The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-19

ly and proffered help which was gladly ac-
cepted. To his experienced powers the cliff
presented no Difficult les, and in five
minutes the rescued terrier was in his mis-
tress's arms, and the sweet voice which
Robert knew so well was uttering cordial
thanks.
The dog had famed himself in his fall and
limped and whined when set down. Anoth-
er opportunity. MAY not carry him home
fo- you?" Robert asked.
''You are quite too good. fear you will
find him troublesome"
"Oh. not at all. | like dogs" So the two
walked on over the cliffs, with sea vistas on
one hand and mountain glimpses on the 9th
er, and before they reached the little brown
cottage in the field, Roberts shyness had fled
under the spell of his compani)n's cordial
ease and tact, and he found himself talking
huently and with pleasure as he had never
talked to lady before in all his life.
"What beautiful viewf' he said, gazing
seward from the door of the cottage.
81 think so. It is my favorite of all the
many beautiful views at Bar Harbor. You
must come and see it often, Mr.. Arnold. My
little piazza is quite at your Sc vice am at
ternoon if you want quiet place in which
TO study or smoke, and cannot find one to
taste at Rodick's. l never use it myself, ex-
cept in the morning and evening; but hope
me- Thank you so much for your kindness
10 Tatters."
''What frank, charming creatuieW
thought Robert, as he made his way across
the stubble fields toward the hotel. SLOW
few girls are capable of such unaffected sin
cerily, without any hesitations or drrieres
pepsees. Dear me! if they only knew what
attraction it isr' Which reflection might
lead to a doubt as to whether Mr.. Arnold's
e fl,a1 II y L.,
had not been blessed to his perceptive facul
ties.
Saw you walking with Miss Musgrove,
and carryin' her dawg," remaI ked the clerk
with a grin, as he came in. Didn't know
you at first. Thought maybe twas him
come back
Hm?-who? Robert was too proud to ask,
but tie pronoun ranked in his mind.
Not for long, however. AS time went on,
and acquaintance progressed with his charm
er, and no ''hm" appeared to mar the har-
monious flow of events, abe circumstance
passed from his memory. He went often to
the little brown cottage in the stubble field,
spending solitary afternoons there with a
cigar and neurological treatise, and n low
aud then morning tete a-tete with its lair
mistress. Sunset usually brought rush of
oilers to the piazza, and their appearance
was a signal for fight Quite at his ease now
with Miss Musgrove he was shy and difficult
of access as ever to all others. He invaria-
bly, reconnoitered the premises from point
of observation in the fields, and the futter
of alien petticoats on the porch would suffice
| to send him back again to the hotel.
Miss Musgrove, who treated him with the
| frankness of an older sister, rallied him oc-
casionally on this popularity.
81 can't help it, he would say, lit is my
bringing up"
But you are not shy with me.''
"No; but that is different. You are So
what shall call it?-so simpatica. You I'M
derstand-you put me at ease"
$50 would these other ladies pretty soon if
| you gave them a chance.
But Robert only shook his head.
| So, Tapped in a foolish paradise. unwilling
| or unable to analyze the deepening spell
which held him, Robert Arnold drifted
| through July, through August, and into the
| heart of that golden September which is only
| known to the dwellers of the North lands,
| and suddenly, like frost in ripe roses, came
the blight of hope. Miss Musgrove went
| suddenly away for couple OF days-to
Portland, her maid said. People were quit
ting the island in shoals by that time, the ho-
tells were nearly empty, and the loneliness
of two days was in part accounted for by
the empty tables and the closed rooms. But
| when the third morning came. and Robert,
| with sense of reviving life, stood ready to
| help his friend from her blackboard, the ap-
palling apparition Of gentleman sitting at
her side presented itself-a broad shoulder
ed, handsome, brown naval officer, with an
evident air of proprietorship about him,
which was as unpleasant as it was unac-
countabe.
who is that?" Robert demanded of the
clerk, who had come out, as usual, at the
sound of the wheels.
''That? why that's him."
"Her brother?'
mo; she hain't got no brother as ever
heard. That's him. tell you-Miss Mus
groves husband. He lootenant or some
thin, and his ships been cruising down to
the Isthmus."
''You said she was Miss Musgrove."
"Waal, so she is"
And then it flashed upon Robert that in
| the island vernacular married women and
| girls were alike "miss," with the difference
Of letter in photography, but no difference
| at all in pr Anunciation. He saw it all now.
| Such a stupid, such a ridiculous mistake as
| it was! But the consequences were no less
| hard to bear.
He went TO his room, and sat down to
thipk il over. The more he reviewed the
matter, the more unnecessary his sutferings
seemed to him, and the more distinctly his
own fault. Beginning with wrong i'm
pi ession, he had never given himself a
Chance to correct it. he had shrunk With a
foolish shyness from people, when half an
hour of their company would have revealed
the truth. One question, the most triflng
accident in the world would have revealed
it; but he had never asked the question,
and always prevented the accident. The
girls called her Lila; he had avoided using
any name, with the instinct of lover, when
he spoke to her, and had said 'you," while
of her he never spoke except to himself. So
he had gone on and on, plungir deeper and
deeper into vain affection, and what fool
he had been! The only comfort was that she
had not been in the least to blame, and that
she need never know his mistake, or the pain
it caused him.
A little note reached the brown cottage
that afternoon.
"Dear Mrs. Musgroye,-I am leaving Bar
Harbor SO suddenly that have no opportunity
to make my farewell to you. A chance has Of
fered for meteorological tour IN the provinces,
and when this note reaches you l shall be on
nav way to the Grand Menan Please accept
my most cordial thanks for all your many kind
nesses to me. and with my congratulations on
Lieut. Musgrove's safe return, believe me,
Yours faithfully,
ROBERT ARNOLD
Mrs. Musgrove, sitting on her piazza with
her sailor beside her, read this farewell bill
let smiingly.
'sHe was really nice boy,'' she said, .'shy
and stiff, you know, but of good stuff. You
would have liked him, Ned"
So, with an unconscious heart on shore,
and a sad and sore one at sea, ended the
b,ief and tragic romance of the Hauled
Mealer.''
Wit and Wisdom.
"Mr. Gladstone accepted his defeat" said q
sharp-witted Wing, referring to the Premier's
e; fo nxuifh nafianca