The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-03-04

beside the straight road which led
the village. Probably she had tucke
up her dress and made a dart anon
the brushwood out Of sight. H
stood for moment looking after he1
now one way, now another, but h
could see no one. Il know you," h
cried, Il know you; where are you
where are you, Maud?" But ther
was no answer from among the brush
wood. Finally, he had to make III
his mind that the trick had been sue
ctessful, that she had got away, anC
IT he was to execute his commission.
IN the village he must not lose any
time. But he went along with ONLY
half the spirit with which he hac
started, his mind quite absorbed in
this adventure. As he resumed his
way he met one of the keepers coming
IN the opposite direction, whom he
stopped to ask if he had met lady on
hls df way. The man looked at him as
IT he thought him mad, but answered
no, he had met no one. "a lady in a
white dress and black MANTLE" said
Edmund. Lord bless you, sir" said
the keeper, "a white dress!'- and then
it occurred to- Edmund for the first
time how entirely inappropriate such
a garb was to the season. It must
have been one Of the girls who had
dressed up" as they used to be so
fond of doing in the old days, to give
him a fright. And yet in his heart
he did not in the least believe this
explanation he had given to himself.
Even Maud, though he liked her so
much, had never excited that sudden
and causeless emotion in his heart. It
was some one new-some one who
had never crossed his path before, and
who was destined to work he knew
not what commotione lin it. But then,
who could it be?
Did you go out after [ went out?"
he asked, when he went back to Dain-
trey. "Tell me, did you or any one
take a run into the park?"
"Oh, no; mother would not let us
90. She said we ..could not go to
skate tomorrow if we went out so
ate to-day"
"Or has any one beenFhere? Did
'ou have any visitors? Edmund |
sked, though he knew very well that
his could not explain the presence of
he lady, who must have left the house
'efore he did. MaudsF looked up at
i'm with her soft blue eyes.
''We have had no one," she said
We did not stir allEsthe afternoon.
lother had a. asheadache, and we did
ot wish to leave her After you
7ent out we sat and talked till the
ressing-bell rang. That was all; but
-hy do you suppose we must have
ad visitors?" Edmund felt-he
ould-- scarcely tell "why-a little shy
ess and unwillingness to explain
imself.
Because l met a ladys.iin the park"
e said, land could not make out who
lie was. Have you any new neigh
ors since have been gomez"
Maud shook her head. "Nobody,"
lie said. Nobody had been calling.
obody had intruded into the neigh
'rhood. She looked earnestly at the
'ung man, who, for his part, was I
tile excited by his own questions,
1t not at all unpleasantly excited. :
Il thought for moment you were 6
aging me trick. She looked lit
, like you-that is, her figure looked T
le you. [ did not see her face" .
Like me?" Maud was half pleased, h
It more surprised. II play you a a
ck? | don't think" she said, with C
sad look, 'that shall ever do that v
aim
But [ hope you will hundred e
nes, said the young man; and this s.
eased her, though she could not have t'
ID why. But help me to find out
10 it is" he went on. II feel an G
yed that I don't know everybody, a
| used to do. She was dressed in e
lite with a.
In white! You must have been a
canning, said Maud in amazement. S;
He stopped short again. That's n
~ | thought it must be you," he el
d, yet with alittle conscious jesuitry, W
: he had not thought so-indeed. cl
1 assured himself that the little h
+ of his being which he had expe-
need could only mean that this was IL
ne one of different kind from any G
had met before: a new woman, a
ature born to influence him. but tc
S quite true, and | was not dream tc
:. She had on a white gown. B
black over her shoulders, m
e the thing ladies have been wear
: lately: [ forget how you call it W
a cloak nor scarf something in
round and knotted behind like
s." said Edmund, doing his best to m
wv how, upon himself with his fo
Ids. 81
A fchu, you mean," said Maud, a a
fering herself to be betrayed by
lie. 81
"A fchu, that's the thing; and dc
ge broad hat. But she did not to
k like art-needlework-she- looked
tie natural" ro
What an interest you must have
Ell in this lady! When did you hs
ct her? 1t could not have been any to
coming here, for no one has been
e all day" he
L met her-but | did not meet her III
followed her along the ime-tree
TX and out by the little corner dc
r."
How very strange! Icannot think so
O it can have been. And where did
go after?" m
That is the strangest Of all, sa,
mund. "She disappeared som,
ere. That was another reason whve.
hought it must have been you. $, brui,
NOT tell where she went DoUs, tette
the keepers cottage, suppose; bt ~ ntaad h,ht :
wv ilel ~ hholo' none