The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-07-05

And when she lifted the obnoxious
green veil moment, to conclude some
necessary arrangement, Clifford Chan
dos started ever so slightly as he saw
the pretty, glrlish face before him, as
serene and dignifled in its grave bust
ness like composure as though its owner
were eghtand- fifty instead of eight
and-teu.
when will you look at the place,
Miss
"Raynerl" supplemented Viva.
"Miss Rayner. Shall we say to NOR
row at one Yn
"At two, If as convenient"
Certainly. Two, If preferable.
Then he held the door open as courte-
ously as though she wore sealskin and
diamonds, while with quiet grace she
bowed slightly and passed from the
room.
And Clifford Chandos went slowly
back to his chair a softer light in his
keen gray eyes, and actually for once in
his life he forgot to reight his cigar.
- X
The day came at last when, from the
stuffy city house, the Rayners moved to
the pretty, roomy, raftered cottage,
where honeysuckle and wild roses strag-
gled 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 aud laughed
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 bosterous laughter.
1t was curious all the repairing that
cottage needed after they moved in. 1t
was more curious that their quiet, hand
some landlord should insist on super
vising it all himself.
He grew into their simple lives in
those days. Mrs. Rayner came to think
the CHEEKY voice better than any medi-
cine, 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- fingers" as the
children call them, over the door, Viva
snatched up her hat and strolled down
to the pretty rustic gate.
Just a 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, Il fair, girlsh figure
in her soft white dress, a great bunch 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-bloom 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 foot
fall.
''Good evening, Miss Rayner."
She turned suddenly, the faint flush
deepening to carnation.
GOOD evening, Mr.. Chandos."
think person can give one very
tolerable shake hands without holding
ones fingers quite "a minute. But ap-
parently Mr.. Chandos thought differ
emily.
" Miss Rayner, will you come for a
walk-just a little way down the road
There is snowy place there should
like to have you see."
He asked pleadingly, hurriedly, as
though fearful of refusal
"ls it far?'
NO." eagerly; 'quite near. Besides
Miss Viva, l 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 ~
"Yes. Viva, l want to ask you to
leave Rose cottage"
Was he mad
"To leave Rose cottagen she repeat
ed, blankly.
She stopped short, and looked up at
him with brown, bewildered eyes.
care you not satisfied with us as ten.
ants? What will mamma say ?"
81 did not ask your mother to leave
Rose cottage''-and his voice was trem.
bling and low" asked you ~
"Me? Why, Mr.. Chandos-"
She broke off abruptly as he saw th,
look in the eyes of the man regarding
her. Such look as would make NOR,