The news., 1882-02-09

myself grow hot all over. They went
on talking and laughing, but I did
not hear word that they said.
Noiselessly | crept back into the
house up to my own room, lighted the
candle, and looked into the little mus
liu-draped glass that hung above the
homemade dressing table.
Stiff, ugly, and an old maidl The
latter | certainly was not, at four
and twenty. Stiff, I might be-wbo
could avoid that, in the presence Of
utter strangers, surrounded by do
mestic atmosphere that was entirely
novel-t me? And ugly-was l that2
looked into the glass, to see hair
banded straight back from pale oval
face, eyes heavy with WEAKNESS,
cheeks quite colorless. Did he think
always looked like that? He should
see!
So went to bed, and cried myself
to sleep.
The next morning, | got up and
dressed myself with care. brushed
the soft crimped masses of jet-black
hair away from my temples, and fas.
tened spray of coral red wild berries
which / had gathered on the roadside
into it, and knotted my loose scarlet
silk nsck-tie under my lace collar,
smiled to see the soft glow of color
that was returning to my cheeks, the
brilliance to my eyes.
My dress was of black cashmere,
enlivened here and there by bow Of
scarletribbo instead of the gray trav-
cling suit / had worn the evening be-
fore, and it fitted me as if had grown
into it.
al don't think ] am quite 60 ugly
as | was last night" I thought. "But
if Mr.. Mildmay don't like me, Of
course I cannot help it."
So I went down stairs. Uncle
Blake stared at me over his spectacle
glasses.
"Mercy on us!' cried Mrs. Jonas;
"what has the girl been doing to her
sslf3"
"Some one must have changed her
of while she slept" said Barbara, run.
ing up to me and giving me 3 kiss.
Walter Mildmay said nothing; he
only drank bis coffee.
: How enjoyed the next fortnight
The weather was beautiful and balmy
beyond all description, We had NUT
ting expeditions, and boating parties,
and long walks to gather brilliant
autumn leaves. At night we sat
around the blasiugs logs, and, on the
few rainy days. Mrs. Jonas showed
me- how to make butter, and Barbara
took me into the great garrett, where
there were chests Of old relics, piles Of
books and papers, aud all the antique
belongings Of whole rentury of
Blskes. a s4
But ell this tine Walter MiIdmsy
kept his quiet distaucey and, to save
my life, I could not tell whether he
still thought me . 'fstiH, ugly cid
maid, = or not.
And thss game the hHskiHg frolic.
The barn w>s sll illumirated by
candles, stuck in tin seonces, along
the sides--I had never seen 90 wild
and gomsptie Q sight, The neighbor-
hood gathered to the gals. Mrs, 10,
aaa and Barbara hsd been baking
cakes and butterisg sandwiches all
day; while Uncle Blake had rolled a
barrel ofsparkling new cider close to
The barn door. Merry laughter
sounded, bright faces glanced to and
fro 10 the Rembrsnd tesaue light Of
the candles, while ever and sson, ,sths
tens Of aute and fiddIe.tuuing up Ia
tbs bern loft v4s plainly audible.
| Aad been helping Mrs. Jonas to
put the icing on tke big fruit cake
which held the ring, aad 1t Was late
when I came into the big, sweet-smell.
ing, echoing barn. with my black
cashmere dress al sprinkled with cher,
ry-fed bows, and cluster of deep
scarlet autumn leaves in ny hair,
"Here's Olgs!" cried my Cousin
Jonas, cheerily "Come here, littl.
Olga and sit by me, and I'll give yor
some ears to husk." t
1 laughed and nestled down int,
the hay, close at his side; and just q
this moment a storm Of merry rusti
laughter rose oa the air.
l. faThe. red earl the red carp the,
cried, in chorus, clapping their hand
and cheering vehemently, "Walte
Mildmay has got the red ear"
blocked at Cousin Jonas in bewild
| armanf