The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-05-20

merry succession. Other young people
were invited to the Naples, adding To and
enjoying the holiday.
If Mrs. Denleigh had had more leisure
in which to observe the signs of the times
she might have discovered her error in
regard to Prince: but her duties rs hos
tess to so much company left her little
leisure to make Investigations.
The sisters were seldom far apart ond
seeing Prince generally near ANY She
did not suspect that she had jumped 10 a
hasty and wrong conclusion.
But this is not the mistake of nv story
1 must go on to tell You that bonnv
| Prince Wiuslcw, full of youth and grace,
but equally full of conflicting hope and
fear. came lightly up the Maple avenue,
one morning, and found the psrlors and
| library deserted.
He had entered unannounced at the
open hall door, expecting, usual. 70
meet some of the ladies; but no one was
/ to be seen, and, passing on, he seated
himself in the little music-room, where
he knew Honor usually came at eleven
o'clock to practice.
He had seated himself and carelessly
taken up n book, when he heard carnage
wheels grind the gravel of the drive, and
in a moment servant condueted
young gentleman into the parlor
His elegant appearance and evident
eager anticipation of meeting some one,
instantly attracted Prince attention. A
sudden fear had come over him when
there was rustic of silk and a hight
step, and Honor advanced into the
apartment.
"Ronald!" she exclaimed.
The stranger sprang TO meet hei,
ceived both her outstretched hands III
e;tber of his and then raised first the one
and then the other to his lips. frllce
could not see Honor's face; but the JOY
of the gentleman S therewas no mlstaHiilS.
"How is my darling? Tell me- lie
said
Prince could play eavesdropper no
longer. He advanced into the room.
II beg your pardon. Is Mrs. Den
leigh in?' he said
Honor turned with a start, but instinc-
lively regained her self possession.
''Auntie has gone to see n sick neigh
Dor, Mr.. Winslow Let me introduce
you TO an old friend, Mr. Raleigh.
If poor Prince was almost speechless,
Mr.. Ronald Raleigh was ease and vivacity
itself. He seemed overfiowing with
happiness which, to Prince, at least,
was not contagious.
In few minutes he had turned his
back upon the Naples, not TO return. 1t
had been brief, bright time; but all a
delusion. Honor could not care for him.
She was engaged to another, and all MS
love had been in vain.
The dregs of his bright glass were bit
ter enough; but Mrs. Denleigh, discern
holf tho ft-r,fb Oh Pol.
during few DAYS Prince was invisible
at her house-remembered her duty, to
call upon her neighbor, Mrs. Winslow.
If she had had opportunity to tell
Prince what she believed, she would have
builded better than she knew; but Primo,
fast growing misanthropic, had put ltis
gun over his shoulder and started for the
woods, to avoid her.
There he passed the long day, while
Mrs. Denleigh, after waiting long in vain
for his return, re-entered her pony
pheton, much vexed.
"This making matches is the most
trying work Why couldn't he have
fallen in love with HONOR" she said.
Meanwhile Honor, who knew the
truth, and all the truth, was remember
ing distressfully that she was a woman
and that all the advances must come
IIOIu a HAL. lie AllllG luI luClI
ure from Redfield was drawing near.
Mr.. Raleigh, at her suggestion, was an
invited guest at the Naples. And day
after day passed and Prince did not come
near.
In fact. that young gentleman was
talking of long projected plan OF his Tor
going to Europe. At length Honor
heard of this.
"Mr. Winslow will not go abroad
without coming to see you, auntie, |
hope" she observed one day.
'.I shall be very much offended If
he does" remarked Mrs. Denleigh
promptly.
Pitying Prince, whom she sincerely
liked, and partly blaming herself for the
sorrow that had come upon him, she sent
him a note, bidding him come to the
Naples. She wrote:
"Don't be foolish boy. If You knew
what noble girl Honor is, you would
blush at your foolishness in loving such
a little goose as Amy. But come to the
Naples at once; / shall never forgive
you if you allow my nieces to go home
without your most courteous farewellF'
Princes brow ached with thought and
grief. and he did not make much OF tins
letter. He recognized Mrs. Denleighs
old error, however, that he loved Amy
II will not be rude, and offend all my
friends" he said. screwed up his cour-
age to the sticking point, and went to
the Naples.
1t chanced that he again crossed the
familiar portal unannounced. and found
the reception rooms unoccupled. but
in the same moment there was light
footstep, the rustic of silks, and Honor,
Il ~
face.
II thought was afraid you were not
coming again." she said softly.
He stood holding her delicate hand; he
could not speak for moment
Honor" he said, at last, ''I forced
myself to come here to-day. 1t was hard
to see you again.
"Why?" she asked.
There was something strangely gentle
and yielding in the soft brown eyes, and
in spite of that troublesome mistake,
they stood so near together she could
feel the heavy beating of his heart.
Because" he said, with unconscious
reproach in his blue eyes, 81 love You;
and l saw your meeting with Mr.. Ra-
leigh"
/ Honor had been unusually pale. The
color came brightly now into her smooth,
olive cheeks, as she turned and pointed
! through the window at one of the garden
walks.
Amy and Mr. Ronald Raleigh we're
strolling there.
''You made very natural mistake. y
she said simply. ''Will you let me tell
you how it is %
He bowed, and they sat down, side by
side.
"Amy and have long lived with an
uncle and aunt who are not on good
terms with Mr.. Raleigh's people. But
for this he is not to blame, and is him
self unexceptional in character. For a
year past he and Amy have loved each
other. Ronald, however, could never
visit her, and they were both very un-
happy, until decided it to be right that
I should befriend Ronald. For their
sakes first suggested this visit that
they might meet here. Aunt Helen was
~ ha l<k. 1.r,k Il, L. L