The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1879-09-14
MORE THAN HER MATCH

down through what seemed an almost impen-
etrable wood, and quivering on the green
MOSES. A faint wind dallicd with the foil
age. Wild flowers leckcd the ground.
Here in the sylvan retreat sat Miss Barron,
and she was very much out "a humor, for
every now and then she drove the point of
her parasol into the unofcnding MOSES.
She looked and was downright disgusted
with everything and everybody. The belle
of three seasons, which she had escaped
heart-wholc, she was now caught, aud all
because of n three weeks sojourn at n country
villa.
10 be sure, moonlight sitting through
vines over n rustic porch has something more
Intoxicating than the glare of gas-icts n
wandering, scented wind just of from the
meadows has rather finer appeal than air
vitiatcd by cut flowers and gas drives over
grass-grown roads that are nedged with wild
vines and overhung with branches are just
q triln different in effect from the London
parks in landau or phaeton; and that ami
NAL man, who in town is so carefully
dressed, is, in the country-wherc one would
suppose geological specimens would thrive
bettcr-somcthing more human, in tweed
and felt hat. At any rate, Madge had found
it so.
Madge had never been off her guard be-
fore. Hitherto she had visited fashionable
watering places, but this year she had come
to a quieter place, and had met l,yndhurst
Darlington. She did not yet know, however,
she was in thraldom.
She only knew she was cross and lone
some: and so she sat punching the little bios
SONS and pointing. She thought Darlington
exceedingly companionabe, and that the
other four gentlemen stopping at the villa
wer. little better than wooden men. As for
downright, earnest love, why, her intentions
c,, I'M hnn, vnr Ian ventura
her heart at sea, hut only to glide along the
shore, flirting safe to disembark at any time.
Yet she was now thinking Of Lyndhurst Bar
rington in n way many would have termed
love. But she would not admit this to her
self He was Il delightful summer friend,
that was all, she said.
She liked summer, and flowers, and lazy
atmospleres, and birds and quiet Irritation;
hut when these went the season brought new
enioyments and fresh tirtations, and Bar
rington could go with them. Were there no
others, pray, who could read Tennyson and
sing tenor? But now, Just this moment, it
was rather lonesome. If he only would
GOMEZ
He had gone to town the morning previous,
promising to return in the evening. She had
walked with him through this wood path on
his way to the station. He had fingered n
moment at the stile beyond to tell her how
beautiful she lookel--liow the fresh morning
air had frightened the color on her cheeks.
"Come this evening as far as here to
meet me-" he had said, "won't you ?
The path will be a horrid labyrinth without
you"
"You will surely return" she had asked.
of you don't shall find every tree n hob
goblin when go back alone"
"Return, indeed | shall think of moth
ing else. shall do nothing all day but
put out my watch TO see if it is time for the
train.''
Then he caught her hand in quick way,
thought moment, bounded over the stile,
and fastened down the patll-turned often to
look at the pretty picture she made, listlessly
leaning on the stile, with tinge of regret in
her face. At a turn where she would soon
be hid from sight lie had dared to wave her a
kiss.
Madge was now waiting according to APP
pointment, and she had taken care to concoct
most ravishing toilet.
But all her little preparations Were wasted.
Lyndhurst Darlington did not come. Still
she waited. II seemed so unreasonable, SO
cruel to disappont her. Perhaps he was
only trying to tease her, had gone ont unseen,
and would surprise her directly by his ap-
pearance.
d0lefui sough of wind coming from the
dark recesscs of the woods, n sudden shut
ting down of night made Miss Barron feel
something like fear, and she started nervOusly
to return. As it grew darker her dread
became terror; she fancied strange noises
were about; her feet scarcely touched the
ground; she skinned on, futtering ut heart
like some low-hying bird belated from its
nest
What wonder that she vowed that night,
rs she brushed ont her hair, never to forgive
Mr.. Darlington. What wonder that q harm
less little bunch of vioets which he had
gathered for her the day previous, and
which she had treasured in vase on heI
dressing-room case, she now found faded
disagrseable, and odorlcss, and that she
tossed them pettshy into the darkness from
her window
81 detest him and the viOiets ~ she cried
He may stop in town till dsonlsday, iol
aught care"
Miss Barron did not sleep well, and rose in
the morning with little duh weight upon
her feelings.
Perhaps" she thought, he will no,
come even to-day"
As she dressed for breakfast he was con,
stantly in her mind.
Perhaps he did it on purpose, - she said
"Perhaps he didn't, but lost the train. But
he had no business to lose tho train,' sh,
added Grossly. Perhaps he was i'll; perhaps
some woman had asked him to remain. Well
ifso, | don't care" she said. +" He shall Sc,
am'happy enough, and not even piqued
when he cOmes.'
"Still, as the day wore on Madge found
the ladies of the company provoking, and
the gentlemen more uninteresting than ever
Mechanically, toward evening, she donned
the same toilet as on the night previous, and
took a circuitous route through the garden
that none might DE cognizant of her mova
ments. Emerging ont of sight, she strucl
straight for the wood-path, and here ",
find her again listening for the roar of Tia.
train, notwithstanding all her angry VOWS o
the night before.
Beautiful, cross, unreasonable girl
- ! will not go TO the stile," she was say
ing to herself, "and that viii be disap
pointment to him."
She was somewhat unsettled, however, 10
fear she might be in just the same predica
ment as on tho preceding evening, and re
turn through the gloomy wood alone
She had sevan-eighths OF mile To 60 back
even yet. But she remained, after all, $,
perverse is woman.
AT last, with sudden screech the engine
came steaming along. Miss Barron began I,
trace figures on the ground with her parasol
and put ON an eSpectant air, her feature
sinking into ropose and uncOncern benigI
enough to benefit saint
She saw Lyndhurst Darlington descen,
from the train, and come striding on jOyousl,
till he came in sight of the stile, for, thougl
hidden herself, she could observe all hi
movements. lie came on eagerly, looking t.
the right and left for her, and almost STUN
bled over Miss Barron.
"oh, Madge' he cried, as he threw him
self at her feet, "you did forgive me, AM
have come to meet me p
Forgive you, Mr.. harrington ?" Nothin,
could be more ley cold. Pray what la
been your fault ?''
She looked, as she spoke, straight befor
her, but with am air of surprise which wa
exceedingly we'll eOunterfeited.
He looked up eagerly into her face as h
answered: