-1 mean I
couldn't stay. And sou danced the waltz, you
",Indecd didn't. I searched for you. Not
finding you, sat still the rest of tho evening.
Then the next hight camo ovcE to let you
apologtzc, and you wouldn't come down to sec
INC. tried to SEQ you on the street, and you
always vanished. Eow, what havo doncl"
asked the pct ot society, looking sincerely puz-
"Oh! did yon really not danec!" asked the
''e''fs.Sa i!eally Gs''S'S; no. Why do you asa,"
"Oh! IL thought-tilcy fatd-''
:" Who sa!di" tile young man nske1, surpsts.
"Nolt0dy.n
Mr.. Ross. not knowing whit to any after this
climax, sgt silent. ,Cbsisty desperately attempt
cd to @ explain herself. , .......-..
lust lancing Will, INC Tor fun, and laughed
ut mo BECAUSE didn't know how to aci,
aud =" Here Christy broke down mud burst iuto
tears.
Far moment Mr.. Ross looked contounded; /;
Thought was laughing Mt yout Whyi'
~ know I'm not grown up, aud oughtn't to
ilaSc gone to groWn-9p party: l Ind never
been at unc beforc,"' sobbea Clristr. p!tifully.
"MLy, ny poor little gisl, ineyeE thought Of
tnn1d !lave told you sucha thing," lie exclaimed,
distressed.
NJ answer. All the sorrows Of tho ra.t
sveeks ssei.led to be crowded Into the !noH1ent
and Chrihty cried aR II her heart would break.
I'M never 20 to danco again till ain n
young woman"
Probably, II she had been young Indy, Mr.
Ross would not harc acted Just as lIs did. In q
moment he had taken her hand, drawn her
down on the settcc by Ills Hi,1e, md was vainly
con turing her not tu err.
ut is too hard OF yotl." he pleaded. II hare
statd two weeks for no reason In the world hut
to- SEC ny ittls tt rlyergypsY again, aud now sue
She did louk ut lim with wide eyes of
wol,der.
..Siaid :. ;; to Sec mel on! sou don't mean so''
"Wlly DO yon say thati"'
"iou'r" laughing ut the again, as II I didn't
know"
.'Wcil" was the patient query.
Poor Chslsty was crimson ~ the waycs of hair
on her forehead, but she finished brayety from
bchltitt her screen Of curls:
"As II didn't know Tint you arc Bellies
beau"
There was u pause. If Cl,risty had dared to
loossnr ut tue young ma1l's face, she would
lave seen first Ecwiacrnleat, then amusement,
kHGH AlOtutt "a FHEhh 10 0CuHGs rs nc
satl, rathcr miscficyously:
"res, Bellies beau-ClIristabcl's bcau!'
clrssy uttered n little rry, and lid her face.
Alr. Ross begun to think he shnud never see the
face ngutn, 1t was So INrsistenfly concealed.
Won't yon look ut met Christy, won't you
tell mo II offended your
silence, till le was fan 10 aek again:
1nc'''
"Oh:" was the almost inaudib,o answer.
"rou know DO"
II don't kunw how know. l can't see
anything hut your cusls, and want to sec yuur
eyes. chsisty. Your .noihrr Ii coming lii Ut the
front gatr."
Tie lust sentence was etTcctual. Cl.rikty
fund hcr6Clf tIetulllcd. ~
"Sl'r Is not here yct. Stop Just one mo-
ment, ind tell mt II may axk your mother II
she VII! let you marry lut sumo duy. Chrtsty,
may lt''
And Christy. hluslIng like rose, answered
low:
., ics-some day-wlcn am young 1aly?"-
Iar1xrs Btisar.