The Portland daily press., 1880-09-15


were dsorderly and we didn't succeed in
getting interested; it was evident that Spen-
ser's thoughts were elsewhere, and at last
we went down stairs again. Miss Hallowell
had gone upstairs with us at first, but had
discovered that it was not warm enough
and soon left us. 1t was such jolly house
to be in; one could not help having a good
time. The very atmosphere was suggestive
of comfort and late breakfasts, and doing as
one pleased. There seemed to be no re-
straint and every hing was so comfortable
and in such capital good taste! The SER
wants whom we saw treated us with respect
enough to satisfy even Harvard junior. and
| they seemed as lull of fun and good nature
as ourselves.
Presently Miss Hallowell called to us to
come into the parlor.
YOU'RE not going to leave me to myself
| all the evening"" she said persuasively,
''even if I am stupid? Mr.. Spenser plays |
| have heard, and know you both sing; can't
| you give me some music"
And thereupon Spenser, who was musical
and who had piano in his room at college,
| was delighted to play for some time, and
| then we sang some of the new tunes which
| Miss Alice hadn't heard and some of the old
| ones which she liked, and then she played
| for us-first some gay music, and afterward
plaintive tune which made me feel for
| saken and poor Spenser was quite overcome.
| | shouldn't like to say for certain that he
| kept his eyes wide open without winki g
until the tears came: but happened to be
watching him, and it looked uncommonly
| like it. It's too bad to tell you that, for he
| is one of the best fellows in the world; but
| he was young, and he wished 10 make a
good impression, and he sat with his hand
over his eyes looking at Miss Hallowell be-
tween his fingers. Such aheavenly look as
he gave her when she stopped playing! and
he said so gently that it was just the kind of
| music that he liked / had heard Dick say
| great deal about her playing and / must
confess, although know nothing about it,
| it didn't strike me as being at all extra
ordinary. But she looked like beauty.
| with the freight making her eyes seem
I darker and her hair more golden. and
| begged her to play something else. 81
wish you could sing" said Dick
/ with great politeness, considering that
| she was his sister. and then
they laughed as if there some joke
and she answered that she was sorry she
| couldn't, but he could see how hoarse she
was. She left the piano and sat in a low
| chair in the shadow of a screen, as she COM
| planned that the freight hurt her eyes,
Jack moved chair near hers, and they en-
| tered upon long conversation, and finally
| Dick and l adjourned to the library for a
| smoke, and talked over our own affairs in
| sensible fashion. 1 could see Miss Halo
well as she sat opposite the door; she looked
| pale and tired, and began to feel sorry
| about the cold. She was certainly very
| pretty girl, and remembered she had on a
very dark blue silk dress with a white rufle
| round her throat and bright yellow gold
| chain just under it. There was something
| SO pleasant and frank about her!-but some
| times she put on the little ways most girls
have in talking to gentlemen-so conscious
of themselves, and looking at you with that
| devoted little smile.
''Jack's in for it, sure enough said
| Dick to me, in eXultant whisper. Il
hoped there'd be a Irritation. Did you ever
see anything done better in all your life?'
and he shook with laughter, and then began
to talk about something else.
had no wish to change the subject and
said, Il should think he would enjoy her.
after having that stuck-up Miss Daneweight
| for lady-love' 1--WE somehow had never
approved of any of poor Jacks fames.)
"Alice is good looking girl. - said Dick
in a matter-of-fact way. ''You aren't hit
yourself, are you Phil?'-and then he went
on talking about running Jumps and stand
ing-jumps, the giant swing and other GYM
nasium affairs, and 1 wondered why his
| eyes twinkled so, and why he seemed so
full of the old Harry. He seemed so glad to
be at home, and that made me feel blue,
for | couldn't help thinking of my home,
which only a year or two before had been
broken up, and which / missed terribly.
We sat before the fire some time, and at
last began to grow sleepy; for l had got
up early that morning to do some studying
"a most uncommon piece of behavior on
my part-and between that and the journey,
the drive and the supper, my eyes kept shut
ting up. discovered my miserable state of
mind to Dick, who said he was sleepy, too,
and volunteered to keep me company. We
listened minute in the hall, and found
that Jack was repeating poetry. He looked
up at me in rather a shame-faced fashion
when l said good night to Miss Hallowell.
and eeenaad moro i'll at eaee than ever had
seen him. Dick said in casual way that
he should be down again presently, and we
dedarted.
Sentimental goosew said he, when we
were half way upstairs; ''he'll he made fun
OF if he goes far On that tack. l said [ was
coming down again just to start him off,
I'm afraid you've had stupid evening,
Phil; but Alice will be all right tomorrow
and We'll have no end of fun
put in remark not altogether cOmpli.
mentary to Spenser, f,r to tell the truth l
was little jealous and had a sense of being
left out of sight. When we were in nv
room Dick banged the door and rolled over
and over on wide sofa, laughing until he
was almost in Mysteries. l never had seen
the fellow behave so in all the time l had
known him. pounded him on the back
and shook him and made him sit UP, and
then gave my whole mind to finding out
what the matter was.
'Oh, cart tell you, old boyv' said he.
gasping, "but it's such a go! I'm afraid 1
never can keep it until tomorrow. If we
both knew it we should spoil it; but it's
such fun, and you shall know tomorrow
afternoon and my friend sat up and
wiped his eyes, and told me if everything
wasn't all right in the room to sing out. and
that should be called for breakfast, and
mustn't tell Spenser that any joke was COM
ing off. made another attempt to learn
the secret, But Dick scurried away down
stairs in self-defense.
In half an hour or so, when l was Just
going off to sleep, Spenser opened the door
OF his room, which was next to mine, and
was evidently much elated
:'Halloa! you aren't asleep?" said he.
isn't it larky place? wish we were go
ing to stay month"-and he whistled a
little and moved around the room briskly,
pulling his dressing-traps out of his travel
ing bag.
With a great struggle against jealousy
"iiu oiSSPlilOoo L odiu, kouc SluIlnGf,
isn't she, Spenser?" and he looked CRATE
full for this sympathy and gave me his opin-
ion OF Miss HallowelPs charms in a most
touchingly confidential manner.
"And the fact ISL said he, ''she is lonely
here, and don't wonder at it, There are
no young ladies near, and she says she has
grown up with her brothers. OF course she
is awfully fond of Dick, but you know he is
little rough sometimes, and he seems only
boy to her'-and Jack looked at himself
in the long dressing-glass as if there was
Miss Hallowelfsbeau ideal of what a young
gentleman ought to be. ''She says she al
ways has wished to see me, ever since Dick
used to write about me from Exeter. She
knows how to say nice thing to fellow.
and she means everything she says you can
tell she isn't trying to stuff you. That's
Daneweight's fashion,"
Then her sun has set, has it?'' | asked,
waking up little.
Don't be rough,' said Jack, placidly.
Ibid you see what stunning rings she |
wears?'
Next morning we had breakfast late, and |
had to hurry to get through in time to get to |
church. Spenser supposed Miss Uallowell |
was going, and l didn't care to stay home |
alone; but when the sleigh came round and |
we walked out of the library dressed in our
highest style, Dick said hat Miss Hallowel |
would not be of the party. Jack evidently |
Hished to stay at home to keep her com