The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-02-04

oetn nne ana mild, nut toward the after
noon the sky grew all at once leaden, anc
the wind shifted to the northeast. Nov
the wind was rising aud the rain wa
f'l'ing-a cold, penetrating, impetuoui
drenehing ram.
For want of something better to dc
Seaton began to write letter; but h,
made slow work of it. For minutes to
gether be sat holding the pen listlessly
i'll his hand, leaning his arm wearil,
upon the table, listening, as We all lis.
ren when aloue. to what sounds may b,
going ON near us, from q feeling which
is not u curiosity, but more overpower.
ing.
Suddenly what must have been q very
light vehicle dashed swiftly down the
ruhd and drew up with great precision
at the door of the " Green Dragon, u
while the voice Of newcomer became
audible. Seaton, however, could only
catch few disconnected words, such as
"cau9ht in the rain- n--delicate--shel Ell
-Chiselhurst- closed csrriage"
Then the door opened, the landlord
presented himself upon the Threshold
and said in Il very pointed manner
"lf yon please, sir, a young lady driv-
ing over TO Sevenoaks in light, open
trap has been caught in the rain, and her
servant wrns TO know if 1 can give her a
sitting-room while no drives back to
Chiselhurst for IL closed crrlage.h
"And this is the only one you havep''
rejoined Seaton "Oh ask her in by all
means. However, am sorry the room
smells of smoke" he added, as he knock4
ed the ashes from his pipe.
Don't mention it, sir and thank you
very much, replis d the landlord.
In another moment the door opened
again, and the unexpected intruder enter
ed-a lady, tall and very graceful, hav-
ing pale, Madonna-like face and golden
hair shining like an aureole round a
small, classic head.
Seaton's face had grown white to the
very lips, and his voice quivered percap.
tibly as, extending his hand be said:
This is very unexpected meeting"
Very unexpected" echoed the lady,
removing her wet mantle and sitting
down on the leather sofa. The recogni-
ton had been mutual, but women, as a
general thing, have more self possession
than the sterner sex.
"Let me recommend this chair" said
Seaton, laying his hand upon the one
from which he had just risen. ..No,
thank you; Iprefer sitting away from the
fire."
~ am sorry the room should smell so
of tobacco" observed Seaton, after
pfeSstrg 'of h VISITOR. ia - - ~
She smiled rather forced smile by
way of answer, and Seaton folded elab-
orately and put into an envelope blank
sheet Of paper.
"The country is very beautiful around
here" he observed, writing his own maine
with great care upon the envelope.
"We have only been back from the
Continent six weeks, she observed, after
pause. Mamma has taken a house
near Chiselhurst. l was driving over to
Sevenoaks this morning, and was caught
in the rain and induced to. ask for shelter
here"
"And how is Mrs. Clarefe1d?.'
"D1amma is quite well, thank you.
Then, after a pause, in full, sweet, low
contralto voice, which had ring of inf
mite pathos, care you stopping here? ?"
"Hardly, said Seaton, with an assump
ton of gayety in his tone, "but I'll tel
you all about it. My friends kindly tool
it into their heads that 1 was sticking to-
closely to work-that l wanted fresh al
and exercise-so they bound me over Of
my word of honor to walk from Londol
to Hastings in week. 1 Iacquiesce il
everything now, so of course acquiesco
in this, aud this is my first day of har
labor and imprisonment.
"But you used" began the lady; the
4 she colored q little aud seemed uuwi
ling to finish her sentence; 'you used
q be so fond of walking"
y ! But man changes good deal
: three years, he replied, wearily.
i 1t would weary you, dear reader, an
}, to no purpose were 1 to set down here Il
,, dreary commonplaces with which the
i these two tried to beguile the time f
It over an hour. Atlength worn out by Il
arduous effort of trying to entertain cat
" other while their thoughts were SO (
4; away, they took refuge in silence, viii
"a window, aud the dusk came on prem
ii turely, and Seaton, looking out on t
v. cheerless prospect, sLiyered hs with I
cold. Then that other person rose We
quietly and stirred the fire into blal
I and resumed Ler seat on the sofa.
i, "No, you shouldn't, really said Seato
u, not turning round, however, though wi
7 7 look of great pain on his face. 1T
= won ierful what suff ring some sma
e. commonplace word or action may cat
III US. What vistas of possible Joys n
~ ~ they not open up to usr
l "I suppose the carriage will soon
H. back" said Alice, presently, and spe'
ing with effort, ''and our coaehman dTi'
ne so fast, too"
ni- "Yes, and your term Of imprisonm'
pa will soon be up rejoined Seaton, IT
Ter ing his arms upon the mautelpiece, o
ng examining with critical interest pho
ID graph before him. i|H
an "How the time passes!" said Alice,
q low voice, as if speaking to hers
SO Then, with sudden energy, Il cannot
m when we shall meet again. Before
nd part answer me one question; You
I, n looking worn and weary you happ
lie Now he stood before her, and throI
!