The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-11-27

narrow, weedy garden, hearing Just
enough to catch some of her sisters
sharpest words. Why should not he
volunteer to give his patient drive?
He was going some miles by lovely
route to visit case in which there
was no fear of infection. DR.. Hardy
was never slow to carry out an idea,
when there was nobody to oppose it.
He pulled up his pony before the gate
of Briar Cottage. And there sure
enough was Lydia, seated on a garden
chair, quite alone, looking very pale
and draggled
DR.. Hardy had to repeat his invita-
ton twice before she caught his mean
ing, and then her face lit with intense
pleasure. Such thing was so unpre-
cedented, so outside the usual range of
Eliza and James opinions, that she
actually forgot all about them, and
accepted it without any reference to
them. The very idea seemed to bring
back her youth. A long, long drive
over the moors gave a sense of bound
less freedom to one whose peregrina-
tions had for years been limited to
the shops, the church, and the neigh
boring villas. She assured DR.. Hardy
that her preparations would not de-
tain him five minutes, and left him in
the garden, smiling indeed, yet half
sad to think that so small pleasure
seemed to be worth so much.
But Lydia remembered Eliza and
Jane, and trembled when, on her way
to her own room, she had to pass
those ladies seated at the window,
working. She paused timidly, and
said that DIR. Hardy had offered to
take her for drive; he thought it
would do her good, and so did she.
Eliza said "Humph." Jane remark
ed, you are quite your own mistress,
Lydia. But all Dinnent will say you
are trying to delude that youth into
marrying you"
Surely Dinnent can never be so
foolish" /" answered Lydia, opening her
eyes wide at suggestion so entirely
new to her own mind. "Well, | can't
say | will not go, now | have said /
will" And secretly she was very
glad that for once she had made de-
cision before asking advice.
She left the door open between the
rooms while she dressed, and Eliza,
watching her, dryly remarked, "The
ride won't do you any the more good,
Lydia, for your putting on your best
bonnet. This afternoon, between sun
and dust, will do it more damage than
three months ordinary wear"
Never mind, it has been saved for
three months during my Illness"
Lydia answered, and resolutely tied
her strings. It was not very ex-
pensive bonnet, nor very smart one,
for straw and ribbons were alike Of a
very modest brown, except where
single blue bow adorned the cap,
which was the fashion Of those days
Lydia had scarcely put it on before,
and as she looked in the mirror she
thought it was more becoming than
most Of her bonnets. Perhaps it was
the flush and excitement Of her plea
sure which did it justice.
In her harmless happiness her gen.
tie heart wanted to be in peace and
love with everybody, and as she pass
ed her sisters she kissed first Jane and
then Eliza, only winning from the
former the sardonic response
Il don't suppose you are goin away
forever, Lydia"
But when she reioined DR.. Hardy
there was a restraint in her manner
which would not have been there but
for her sisters words. The more
foolish and uncalled-for she felt they
were, the more they hurt her, and un-
derneath their petty worry there
stirred a strange pang which she
could not comprehend, a sense of too
lateness and of irrevocable years. But
she bravely set herself to drink the
cup Of simple pleasure which was Of
fered to her, albeit there was a taste
of wormwood on in its brim. And sum-
mer skies, and yellow gorse and leafy
dingles keep spells of their own, even
for a kept-down old maiden, so long
as her heart is not bitter, nor her eyes
turned inward. And as they drove
swiftly through the freshening
breezes, Lydia felt quite contented
and very thankful for many things.
Edward Hardy remembered that her
deafness would be probably increased,
for the time, by the unwonted scenes
and motion, to say nothing of the rat
tie of the wheels. And like true
doctor, he resolved to do nothing to
call her attention to her affiiction, but
TO leave her to take her own pleasure
in her own quiet way. Every now
and then he glanced at the soft blue
eyes gazing so eagerly around, and
he smiled to hear that, quite
she was grooming an
DID song. While he visited his patient,
she dutifully held his horse for him,
md when he came out, and saw the
vigor of her pose, and the
faint rose on her thin cheek, he said
20 himself that the springs of our
life and health may often
lie among little thoughtfulness and
zindnesses which we too often forget
or neglect.
Poor thing" he thought, IF | may
quinine for her, why may /
lot do this?' And then he added,
aloud, Miss Lydia, will you like to
AXE another drive with me to-mor-
-ow?"
She started, and flushed deeply, and
lid not answer for a moment. DIR.
Hardy made a mental note: More
nervous than | thought she was
Her voice sounded full Of tears, as she
,eplied,-
You cannot mean it.
Indeed | do" he returned.
"Oh, DIR. Hardy" she said, "how
5his?"
why not?" asked the young man,
1 L. -