Daily globe., 1879-09-21
PLAIN MISS CAREW.

ana a bedrldden paralytic.
PLAIN MISS CAREW.
/ shall never forget that happy summer
at .Harpswell, quaint old peninsular
town up Casco bay. I don't know just
how we happened to go there, but how
pleased every one was with the old-fash-
Toned houses, and the cottages built on
the banks Of pretty coves, ana the Allan
tic booming and laundering and foaming
right under our very windows! Dear
little cottages, with piazzas and balconies
and slender chimneys, and poplars bend
ing over the roof lovingly! Ard strong,
more substantial farm-houses, with mar
row windows and tiny panes of glass
gardens filled with peoples and dahllas
and always beautiful; perfumey lilacs,
meadows fresh with buttcrcups and
clover and tall marguerites. Deep green
woods, fields of corn, and everywhere a
great quantity OF roses. And. such mas
sive, rugged rocks, and grand views from
the hills overlooking the sea; and all
over the island that peculiar hoarse, musi-
cal sound, called the ''rote,' comes in
from the ocean and adds plaintiveness
to the lively summer days.
We were party of seven boarders at
Mrs. Sennett's cottage at the head of Lo-
wells cove. It was in reality stout old
house, but some romantic wanderer had
named it "Pearl Cottage" and as such
we knew it. 1t was the most beautiful
spot Imaginable. Had it been veri-
table Eden there could have no softer
beauty than greeted US on every hand.
A wide garden frightened the space be-
tween the bank and the house and filled
tn air with perfume. The cove was
shaded by huge willows of a hundred
years growth. and many birds sang in
their branches. The soft, caressing
breeze tiDged our cheeks with healthy
color, and July sun added a not unbe-
coming brewness.
Almost unconsciously we drifted into
familiar, friendly intercourse, and were
happily and easily pleased. Nature, in
her grand moods shames us out of our
artiticiality. No one reproved a loud
laugh, leap, or even a run down the
level road. We were all so happy and
gay, and brimming over with spirits,
that it was simply impossible to be dig
nifed, and curb our unruly, beistrous ma
lures.
We were having delightful row one
evening, and returned rather late. There
was light in the sitting room, contrary
to our custom, and trunk and bag on
the piazza.
"Somebody has come,' cried May Der
ry. "Here's mans trunk-I can tell by
the canvass sand, yes, here's card. Oh,
girls what do you think? It is that Mr..
Skidmore we saw the day we went to the
Neck! Isn't it splendidl"
$50 it is," said Mays sister. "Come
here all Of you. Mr.. E. Skid
more l wonder how he happened to
come here? Won't we have q jolly
time?"
"Victcria,' expostulated her mother.
"Well, we'll, a nice-looking young man
doesn't come to Harpswell every day.
You haven't seen him, Miss Carew2
turning to plain, dark-eycd girl. "He's
immensely wealthy, and has real gold
brown beard, and fluffy yellow hair,
and blue eyes with brown spots In them,
and
She might have gone on for an hour
had not hearty laugh from inside the
room startled her.
~ beg your pardon, said a deep voice,
and tall figure appeared in the door
way, "but the description was too anus
ing" and again merry laugh broke from
him, in which we all joined.
ct c,1ry,noo T vow, r,,Io - co:l
Derry, "but the deed is done, and guess
We'll go in and have some lunch"
"If she would only not say Il guess
whispered her mother. "It is quite pie
beian."
We found Mr.. Skidmore delightful
addition to our party. Of good family,
wealthy, a thorough man OF the world,
and handsome, he had everything in his
favor. The Derrys were, to use Victo-
ria's phraseology, "over head and ears in
love with him, and the gentlemen voted
him capital fellow. He played cro9uet
with steady arm and failing
stroke, rowed we'll, sang delicious little
songs in tender, manl9 voice, read aloud
when it was too hot for exercise, and
made himself most attractive COM
panion. From the first he seemed to
positively dislike plain Miss Carew. In
our games he avoided her noticeably,
never willingly looking at or speaking to
her. Did she propose an excursion, he
declined to participates; did she sing
sweet, old-fashioned songs we liked so
much, he left the room. One evening
she had crimson rosebuds in her hair, and
he said crimson rosebuds were his special
aversion. Once IN stepping from the
boat, coming from a sail, he off red his
hand to assist her, and almost flung her
ashore. He seemed to have taken an un-
accountable antipathy to her.
One morning was braiding my hair
when there came rap on my door, and
Miss Carew askee to come in. Sne was
dressed in blue flannel boating suit,
and white sundown was pulled down
over her face. Knots of scarlet ribbon
were on her sleeves and down the front of
her dress. noticed an unusual color in
the brown cheeks, and her brown ewes
were moist look ing.
"You have been crying, Miss Carew,'
I said; "are you unha ppy?"
"Not exactly unhappy, Miss Arden,"
she answered, in her slow, sweet, zeqato
voice. "Only troubled, and rather vexed."
"Can I help you?"
"No, thank you. You are very kind;
but it is nothing, after all. came to
ask if you will be good enough to let me
take your umbrella? am going to the
east shore and have been stupid enough
to let Miss Derry take NINE"
"Certainly," l said; and if YOU"
A loud, boyish laugh interrupted me.
"Now, let me in, quick! I've something
to tell you, Miss Arden" and May Derry
burst into the room. I've found out all
about Miss Carew,'' she said, breathlessly,
"and why Mr.. Skldmore hates her and
all I houo Ol, Me- Ge.ox.x az