The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-10-07

dreaded to go. and vet / could not
stay away how plain looked as l
stood before my dressing glass that
night, in a plain silk with few scar
let veroenas in my hair! Did I wear
them because he had said once they
cOntrssted well with my dark hair i?
[ was early, and of all the girls in the
room Mary Heating was the most
lovely. l do not wonder he loved you,
Mary; you were beautiful, rs you
came floating into the room, in a dress
of light muslin, your golden curls
falling over your sweet childish face,
and your blue eyes running over wit
happiness, and he-hut dared not
look at him long, for / was not very
strong.
In the course of the evening was in
troduced To her; and strange as it was,
from that moment she seemed to cling
to me. She was child in artlessness,
and soon began talking of "John,"
asking III L knew 0lm, etc.
How strange he never mentioned
you-he told nae of so many of his
friends. 'John-John,'" she called, rs
he passed us. "why didn't you tell me
about Miss Hudson ?-you spoke OF so
many Others"
Our eyes met for ala instant, aud
then / said, plying his embarrass-
ment:
"He has so many friends it isn't at
all singular that he should have for
gotten one."
But | knew then, as I do now, thai
he had not forgotten me.
Just then, looking up, saw in a
mirror opposite the reflection of our
little group, and-John Grant! When
[ saw the contrast between Mary
Heating and myself, forgave him,
if did not before. Not that [ was so
very plain-I do not think I was-but
she was so beautiful, so confiding and
loving, no one could help being
charmed. with her; and | could not
blame him, for he had always been a
great admirer of the beautiful.
Mary Heating came to see me fire.
quently while she stayed at his sis,
ter's; sometimes, not often, accompa-
MED by John. 1t was an autumn at
ternoon, full of clouds and sunshine,
when she came to make her farewell
call. He was with her, watching her
every movement with loving pride,
and yet it seemed to me that he re-
garded her somewhat as q beautiful
plaything, winding her yellow curls
around his fingers and calling her pet
names. We went out into the garden
to gather some flowers, and as she
ran about, laughing, talking and pick
ing flowers and wreathing them In
her hair she seemed lovely and be
witching child, John had gradually
lost his constrained and embarrassed
manner when with me, and excepting
that we never approached personali'
i ties in our conversation, our inter
course was getting to be something as
it once was.
Our tastes in many things were sim
liar. We had lead and admired the
same authors and upon most of the
| important subjects connected with hui
man life, our thoughts were allke.
We We're speaking of some work we
had lately read, and were quite inter
ested in discussing it's merits, wien
| Mary suddenly checked her happy
| plsy, and with grave face walked
silently to Johns side. At last she
said:
"You never talk that way to me,
John. but it's because | don't know
enough
"You know enough for me, dear. "
he answered but she went on:
II shall be but child wife Caro-
line would suit you much better"
ALLOWING you to be judge" said,
laughingly, for saw John could not
ans wer readily. We said no more on
the subject, but l think John asked
himself more than once that day:
sis Mary right?"
When Mary bade me good-by that
afternoon, she wound her white arms
around my neck and kissed me, say
ing, in her gentle voice Write to
me often, Caroline, and teach me to
be worthy of him." And she went
out the gate, through the hop gard en-
leaning on his arm, the warm sum
light falling on her golden hair, max
ing her look very beautiful.
Soon after this John Grant left ELM
wood, and took farm on his own
account in the west of England, adj
Joining that of old Mr.. Heating. [
seldom heard and never mentioned his
name. Mary wrote frequently to me
during the winter; her letters were
like herself, graceful and charming,
full of love and confidence. She spoke
much of John-how proud she was OF
him, what letters he wrote, 80 much