The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-02-20
More Than Her Match.

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an almost impenetrable wood and
quivering on the green moses. A
faint wind dallied with the foliage
Wild flowers decked the ground.
Here in this sylvan retreat, sal
Miss Barron, and she was very much
out Of humor, for every now and
then she drove the point Of her par
asol into tho unoffending moses
She looked and was downright dis
gusted with everything and every
body. The belle of three seasons,
during which she had escaped heart
whole, was now caught and all
because Of a three weeks sojourn at
a country villa.
To be sure, moonlight sitting
through vines over a rustic porch
has something more intoxicating
than the glare Of gas jets; a wander
ing, scented wind, just off from the
meadows, has rathera finer appeal
than air vitiated by cut.aowcrs and
gas; drives over grass.grown roads
that are hedged with wild vines and
ovcrhang with branches are just u
trihe different lin effect from the
London parks in landau or pheaton;
and that animal, man, who in town,
is so carefully dressed, is in the
country, where one would suppose
geological specimens would thrive
better, something more human, in
tweed and felt hat. At, any rate
Madge.had found it so.
Madge had never been of her
guard before. Hitherto she had WIS.,
tied fashionable watering places, but
this year she'had comc to q quieter
place, land had met LyndhurSt Bar
ripgton. She did not yet know
however, that SHE ives in. thrAldom.
She'only knew she was cross and
lonesome; and so she sat punching
the'little blossoms anfpoutihg. She
thought Darlington HeSccedingly
companichable, and that the other
four gentleinan'stopping at the villa
we're little better than wooden men.
As for downright, earnest love, Why,
her intentions for three years had
been never to venture her, heart at
sea, but only to glide aboutiN E shore,
flirting, safe to discmbark ut any
time. Yet she was now thinking of
Lyndhurst harrington in q way
many would have termedlove.. B1t
she would not admit this to herself.
He was delightful summer friend,
that was all, She said. She liked
summer and flowers and birds, and
hazy atmospheres, and u quiet liirta,
ton, but when these went, the, COM
ing season brought new enjoNpcnts
ind fresh ilirtations, and Darlington
couldJgo with them. Were, there
IlarG, prQy y,s,who could read
TenhSson, and sing tcnor2 But now,
just this moment, it was ratherlone-
some. If he only would come!
He had gone to town the morning
previous, promising to return in the
evening. She had walked with him
through this woodpath on his way
to the station. He had fingered u
moment ut the stile beyond to tell
her how beautiful she looked-how
the fresh morning air had brighten
ed the color on her cheeks.
"Come this evening rs far as here
to meet me-" he said, won't you?
The path will be q horrid labyrinth
without YOU"
"You will surely rcturn2" she had
asked. "If you don't l shall find
every tree hobgoblin when | go
back alone"
"Rcturn, indeed! shall think of
nothing else. | shall do nothing all
day but pull out my watch to see if
it is time for the train"
Then he caught her hand in a
quick way, thought a moment,
bounded over the stilc, and hasten
ed down the path, turning often to
look back at the pretty picture she
made, listlessly leaning on the stile,
with a tinge Of regret in her face.
At turn where she would soon be
hid from sight he had dared to wave
her a kiss.
Madge was now waiting according
to appointment, and she had taken
care to concoct a most ravishing toi'
let.
But all her little preparations
we're wasted. Lyndhurst Barring
ton did not come. Still she waited.
It seemed so unreasonable, so cruel,
to disappoint her. Perhaps he was
only trying to tease her, and had got
out unseen, and would surprise her
directly by his appearance.
A doleful sound Of wind coming
from the dark rccesscs of the wood, u
sudden shutting down of night,
made Miss Baron feel something like
fear, and she started nervously to re.
turn. As 1t grew darker her dread
became q terror; she fnncied strange
noises we're about; her feet scarcely
touched the ground; she skinned on,
iluttering at heart like some low fly
ing bird bclatcd from its nest.
What wonder that she vowed that
night, as she brushed out her hair,
never to forgive Mr.. DarringtonP
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