Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-11-24

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You will be late; it is too bad?"
She stopped short in her walk, with
earnest, appraised eyes; but he only
laughed lazily, and shifted his basket
from one hand to the other.
"Not at all. The ten-thirty tonight
will answer quite as well. I am in nc
hurry"
And in no hurry he seemed as he
sauntered so slowly onward.
at the gate she paused and held out
her hand for the basket; and as he gave
it to her he bent down, a laughing, quiz
zical look in his daring gray eyes.
Miss Patty, am I forgiven?''
And she hated herself for the viyic
blush that stained her face at thai
glance.
"Yes."
She took his burden from him, turned,
and with curiously FACILITATING heart,
ran up the garden path to the house.
In the days that followed, very much
against her will, a vision rose often be,
fore her eyes-a vision that had broad
shoulders. keen gray eyes and an honest,
kindly smile.
Forth to the cool, green woods, one
day, to a private social picnic, went
Pearl, still in her disguise-for she had
extracted solemn promise from Miss
Barren that she would say no word OF
her fathers vast wealth or her own &C
knowledged position in society.
cit is pleasant little masquerade.
Aunt Deborah. Let them only know
me as your neice-Patty Darren-these
kind, good-natured friends of yours, and
that will SUFFICE
In those dim, pine-scented woods she
came face to face with the bronzed young
Hercules who had upset her apples in
the orchard at home.
This time there was formal intro
duction by friend.
"Mr. Roy Harland- Darren."
Into Miss Darren's starry eyes, so in
nocently uplifted, flashed sudden
guilty ight-over the pretty, tranquil
face and milk-white throat, scarlet
stain.
80 it had come, after ALT was des-
tiny. Fate was stronger than she, that
it should drive Roy Harland, her Or
dained lover, up to this lonely, old
fashioned little town-this place Of all
others.
But-blessed thought he did not
know her. So with resolute effort of
her will, she subdued her momentary
agitation, and bowed coldly at his polite
commonplaces.
But, despite her frigid GOODNESS, he
managed to make himself agreeable in a
thousand little ways, and that night,
when Pearl stood at her jassamine-
powered window and thought it all over,
she was forced to confess that it had
been delightful day-that he wasn't so
very disagreeable-in fact, he might
have been more; and (not that she
would ever break her resolution-gra-
cious, no! } but he would help to pass the
time. And how was he to suppose that
Benjamin Darren's city heiress and
Deborah Darren's country neice were
one and the same.
But alas for woman's stability
Well, after that PEARLS heart all un-
consciously learned to beat at the sound
OF light, firm step on the garden-path
Pearls cheeks to rival Aunt Deborah's
>hollyhocks at sound of mans strong
voice; after that it was only the rehearsal
OF that Oldest drama-that fairest play
that sweetest lesson in Gods wide
world.
One day-one dreamy, golden summer
day, when the earth was wearing it's
brightest dress, the brooks were singing
their sweetest songs, and the boboinks
and thrushes were having it all their own
way in the giant oak above-Patty stood
listlessly, restfully, below-Pa
dressed in cool white lawn, dotted here
and there with sutiny bows, blue as her
eyes.
Up through tangled brushwood came
figure-stalwart, ithe-limbed, good to
see. He flung his straw hat from off his
damp, curling hair, as came up--a
strange, new excitement in his eyes.
'Miss Patty" he said, eagerly.
abruptly, II am come to tell you a story
one you should have known before.
Will you isten?"
She merely bowed her golden head
graciously, like the royal, red-ipped SOW
ereign she was; but there was wonder
ing, rapturous little thrill at her heart
for all that.
Patty"-he had caught her white
hands in his warm clasp and was stand
ing above her, handsome, noble, flush
ing holly through the sunbrownness of
his oheek-Patty, my darling, my wild
rose, I love you'll love you! There! it
is said at Last! But what right have 1
to speak thus to you? How can T.
Wait-you shall decide"
He spoke rapidly; incoherently, but
Patty stood there perfectly still, the
surge of color all gone from her face.
"Years ago." he went on hurriedly,
still holding her hands in that strained
clasp; "our parents contracted an en-
gagement between myself and Pearl
,Darchante daughter of the New York
merchant prince, named Barren. I be-
ieve your aunt said they were relatives
of yours, when I mentioned the simili-
tude OF your names. 1t was to have
been a marriage de CONVEYANCE and I
did not rebel, because I loved no woman
till T saw you, my darling; but now it
can never be! Ny dearest, my dearest,
bow much do you bring me in return for
this mighty love Of mine %
Troy, remember you are bound
bound! This girl-she is rich, is she
not?"
Immensely; but what are riches
: what, after all is anything compared to
3oye2 Ard .ysu rely-T:sq1rday, you
' ! { % $780,, asatY L LII III
spray, Patty!' he cried out, passion
ately, brokenly, "tell me-what shall 7
do?"S +'~ ~"
The mans nature was too noble to
have had any. difficulty in resigning
Benjamin Darren's heiress; but his love