Middletown transcript., 1880-02-28
StOrp.
THREE TIMES.

the river
81 wish school was not done. Is
this what makes you so sober to-day Z
questioned Amy in whisper, as Lilly
stood looking wistrully toward the
meadows.
Before the young goyerness could
answer, Lilly called
will you come, dear Miss Helen,
and meet brother John? There he
is "
Helen Arnold shook her head and
the two girls ran down 10 meet the
tall, sturdy young man, who seemed
to bring with him the scent Of the
hay that lay freshly cut in the mead
ows. The beauty and brightness of
the summer seemed doubled as he
came up across the lawn, listening
eagerly to the clear, happy voices Of
the girls.
| Helen Arnold stood in the front
doorway, waiting with a trembling
yearning to unsay the hasty words Of
yesterday, but he gave her no oppor-
tunity, passing in at the side door and
seeming not to notice her.
All day, as Helen Arnold had toiled
in the little schoolroom she had
thought of John Leslie, and wished
| Ooh, how earnestly , that she had
waited before saying that "No," which
she did not mean. She began to feel
how lonely life could be even among
the pleasant sights and sounds of the
country, and that her buoyancy and
brightness Of spirit during the long
happy summer had not been all on
account Of pleasant and healthy sur
r undings. She went into the house
and up to her room to hide her face
as she brooded over unpleasant
thoughts. One of life's golden oppor-
tunities had been offered her, and she
had cast it aside, and now it was gone
forever. This was the last day of her
engagement as governess, and she
would soon be at home, and he would
soon forget her. But perhaps he
might give her chance yet to return
a different answer A blush mantled
her pale cheek, and the blue eyes grew
strangely dark and bright, and she
went to the mirror to arrange the gold |
brown hair that fell over her neck in
graceful curls. She smiled as sh,. saw
reflected the faultless picture, and with
new hope went down to join the fam
lily at the evening meal.
John sat in his accustomed seat,
very quiet as usual, but his eager eye
drank in the exquisite loveliness of the
young girls face and figure as she
came round to her place. Perhaps he
read in her downcast, tender eyes, the
change that had come over her, but
he gave her no intimation Of it, and
after supper, when the children romp-
ed about her and called brother John
to place a wreath o. wild flowers on
her head, he showed no signs of en-
barrassment or emotion, but talked TO
her as coolly as if she too had been his
sister. Helen was little angry. Is
it wonder? for she thought he had
been trifing, and that she could not
bear. A fire blazed up in her deep
blue eyes, and burned brightly on her
soft cheeks. John watched her beau
tiful face and varying color, and glor-
led in his triumph but ah, when was
glory not bought too dearly? He
leaned over her, and touched lightly
her soft hand
"Did you not mean yes? | know
you love me. We shall be very hap
py." "Impudent Do I not know
my own mind =? Love you !"
Anger prompted the words, and as
soon as they we're uttered she wished
tney were unsaid but John Leslie
could not know it !; and if he had, per-
haps he would not have forgiven her.
His face grew very pale, and he turn
ed away without a word
Years passed away, and fortune
favored John Leslie. He became a
successful merchant, and therefore was
q mark for matrimonial speculation
but still he troubled not his head
about marriage. At last the pleasant.
insinuating mammas, who talked to
him so sweetly y and affectionately !
about the dear girls who were their {
greatest treasurers, got to saying un- !
kind things about the "cross old bach '
elor" behind his back. Of what use S
was it, TO be sure, to always behave SO
prettily to such reserved old fellow ? '
He seemed to care nothing at all for /
ladies. !
Lilly thought surely at her wedding q
with DR.. Maynard, Brother John S
would come out of his retirement, and q
make some of the marriageable ladies v
If her acquaintance happy thereby, |
and he did =; but it was a short-lived
happiness, for it was long time be- S
fore he again left his business
The truth was but the Young Ia. i
dies did not seem to know tiff John
Leslie had wanted to marry any one f
IF them, or all Of them together, he a
would have asked them. Being well t
satisfied to let things take their course
be did not trouble himself much about a
what was passing outside of his busi. n
ness, but plodded steadily onward. il
Now, when he went out to DR.. Nav. t,
nard's, he had the little Lillian to ca "
'ess and talk to, as well as her proud "
and happy mamma, and he went Of ri
ener than before the baby came.
One day while baby sat on her uncle's
knee, Mrs. MAYNARD said: t.
any old friend Helen Arnold is p
coming to stay awhile with US, John
ind want YOU to run out as often as
'ou can, for she is SO very quiet and fc
eserved that | want to stir her 10 a d
title. You need not be afraid of her al
alking too much. She never does oi
hal" h,
John tossed the baby, and the el
'aby's mother so mach pleased to see tt
IL Il +,