The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-18

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few weeks, and did not go in society
She had a morbid idea her story might
be out, and, as it was, Lent came Just
in time to give her an excuse for being
so quiet.
She pined SO visib.y that her friends
thought her health tagging, and sent
her to visit some relations in another
State, She tried to be happy, but was
not particularly successful, in fact, hel
efforts were miserable failure it was
hard to see which was preying upon hel
most, disappointed love or perfect
agony of modification, at the thought
| how transparent her heart had been tc
! him, and how he had treated it like q
toy. She was always seeking n solution
OF his apparently gratuitous insult, and
she could not find it Had somebody
been laughing about her patent devotion
to him Did he mean to taunt her with
the utter hopelessness of her love !
She ground these bitter questions ovei
in hundred ways, and was like to break
her heart.
Spring came and Jennie gradually re.
gained degree of her old serenity, but
she did not wish to go home.
In the family of her friends was q
charming girl of her own age, and they
were fast friends, but Jennie never spoke
of her modification to her.
One day they were talking over the
approaching marriage of Aunt Norah.
"Jennie," she said, ct never showed
you the dear little ring Leonard gave
me last fall, did II"
"No; let me see it."
Norah brought it, it was a beautiful
turquoise in heavy gold hoop, and
| something was engraved inside the
hoop. Jennie tried to read it; Norah
caught the glance. "Uberall Du,
Jennie, isn't that sweet in Len to tell me
SO in such darling way"
"What is it p asked Jennie in quak-
ing, uncertain voice, feeling somehow
as if her life hung on thread, that
thread the significance of the words,
"Uberall Du," words which had proved
so fatal to her happiness.
"Why, Thee, over all. Jennie,
where have your eyes gone to? You
studied German at Madam Armand's 8
with me forgot SO soon?"
=" So that was it, 'Thee over all, and
what fool she had been, eh ?" were
Jennie's last cheerful thoughts as she
slipped quietly down by Norah's side in
dead faint.
Miss Norah was Mortified by Jennie's
sudden attack, but when Jennie re-
vived she assured her cousin she was in
the habit of fainting at actually nothing,
and the parlor must have been too warm.
She deceived Norah thoroughly, but not
her own poor heart.
Then she went up stairs and pondered
upon "the situation"
The more she pondered the worse it
seemed. She was too proud to own her
mistake, and take back her hateful words
and manner, and seek him in any way
and pride carried the day."
Her father sent her into the mountains
that summer, and, with q few friends,
wandered about; but the grace and
charm of Gods country, of rocky ledge,
and balmy whispering pine, and trickling
mountain brook, cold and clear, had no
charm for her. One day they planned
fishing excursion to large forest stream
which crossed the stage road a mile or
two beyond the hotel.
Jennie crept away from the others with
rod and line, and strayed along the
brookside, through quivering lights and
shades, among green leaves and shadowy
places, she went so far she was lost with :.
out perceiving it.
AS she stood quietly on the bank
watching floating leaf, voice behind
her made her start with astonishment:
so well known was it-so dear.
"Can you tell me, miss, how far am
from the stage road ?"
Jennie turned deliberately and looked
into the face of Royal Hamlin. She ac-
tually relished his look of utter dismay
aud disconcertment.
"I-beg your pardon, Miss Dane,"
said the amateur sportsman, stiffly 81
did not recognize you, or L would not
have intruded upon you.'
"You did not disturb me in the
least, Royall," said Jennie, quietly,
with scarlet face "but 1 am sorry j
cannot tell you which way the road lies.
I think I have come so far Imust be lost
myself"
He stood gazing at her, speechless.
At last he stammered "Miss Dane
Jennie-you called me Royal ; You do
not seem angry now. Tell me, in the
name OF God, what got you 80 furious at
me last winter" and he pressed closer to
her side by the brook bank.
Jennie hung her head.
Unresistingly, she permitted him to
gather the little hand up in his strong
fingers, and take q seat by her side on
the moss, and draw her down beside him
on the turfy bank there they sat like a
couple of idiots, for very gladness Jen-
MES fishing tackle, fly, line and rod
went sailing leisurely off down stream
Jennie struggled with herself, and finally
managed to answer:
L misunderstood - something L
couldn't read-that stuff on the locket.
and-Ella said it implied it was 'all over
with me '-and-that would have been
abominably impertinent of you, Royall
you know it would" she flashed through
her tears at him, smiling in the most daz-
zllng manner the next minute.
GOOD heavens |" he exclaimed ex-
cltedly, as light dawned in upon him.
you don't mean to say my little Ger
man motto on that clasp was misrepre-
sented and the cause of all this misun-
standing Why Jennie % and his tone
was full OF chagrin, "why thought it
was so neat u
So Jennie told MIN all about it as they
nestled among the leaves, the hush, and
dreaminess of the forest. The light and
air that surrounded them, that bathed
them in its waves, was net of heaven or
earth, it was rose-colored Jennie could
complain no more of Royals uncertain
ty, because he was very explicit in his
remarks, and later. when they went