The Penn's Grove record., 1882-07-01

BarDara had been Invisible TOT SON
time, and after sitting dreamily fC
awhile before the fire, I rose and wer
out into the kitchen beyond, vaguel
DESTROYS of some companionship b.
ides my own.
No one was there, but 1 heard tn
sound of voices in the shed at the real
where Barbara was holding the ligh
for Walter Mildmay to sharpen som
edged tool on the grindstone. Unwit
tingly 1 advanced toward the door jus
in time to hear their words:
"a stiff, ugly old maid" said Wal
ter, indifferently. IA little higher
Barbara, please. If that is the sort o
girls they turn out in Philadelphia,
prefer the country specimens"
/ stood rooted to the floor, feeling
myself grow hot all Over. They wen
on talking and laughing, but 1 did no
hear a word that they said.
N~oiselessly 1 crept back into th.
house up to my own room, lighted the
candle, and looked into the Lit lie,
muslin draped glass that hung ovel
the homemade dressing table.
Stiff, ugly, and an old maid! Tn.
latter l certainly was not. at four-and-
twenty. Stiff, I might be-who could
avoid that, in the presence of utter
strangers, surrounded by a domestic
atmosphere that was entirely novel
TO me? And ugly-was I that? /
looken into the glass, to see hair BRAID
ed straight back from q pale oval face,
eyes heavy with WEAKNESS, cheeks
quite colorless. Did he think I always
looked like that? He should see.
So / went to bed, and cried myself
to sleep.
The next morning, 1 got up and
dressed myself with care. Il brushed
the soft, crimped masses of jet black
hair away from my temples, and fast.
ened a spray of coral red berries which
l had gathered on the roadside into it,
and knotting my loose scarlet silk
necktie under my lace collar, I smiled
to see the soft glow Of color that was
returning to my cheeks, the brilliancy
of my eyes.
My dress was of black cashmere,
enlivened hei and there by a low of
scarlet ribbon, instead of the gray trav-
cling suit / had worn tie evening
before and it fitted me as If / had
grown into 1t.
81 don't think / am quite SO ugly as
1 was last night" / thought. But if
Mr.. Mildway don't like me, of ourse
I cannot help it." a.
So l went down stairs, Uncle Blake
stared at me over his spectacle glasses.
mercy on usp' cried Mrs. Jonas
"what has the girl been doing to her.
self?"
"Some one must have changed her
off while she slept!" said Barbara
running up to me and giving me a
kiss.
Walter Midway said nothing; he
only drank his coffee.
How / enjoyed the next fortnight!
The weather was beautiful and balmy
beyond all description. We had nut
ting expeditions, and beating parties.
and long walks to gather brilliant
autumn leaves. AT nigh we sat around
the blazing logs, and on the few rainy
days, Mrs. Jonas showed me how to
make butter, and Barbara took me up
into the great garret,fwhere there were
chests of old relics, piles of books and
papers, and all the antique belongings
of a whole century of Blakes.
But all this time, Walter Mildmay
kept his quiet distance and to save
my life, / could not tell whether he
still thought me a stiff old maid," OIL
not.
And then came the husking frolic.
The barn was illuminated by q n
dies, stuck in tin sconces, along the
sides-I had never seen so wild and
romantic a sight. The neighborhocd
gathered to the gala. Mrs. Jonas and
Barbara had been baking cakes and
buttering sandwiches all day, while
Uncle Blake had rolled a Darrell of
sparkling new cider close to the barn
door. Merry laughter sounded, bright
faces glanced TO and fro In the Rem
brandtesque light of the candles, while
ever and anon, the tone Of flute and
fiddle-tuning up in the barn loft was
plainly audible.
/ had been helping Mrs. Jonas to
put the iceing on the big fruit-cake
which held the ring, and as it wa late
when / came into the big, sweetsmell-
ing barn with my black cashmere
dress all sprinkled with cherry-red
bows, and = cluster of deep scarlet
autumn leaves in my hair.
Here's Olga" cried my Cousin
Jonas, cherrily. "Come here, little
Olga and sit by me and I'll give you
some ears to husk."
laughed and nestled down into the
hay, close at his side and just at this
moment q storm of merry laughter
| rose on the air.
1.-THE red earl the red earl" they
| cried, in chorus, clapping their hands
and cheering vehemently. walter
| Midway has got the red earl"
looked up at Cousin Jonas. In be-
| wilderment.
What Is q red ear ?" said /.
Cousin Jonas laughed.
"TWhat q little greenhorn 1t lap
said he. "The red ear is
Just then Walter Mildmay came ur
and stood before me, the rich maroon,
colored a of corn In his hand. He
laid it at my feet.
"I claim my privilege, Olga" said
he.
looked at him in amazement.
"I don't understand you" said +.