The Virginia star., 1882-12-09


upon the hotel register of the Royal
Hotel, Brighton.
And the same day Caleb Worthington
took long glorious holiday, and car
ried BERTHE off to his native towns
struggling world-forgotten little place
among the hills.
And in the long scented summer DAYS
that followed, the girl grew to love
everything animate and inanimate round
Poppy Farm.
One evening she loitered in the great
sloping gardens before the verandahed
green shuttered house.
Such gardens
Not the painfully regular Dutch dia-
grams we city folks boast-prim. con-
else, boxhedge-but whele sheets Of
color, fragrant, luxuriant, bloomful.
A gentleman passing, young, good
looking, grey-clad, paused suddenly
outside the low rustic fence.
A moment more and he had vaulted
over and was standing, bareheaded, al
Bertie's side.
Miss Worthington, may l hope am
| not forgotten 2"
"Mr. Carlyn r
She held out little tanned hand, q
hot glow kindling under the big straw
gardening. hat.
II have been absent from West Row
some time" he said, looking quizzically
at the bright changeful face under the
shadow hat ssbut Mrs. Dent and are
very old friends.
$50 being terribly behind-hand in my
visits to Poppy Farm, I intend now tt
take advantage of the weather and atone
for my neglect"
Somehow Bertie fell to thinking tina
night, as she sat in the shadow of th'
rosy chintz curaius, of Cordelia's las
scornful words
81 suppose you'll have some countr,
admirers in that almost mythical Wes
Row, but don't lose your heart, BERTHE
They're all the same, these rustic
beaux awkward, blushing, stupid.
| And then she thought of Reuben Car
lyn's easy courteous manner. his quie
gentlemanly grace
| "And if Mr.. Carlyn is country far
mer, Mr.. Moon," said BERTHE coolly
apostrophizing the placid smiling fac
in the sky above her, "I-well, I don
really dislike country farmers, that's all
+ And three days later she wrote Coz
della long recrossed letter, saying sh
was going to marry West Row bo
and live in West Row for ever"
And Cordelia replied frigidly tina
they had always known (Bertie) woul
disgrace the family.
"You don't mind being a farmer
wife, pet ?" Reuben questioned eagerly
Mind
"Of course mind, sir.
"But when there is no other way {
satisfying troublesome boy
"By-the-way, when shall see th
farm?'
''Soon, my darling"
Caleb Worthington chuckled an
laughed as he read Cordelia's letter.
"Pack up, BERTHE; we must be HON
as soon as mamma.
sour pleasant holiday is over.
"Don't look so forlorn, little on,
Carlyn's coming up too"
1t was evening when the trio reache
the city.
The carriage rolled through th
fashionable thoroughfares and stoppe
before great mansion.
Lights cleaned from within, lace cul
tains futtered at the windows.
Reuben sprang out and held his han
to BERTHE.
Bewildered. she passed with him, he
father following, up the steps and int
the long lighted drawing-room.
A little silver-haired old lady, in
dark rustllng SILK, came DrlSkly forward
"Welcome, my dear.
Don't you know me?
"I'm Reuben's mother"
} And then, as in dream, BERTHE sa'
her father shaking hands with the dimir
utive person in black, and Reuben kiss
ing her heartily.
Then as Caleb Worthington caugl
sight of Bertie's bewildercd face,
burst into shout of laughter.
cit is all right, Bert but what COZ
spiracy it was to be sure.
"Reuben's the son of my old frien
Jim Carlyn.
"He was badly smitten that day
my Office, and got up the romantic nc
ton of winning you for love.
"He's done it. my girl, he's done it.
Sand aren't you country farmer
Reuben laughed, and canght the littl
wondering face in his white hands.
"I'm West Row boy. was born an
lived there, own nice place down ther
/ Il -