Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-02-21

/ Aceiii aS Htc uay wore Oh, MauSe
found the ladies of the company pro-
voklng, and the gentlemen more un-
interesting than ever. Mechanically,
towards evening, she donned the same
toilet as on the night previous, and
took circuitous route through the
garden, that none might be cognizant
of her movements. Emerging out of
sight, she struck straight for the
woodpath; and here we find her again
listening for the roar of the train,
notwithstanding sll her angry VOWS
of the night before.
Beautiful, cross, unreasoning girl
81 will not go to the stile," she
was saying to herself, ''and that will
be disappointment to him.
She was somewhat unsettled, how
ever, for fear she might he in the
s4sao predicament as on the, preced-
ing Fesening, and have to return
through the gloomy wood alone. She
had seyen-eights of a mind to go
back, even yet. But she remained
after all, so perverse is woman.
At last with sudden screech, the
engine cane steaming along. Miss
Barron began to trace figures on the
ground with her parasol and put on
most expectant look, her features
sinking into repose, and unconcern
benign enough to befit saint.
| She saw Lyndhurst Darlington
descend from the train and come
stridis,g on joyously till he came in
sight of the stile for, though hidden
herself, she could observe all his
movements. .....-
/ He came on eagerly, looking to the
right and left for her, and almost
stumbled over Miss Baron.
"Oh, Madge!'' he cried, as he
threw himself at her feet, you did
. forgive me and have come to meet
me -
Forgive you, Mr.. Barrington!"
Nothing could be more icy cold.
''Pray, what has been your fault?"
She looked, as she spoke, straight
: before her, but with an air of sur
t prise, which was exceedingly well
l counterfeited.
He looked up eagerly into her face
} IS he answered, "why was button
, holed to death in town yesterday. II
seemed as if conspiracy had
: been entered into, and that every
: fellow knew had left his summer
haunt to go up TO town to detain me.
! | transacted but half my business, and
Q Iput off Jack Longly with only a nod
J on my way to the station. / sup
Ipose he II never speak to me again.
=. After all was one minnie too late.
: saw the confounded train sweeping
. out of the station just as l reached it.
, l was in despair, thinking you would
come to meet me-
81 did walk down last evening, but
/ can hardly say, sir, that l came to
meet you. | did not expect you. /
thought if business erillness kept you,
you might be gone week. l never
thought cf you as hobnobbipg with
your male friends and sauntering to
the statien."
4 "Madge' and serious look came
intn his face. ''Let us drop bicker-
: ing, and begin where We left off yes
1 terday.' -
4 as'Nery well," she said. AZ believe
the point at which you left off was
whistling, and 1 was doing nothing
in particular SO if you will strike off
q stave of anything, l will demurely
but admiringly, walk by your side."
"Madge!" he exclaimed excitedly.
l did no such thing. Do men gaze
a. statuary or paintings and whistle?
Faith, my last remembrance is of q
prettier picture than an art room ever
Ii,eld. / saw beautiful woman look
ing regret at my leaving--a woman l
want fer my wife"
Here was a poser! Proposed to!
1t came like q sweet surprise, never
theless. But it was contrary to Miss
Barron's tactics. Were weeks Of de-
lightful flirting to be cut off in mo-
ment in this fashion? How could he
believe her in earnest? 1t was ridic-
ulous. She had meant to play the
injured mistress for several days, and
make him abject in his eIrorte to re-
linstate himself with her. She did
not want climax reached with this
man. Her heart had told her 1t
would leave a regret she had never
known before. To avoid this now,
she would begin with railery.
"Really, Mr. Darlington" she
said, "you must be hungry or over
tired, to make such a statement. A
fweli-spread table, stearning viands,
comfort, and wife, must have shot
|, Through your brain. 1 can assure
you a delightful supper now awaits
you" = ss
l. "Nfiss Barron" he began, frown-
N ing without apparent notice of her
| words, and rising to his feet, ''three
j weeks ago I did not know you; but
in that time all my life now seems to
. have been crowded. I never stopped
ito question your actions. It seemed
as if there was no need Of asking foi
/ vows, they would denote commence.
1 ment of love. I wanted it to be 81