The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-02-27

"hat beautiful voice she has got hasI
she? You will be falling in love, old fl
low, eh?"
mot ~ replied his friend, stI'm Il
equal to a goddess like Miss Hamblyn B
sides, you know He stopped suddenl
remembering Maggie's caution.
'Well, besides what? Don't mind me
said Frank.
"Oh, dear, no; the fact is, I'm rath
sweet on some one else, you see. She W
delighted with those roses, can tell yo
What thoughtful fellow you are! ne
er can do those pretty things"
''Then, friend Algy, take lesson no
and a rose next time''
They all drove rapidly back to the re-
tory Mr.. Denne met them on the steps
"Welcomo to WittIesIeigh,' - he exclain
ed il his CHEEKY voice. "Jesse, my dea
I'm delignted to see you. Come in; an
pressing fatherly kiss on the white fort
s. head, he led his beautiful visitor into tn
drawing room.
Luncheon is ready" he said, $50 whe
you young ladies have arranged conf
- dences we will sit down Do not be to
long, DEAR he added to his daughter
: eve shall be ready in minute. papa,
) replied Maggie.
Scarcely, L think" said the rector
laughing. 'But do not forget / break
tasted at seven this morning"
"What Il nice fellow your cousin must be
Maggie! fancy his taking the trouble t
gather these lovely roses. wish coul,
see them" she added with sigh. "Bu
Maggie, dear, what do you think? on
doctor in London told papa that perhaps
might some day recover my sight. / do 81
hope he is right. He wanted to galvaniz
me, or something."
"Of course he is right, dear; he neve1
would have been SO cruel. He could no
have held out hopes if he were not quite
st1re!"
"Oh Maggie, fancy? Just fancy being
able to see the sea, the sky, the flowers
and you, you, darling, once again. But il
is too good to be true. 1t is quite impossi-
ble!" A weary sigh closed the sentence.
"Not impossible, dear. So let us hope
for the best. Hope and pray and trust in
Gods mercy"
Jessie bent down and kissed her kind
friend, and then the two girls had ''good
cry'' together.
Nearly two months passed away and
still the party at Wittlcsleigh rectory re-
mained the same. To those of my readers
who have stayed in sweet South Devon.
need not explain the pleasant life which
young people can, and believe do, lead
in that land Of picnics. Love in these lati-
ludes ripens with the strawberries, and
comes as natural as cream; so the young
couples at the rectory paired off almost I'M
consciously. Such an arrangement in the
case of Algy Vernon and Maggie Denne
was not surprising, for they had been ac-
quainted from childhood. Mrs. Vernon
and the late Mrs. Denne had been school
mates. They had never severed the friend
ship thus initiated, and what was more
natural than the affection entertained by
the parent should descend to the children?
Atany rate, Algy was deeply in love with
the pretty Maggie, and she, though not SO
preoccupied respecting him, thought her
old friend very nice indeed, and, if the
trtth was told, preferred him to all her nu-
merous admirers.
But Frank Carson aid Jennie Hamblyn
had no such excuse. Yet the influence of
the Devonshire air was such as to kindle
spark, which showed symptoms of burst
ing out into very decided flame indeed.
The train of sympathy was laid, it requir-
ed but that spark to be applied to it, and
then the barriers of prudence would give
way before the explosion If Algernon
and Maggie understood each other, SO did
Frank and Maggie, and the numerous ex-
cursions and picnics in which they passed
the afternoons only served to rivet their
bonds closer.
One sultry afternoon a last excursion
was planned to the Fairy Glenn. The party
had been increased on this occasion by
three couples from a neighboring parish,
and despite the threatening appearance of
certain huge masses Of cloud, the expedi- |
ion started The romantic spot which
siaggie-no mean judge in these matters
1ad selected for the AFTERNOON meal was
)ne Of those lovely bits of landscape SO IA
niliar to many of us. A braWling stream
makes its way amidst moss-covered houl- I
lers, over pebbly shadows and swirls be-,
heath the Wild flowers beneath its banks.
Then gliding calmly into all unrutfled pool,
t lazily creeps beneath the picturesque
bridge, through the single arch of which
ncient structure the moor is seen extending
is wild and rlidulating curves. And then
he water, secure in its pride Of high birth
Ii yonder hills, takes no heed Of the mar
ow passage till ere it is aware, it is caught
he sea, where it is lost forever.
Such were the features of the woodland
on that eventful day-a day
ever to be forgotten by any member of
hat merry party.
The cloth was soon laid beside the
tream, and when all was ready full jus
ice was done to the al fresco meal. More
han once a muttered growl or subdued
oil was heard over the hills, but the sug-
estion of thunder was met by the reply
hat the sound was merely the echoes Of
he blasting operations in the qrtarries or
be rattling of the trucks on the neighbor-
lg tramway.
The air got more and more sultry and
ven the insects seemed to sleep. The
-ees whispered to each other, and their
opmost branches waved gentle welcome ,
} the scarcely felt breeze that stirred the
,aves. The picnic party broke into groups
fter dinner; the groups into pairs, each
the others not to go too far, as
lere was storm brewing. Frank and
essie did not wander away. Escorted by :
lgernon and Maggie to a rustic seat above
,e stream, close to a tall and sheltering !
zee, they sat together while the most ven
lresome OF the party climbed the tall :
ocks or wandered up the stream, leaping
ON stone to stone, where much assistance +
al holding Of hands was q necessity.
Oh, We Devon streams, for what are ye
Of responsible? How many happy faces /
: have mirrored in your sparkling waters. |
Frank and Jessie chatted for some time \
4 Indifferent subjects, until at last she
l |
ghcd deeply, and said half absently: i
s'Oh, how very sorry | shall be to have !
leave here! have been SO happyi"
hen she added suddenly, Every one has
zen 10 very kind to mel" Ii
~ am dreadfnlly sorry you must go, T q