, 1881-07-22
RECONCILIATION.

Some misunderstanding had arisen
between Miss Margaret Courtenay and
her lover, which on the very eve of the
wedding had resulted in the breaking off
of the marriage. Some time afterwards
Miss Courtenay found that she had been
too hasty in her decision, that the re-
ports she had received from well-mean-
ing friends were exaggerated, and in
many cases untrue; but the discovery
came too late for her to repair her error.
Mr.. John Elwell, her lover, had left for
California, and Margaret Courtenay
grew into an old maid.
This had happened twenty years ago;
and now, within the last fortnight, these
two had met again.
Brothers take but little interest in
their sisters love affairs, and moreover
Mr. Courtenay had long ago forgotten
the name of John Elwell. Therefore.
when, having gained a lawsuit, he asked
the lawyer he had retained (who hap
pened to be John Elwell) to run down
for few days with him to his country
seat, he had no idea he was bringing the
long separated lovers together.
But so it was. There was a start and
q bow, flush and a constrained shake of
the hands; and then there was a secret
between them, for neither confessed to
having known the other before. We
can scarcely, therefore, be surprised at
the pensiye attitude that Margaret has
assumed. A fortnight spent in coun-
try house in the wet month of February
is necessarily trying time to two poo
pie with a secret. Both had discovered
that the years had made no difference in
their feelings for one another, but both
were too diffident or proud to make any
overtures towards reconciliation.
There Is no doubt that many unfortu-
nate people have stumbled over this
same stone. Two people have honestly
and truly loved one another, but either
from pride or diffidence, or perhaps
bpth-the mutual confessions have never
been made, and the two lives which
might have flowed harmoniously to-
gether. diyerge in different channels.
1t Is oftentimes necessary to prevent
such a catastrophe, that third party
should step in and gently remove the
obstacle that prevents the union, and
here the much-abused Office of match
maker may honorably and fairly be
brought into play. No such friendly
mediator had stepped in between John
Elwell and Margaret Courtenay, and
offended pride on his side and prudish
reserve on hers were the stumbling
blocks over which they were tripping.
Margaret gave way still more to day
dreams, and John Elwen prolonged his
stay; but the divided streams still fought
against the stones and were sa far from
unity as ever.
Margaret's day dreams were, however,
broken in upon on this occasion by the
hero, John Elwell himself. who advanced
toward the fire, rubbing his hands with
satisfaction and exclaiming:
"Ah, Miss Courtenay nothing can make
a room look so cheerful as lady by the
fireside. I hope you were not caught in
the rain this afternoon"
ST was not out, returned Miss Courte-
nay. "At this time of the year morning
seems to be the best time for constitu-
tional exercise. ] walk between twelve
and one."
"'The Winters Walk at Noon.' What
is it Cowper says?
The night was winter In Its rsughest mood.
The morning sharp and clear. But not At noon.
Upon lhs southern side of the slant hills.
And where the woods ienee OF The northern blast
The season smiles. Iesigning ALI its rage.
And has the warmth or June"
.'May," corrected Margaret.
4OASCbLAA6
poetry. A man generally does unless he
has women and children about him."
''And very frequently when he has
them" said Miss Courtenay, looking Mt
the fire.
''True. Yet even should the poetic
nature die out of a man, there is GER
tain loveliness and softness infused into
his life by being brought into contact
NTH woman and fhildran
whilst often with women the love of
poetry drifts into sentimentalism, where
it isn't associated with the sterner COM
mon sense of men, said Margaret, speak
ing more to herself than to him.
'"That shows how dependent the one
sex is upon the other, and how it was
never intended that either should live
alone"
Miss Courtenay disereetly changed the
subject and began talking about the
papers had arrived, and discussed the va
ious kilograms.
Having been abroad so much, I nat
urally take an interest in what is going
on in the world" she said, and SO the
conversation drifted into different sub
jects.
1t wanted half an hour to dinner time,
and no other members of the house
hold had as yet made their appearance.
Gradually the conversation died away,
and these silly blunderers sat staring in
TO the fire as though they were trying to
find fresh fuel for discussion in the
flames.
Now and again a new topic was started,
frst by one and then the other; but as
neither seemed to- have much to say
they devoted their attention to the
thoughtful scrutiny of the fire. This
process of making conversation became
very irksome; Miss Margaret aroused
herself and determined to make more
vigorous effort; John Elwell did the
same; they both seized on subject
withdrew their gaze
from the fire, and opened their lips to