The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-18

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eight-and-ten. IT.
When will you look At the plaEA
N FL y. 4
"Rayner supplemented Viva.
"Miss Rrayner. Shall we say to-
morrow at one?"
"At two. if as convenient"
Certainly. Two, if preferable"
Then he held the door open as
courteously as though she wore seal
skin and diamonds, while with a
quiet grace she bowed slightly and
passed from the room.
And Clifford Chandos went slowly
back to his chair, softer light in his
keen gray eyes, and actually for
once in his life forgot to relight his
cigar.
II y X
The day came at last when, from
the stuffy city hIuse, the Rayners
moved to the pretty, roomy, raft cred
cottage. where honeysuckle and wild
roses struggled at their own sweet
will over roof and porch.
And Viva, coming home from the
dusty city three evenings in the week,
pale and tired, frightened and laugh
ed her own low, happy laugh at the
sight of her mothers face-grown
young again-at the window, at the
sound of Dick and Jessie's beisterous
laughter.
1t was curious all the repairing that
cottage needed after they moved in.
1t was more curious that their quiet,
handsome landlord should insist on
supervising it all himself.
He grew into their simple lives in
those days. Mrs. Rayner came to
tink the CHEEKY voice better than any
medicine, the children to shout Justify
at sight of him, and Viva to listen
for the sound of his firm footstep on
the garden path.
One evening, when the soft May
wind was swaying the "lady-fngers, E"
as the children call them, over the
door, Viva snatched up her hat and
strolled down to the pretty rustic
gate.
Just little more tired than usual
after desperate struggle to teach an
irritably obtuse pupil the mysteries
Of crotchets and quavers and demi-
semi-quaVers.
She stood there, fair, girlish figure
in her soft white dress. great hunch
of blue meadow-violets at her slender
throat and waist. The scented wind
gently loosened the dark brown hair
and blew a fitful drift of rose-bIeom
into the pure, pale face.
Very pretty?
Well, Clifford Chandos thought so,
at all events, as he came along the
uneven country road with his light,
firm football.
"Goed evening, Miss Rayner !"
She turned suddenly, the faint flush
deepen ng to carnation.
"Good evening, Mr.. Chandos I"
think a person can give one a very
tolerable' shake hands without hold
ing ones fingers quite minute. But
apparently Mr.. Chandos thought
differently.
miss Rayner, will you come for a
walk-just a little way down the
road? There is show place there
should like to have you see."
He asked pleadingIy, hurriedly. as
though fearful of refusal.
"Is it far? ?"
mo-" eagerly; "quite near. Be-
sides Miss Viva, have something to
tell you-or, rather, ask you"
They were already strolling slowly
on. She paused and looked up in
vague alarm.
ITO ask me, Mr.. Chandos 2"
YES viva, want to ask you to
leave Rose COTTAGE"
Was he mad?
To leave Rose cottage |" she repeat
ed, blanKly.
She stopped short, and looked up
at him with brown, bewildered eyes.
Are you not satisfied with us as
tenants? What will mamma say p,
II did not ask your mother to leave
Rose cottage"-and his voice was
trembling and low-"I asked you v'
"MeH Why, Mr.. Chandos-"
She broke off abruptly as she saw
the look in the eyes of the man re-
gardinp her. Snch q look as would