Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-07-04

don't knowI 1t was suggested by her
naughty manner of acknowledging the
introduction, suppose. The fact is,
hadn't thought much about it one way
or the other. Hark! some one is call
ing US. Shall we go back to the
house?''
"Yes, we must, for the moon is get
ting up, and 1 promised Laura to ar
range for drive by moonlight. Sup
pose you take Edith, CharieP''
"Thank you, but am in no hurry"
''Humi going to try the dignifed
dodge, are you? pique her interest, and
all that? Well, go ahead your own
way" laughed Tom, as they retraced
their steps.
Five days of the week had passed,
and Nugent had never had an opportu-
nifty to exchange a word with Edith
Romaine. True, she treated him with
politeness, but it was of such a distant
and frigid sort, and she was so adroit
in avoiding all occasions of speech,
except such few necessary words as all
might hear, that he began to despair of
unraveling the mystery which encom-
passed that first day.
He could not help p feeling that he was
in an unfortunate position. He was so
attracted by this girl, everything she
said and did Ito others) pleased his
fastidious taste, and yet he felt himself
under ban, whose cause was utterly
unknown. He would have been so
glad to walk, or ride, or drive with her,
to hold her parasol or turn over her
music; yet his faintest attempt at such
familiarity was always checked by
look or tone of unmistakable meaning.
To add to his annoyance, Tom Fergu-
son lost no chance of lecturing him on
his want of success, quoting constantly
for his benefit the old adage of FAINT
heart" ETC., and urging him to 60
in and win''-advice which fairly irri-
tated him because of its uselessness.
Twenty times he had resolved to
leave the house, and had invented
countless plausible excuses for thus
curtailing his visit; and he had broken
his resolution every time, because
there seemed a faint prospect Of tete-
a-tete with Edith, which had never been
fulfilled.
This morning, however, he was in
high spirits, for fate was absolutely
propitious. Miss Romaine had gone
for a walk, notwithstanding the pre-
dictions of the barometer and the gath
ering clouds alike foretold rain. The
rest of the party were comfortably
housed, when Mrs. Ferguson exclaimed,
in tones of dismay:
s'Just look at the great drops! We
shall have a perfect deluge, and Miss
Romaine will be soaked. She had only
a small sun-umbrella, and she has gone
all the way to the grove"
" And that is full two miles," said
Tom Ferguson, starting up to examine
the prospect. What shah we de?'i
Let me take the pony-phaetOn and
90 after Miss Romaine, Tom. I shall
find her somewhere on the road, I
imagine, both dripping and disconso-
late,' answered Nugent, briskly, be-
fore anyone else could speak.
Tom gave him significant nod of
approval, and with "Make haste,
Laura, and bundle up waterproof or
something" left the room to expedite
the harnessing. In few moments the
phaeton was at the door, and Nugent,
well equipped with shawls and cloak,
was on his way to the pretty little grove
where Miss Edith was fond of straying.
He drove along the well-known road
with mingled fear and triumph, wick
edly rejoicing in her predicament, yet
dreading her displeasUre at being forced
to accept his aid. "But she has no
right to be angry at me, for l never
saw her before, and must get tOsthe
bottom of this mystery somehow" was
what he said to himself more than once
as the feet little pony trotted on; and
he really felt quite brave while he was
saying it. But when he espied the
young lady at the edge of the grove,
looking doubtfully in his direction, his
courage began to lessen; and when, as
the pony stopped close by her, she be-
slowed one of her coldest and most dis
approving looks upon him, he was
utterly Disconnected, and decidedly
angry with himself for his folly.
"Ibeg your pardon, Miss ROmaine,"
he said, as he stepped out" begyour
pardon, but Mr.. Ferguson sent me to
look for YOU"
"Was there no one else to sendP''
freezingly. "John or William would
have been quite sufficient, and"
"Don't say any more, Miss Romaine.
If you will get into the phaeton and
drive yourself home, will gladly walk.
]. don't mind a wetting in the least,
assure you;" and he began buttOning
his coat up as he spoke.
"Nonsenser' she said, ungraciously.
Chow would that look, I should like
to know? No, you have found me, and
you can take me back, but wish to
tell you that understand yOur maneu-
yer perfectly, and it won't do you any
good. Shall we get in? for you must
see that l am uncOmfortably damp"
Without word he assisted her to her
seat, put the cloak about her shoulders.
and took the homeward road.
Presently she spoke, though with eV-
ident reluctance:
"Imust stop at the Postofice, as
have letter to mail. 1 was going there
when you found me-"
Nugent turned thepOny's head in the
direction of the village, still without
speaking. He was getting furiously
angry with this unreasonable girl, and
felt that it was quite beneath his Dig
nifty to seek for any further explanation
of her behavior.
All at once an exclamation of dismay
drew his attention to her. She was
looking at him with so much amaze
ment and alarm in her lovely eyes that
he asked, involuntarily:
"What is the matter, Miss Romaine?
what has startled you?'
No answer, only a closer scrutiny;
then her color deepened painfully, she
covered her face with her hands, and
fairly groaned aloud.
Nugent reined up the pony. "For
Heavens sake, Miss Romaine, explain
this strange conduct! Have you seen
a ghost, or am 1 such a frightful OBJ
ject?"
YOu-you-" she began, butseemed
utterly unable to finish.
Nugent broke out: "This is getting
unbearable. 1 must insist upon some
explanation of your strange behavior,
Miss Romaine, before you go any fur
ther In our very first meeting you inn
piled that had offended you deeply
/, who never sawyou until last Wednes-
day! You have followedup that strange
beginning most consistently, 1 admit,
but -"
"Answer me one question:" she in
terrupted, in an agitated voice. "Who
are VouP''