The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-01-27

Constance Baintree she is now; she
married Charley two years after my last
visit. And bright, merry Kate is dead
NV second letter, being evidently q
business one, claims nv first attention
It is from the mother of my eldest pupil.
She is going abroad, and wishes my
charge to accompany her My three
! other pupils are at present in scarlet
fever My hands will be empty! What
shall / doP Look for temporary en-
ploymentP should like to take holi-
day, but know of nowhere to go just
now.
Now for Constance:
1--WE have just come home from
abroad" she writes, land are settling
in our new home, though IL is a
wretched time of year. / do want you
so much to come and see me. Perhaps
my reasons are partly selfish, for he
will not see company yet, and | am
dreadfully dull and lonely, but know
that will be no raw back to you"
| Size then goes on to say good deal
that is kind, and adds in q postscript:
81 said we were alone, but l forgot tc
mention that an old friend, or rather ac-
quaintance, is with US whom l dare say
you will remember in by-gone days
Mr.. Bargtll! We came upon him at
Basle, when Charey was dangerously
i'll, and his kindness / shall never for
get. l am SO sorry that I ever laughed
ut or teased him, dear Ethel; he saved
nv husbands lifel D. come"
That is all. And what strange sup
plement TO my meditations of the past
hour. How the Old familiar names re-
call the old days. | am at Barfield
again, young and happy as of old Con.
stances Invitation is tempting one. l
should like to see her again in'her new
home; and Mr. Bargill ? l smile as |
remember the valentines, and / think
On the whole should like to see him
again, too! 1t is decided. l will 60
and sit down and write to that effect.
Three days later, at five O'Clock on a
cold winters evening, / am driven up
the avenue at Braintree, trying hard,
through the dusk and the drifting sleet,
to catch q glimpse of my friends new
home. A double row of stately lime
trees on each side of the drive is all th at
l can see, and az we draw nearer IDer-
ceive fiue old E.izabe han house nearly
covered with ivy and creepers. 1t has
been the home OF the Braintrees for
many generations, and has just descended
to Charley from an uncle.
A bright light streamed forth when
the door was onened, and Constance
stood in the hall ready to receive me
with open arms In a second | was in
II Cozy little room with bright fire,
where Law her husband, looking not
much older, but pale and delicate from
his recent illness.
Constance led me to my room, and on
leaving me, said.
we have just few friends coming
tonight, dear; you won't mindp / II
send you my maid, ana without wait
ing for an answer, she was gone.
did mind" but there was no help
Tor it, Constance was always fond of
spciety. | dressed mysel as well as nv
limited wardrobe " ould allow, and she
presently returned and escorted me to
the drawing.Ioom, where about fourteen
persons were assembled; but among
them all not one face was fami liar to me
save that of my host.
IquieLly tnsconced myself in q win
dow recess, where | was partly hidden
by curtain. My eyes wandered for a
moment rather anxiously over the group
IN a vain hope that might discover
MIR. Btrgill, but in vain. No one was
known to me there.
Dinner was announced. The party
paired off. AS sat wonde ling who my
partner was to be, Constance touched
the arm OF a portlv-looking lnan who sat
with his back 10 me, engaged in earnest
conversation. He rose ut once, and she
led him up to me.
An old friend, Ethel. Mr.. Bargill,
you rememb ber Miss VaneP"
Was it possiblep Was the fine-look.
ing man before me the "shy curate" OF
former daysp No need to ask if he
remembered me. He gave start, and
colored visibly, when she uttered my
name, and then l saw plainly the resem.
hlance which | had failed to detect at
irst. He recognized me at once, too
| saw that, and it was no small pleasure
to think that times ravages had not
altered me In his eyes, at least beyond
recognition.
1 went into ttc dining-room on his
arm, and after the first few scnte ices
our conversation ever tagged. | then
discover cd how in mind as well rs in
body he had developed and improve |;
or ratl er, having gained in assurance
and nanliness. those qualities which l
imagiL ed he always had possessed were
suffered to come to the surface, while
that stiffness OF manner which we Ii nd
called conceit, and hioh now felt sure
had proc o e9ded from shyness, had van
ished altogether.
When returned to the drawing
room, no longer felt myself alone in
the company. | talked indiderently to
my next neighbor, hardly conscious
who or what she might be, nv eye
meanwhile watching the door with
anxiety, until at last the hum OF voices
outside told that the gentlemen were
coming.
There was a vacant seat beside me.
Would he take itP Yes, he was evil
deptly coming toward me. NV heart
throbbed loudly when down upon the
chair had guarded sat tat old coun-
try squire who began to make himself
agreeable to my next neighbor. l felt
mortified and disappointed, and soon
afterward took an opportunity of retir-
ing to my old seat in the window
| had not sat there many minutes
when the curtain was drawn aside, and
Mr.. B irgill placing a chair for himself
in my recess, sat down beside me.
"Mr. Bargill," cried out Constance's
little girl, running up to US, "just look
at my valentine! Isn't it a beautyp l
have had such lot. but this is the pref
tiest of them all, and / cannot find out
who sent it. Do you knowP | believe
it was you. Now, wasn't itP Tell the
truth"
mo, Carrie it was not l."
81 believe it was, lhough," she per-
sisted. I'm sure it wal"
"No, Carrie, indeed" he answered,
while grave smile hovered round his
mouth, never sent but one valentine
in all my life, and that"
"Well, and thatp"