The Portland daily press., 1879-10-27

Miss LIE Deene.
ultimately. He has been dear friend
of ours for years past"
'Indeedn' commented Miss lie Deene,
feeling puzzled by the statement.
Though Mr.. Forests father had risen
''quite from the people," so the Southbay
babble had it.. still he had risen from the
people of Southbav; and, spite of the fact
that scarcely anyone in the town was ac-
quainted with him even by sight, the indi-
vidual who possessed all the great Forrest
properties. all the shore rights and mineral
rights. and Heaven only knows how many
rights besides. seemed great man even in
the eyes of the bishops daughter
Miss LIE Deene slipped her tea in silence.
There was certain dreaminess about the
atmosphere of the pretty drawing room, and
Miss LIE Deei felt meditatiye. She did not
understand the Arkleys did not compre-
bend any one electing to live in lonely cot
tage, when good house in Southbay was to
be had for a song; could not see why Mr..
and Mrs. Arkley persisted in refusing the in
vitations sent them for tea, din er, a little
evening; why Mrs Arkley was seen SO rare
ly in Southbay, and Captain Arllley, as one
might say, never. Two whole months at
Southcliffe, and stranger to Southbay than
though they had lived hundreds Of miles
away, toiling across the hills to Southchurch,
duke and she duchess.
Indeed the Duchess of Landless had be-
haved herself very differently while taking
the air and sea-baths at Southbay. Once,
when overtaken by thunderstorm, she
sought refuge in widow Harting's cottage,
where she seated herself quite atfably, and
gave the widows little granddaughter
threepennypiecc when the shower passed
over
Miss LIE Deene had heard some rumor of
a severe wound Captain Arkley received
when fighting; who was it amongst-the
the Chinese. or the South Sea Islanders, or
the Tartars, or any other people? 1t did not
much signify to Southbay where the soldiers
of England had fought OF were fighting. AT
all events, she knew tidings to that effect
had reached the little town. Perhaps it had
touched his head or spoiled his temper.
A certain admiral of her acquaintance,
who returned home short of leg, grew
simply unbearable while the wind was in
the east; while she remembered Waterloo
veteran, of whom his relations said when
ever his overnight rotations had been too
strong, he always declared, THAT bullet is
troubling me again"
Perhaps Captain Arllley grew at times I'M
bearable; perhaps, indeed, he was always
unbearable and preferred his own temper to
any other society. Miss LIE Deene had met
with two or three eccentric people, who,
though sound of limb and harboring no bull
lets, had preferred their company to the
best which could be offered them.
Poverty did not cause the Arkleys to live
at such an out-of- the-way spot as South
cliffe; Of that Miss LIS Deene felt perfectly
satisfied. The interior of the cottage was
furnished in the most expensive manner:
nothing in the way of comfort or luxury, for
which the modest rooms afforded space, was
absent. Rich hangings, rare china, exquis-
lite pictures, a magnificent piano; thousand
little nicknacks that must-so she silently
appraised their yalue-have cost a small
fortune.
The tea-service in its way was daintily
elegant; and ''every thread"-I quote Miss
LIE Deenes statement verbatim, as made to
her crones afterwards-''of Master Son and
Heirs dress would bear the closest inspec-
tom
AS for the flowers, ''the place." said Miss
LIE Deene, is like a horticultural show
banks of them, inside and out; perfect
waste of money, [ call it, and on the top of
Southcliffe, too, where there is not crea-
ture but themselves to see the exhibition.
But she is the fairest flower Of them all; and
! do say it is thousand pities her friends
let her marry him, that do"
And whatever might be thought of the
there could be no question but that, as has
been said before, Mrs. Arkley was as sweet
flower as man need desire to see in town
or country, in crowded rooms amongst 9TH
ers rare and lovely, or blooming in sweet
simplicity on the lonely mountain side.
While her visitor was exercising her as
tute mind in wandering over all likely posi-
bilities, threading herldevious way through
pros and cons fnnumerable, Mrs. Arkley's
fI,o,, &c had o1c hoa., .
Backwards and forwards they had strayed,
now over the past, again looking hopefully
intolthe future finally reverting to the present;
when they do so, she found that few min
ute's silence, which appeared as she woke
from her reverie to have lasted much long
er than was really the case, had fallen upon
herself and her visitor, whose eyes, with no
hint of speculation in them, were now
fastened on the blue sea, which she beheld
through tracery OF leaves glittering in the
distance.
On the air there came frequent whiffs
from the hedge Of sweetbrier that bounded
one portion Of the lawn. The scent was not
constantly perceptible, but at intervals it
wandered into the room, for a moment put
ting out of court the fragrance of roses and
the odor of lilies.
Ever after, even in the dead winter, when
Miss De Deene thought of Mrs. Arkley-
which was often-the vision of that charm
ing lady appeared surrounded by wealth
of flowers, while across the waters of MEM
DRY there stole subtly and gently the per-
fume of sweet brier borne OH the breath Of
faint west wind
Who amongst us has not some association
of the kind? Heaven grant, friends, that
yours may be as pure and pleasant as that
which brought the memory of Mrs. Arkley
waited to the heart of rugged looking ell
derby lady!
''You must excuse my preoccupation,"
said Mrs. Arkley, bltishing as if she alone
had been engrossed in thought; 'but / began
marvelling why you asked if my husband
were proud; was it, she put the question
with slight hesitancy, and yet archlv too
''because we were not present at my sisters
wedding?'
Good gracious, mop answered Miss LIE
Deene, in blunt establishment, putting down
her cup that she might stare the better at
Mrs. Arkley. "Tiil this moment | was not
even aware that you had sister,
mot aware that l had a sister?p repeated
Mrs. Arkley laughing outright.
''No; how should know anything about
her? Now that do know l congratulate
you on the OCCASION of her marriage, if it be
a matter meet for congratulation. [ hope
she has made what the world calls good
match?'
Il call it good match in every respect"
answered Mrs Arkley, the dimples in her
face ripping over with fun.
''But l dare say you are romantic.
should not like to take your opinion exactly
on question of this kind. Is the gentle
man-has he, in word, plenty of money!
well, yes" was the reply, HE is young,
rich, handsome, kind, generous, consider
ate"
ga goodly list CT virtues" remarked Miss
LIE Deene.
''And his name is Forrest" added Mrs.
Arkly slyly.
''No! you cannot mean that-not our Mr..
Forrestl | believe, you wicked creature,
you have ben making fun of me all this
time. / almost doubt whether you possess
a sister,"
''Indeed do-three Of them"
"And one is really married 20 a gentle
man named Forrest?'
''To our Mr.. Forrest as you call him."
"'3ut, my dear, how can that be? Mr.
Forrest is only married to-day, and tc