Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-16

4
four months away, and the only regret
was that Phil could not be there to see
She had declared that imperative letters
called her home, and had left them that
very day
1t was family party of respectable
size, and few outside guests swelled
the murmur beyond hum, but at last
a lull crept in, and every one seemed
ready to listen to what some one else
might say. The tilmy dress in which
King had been fitting about had vanish
ed for half an hour, and the Captain had
also mysteriously disappeared, but that
would hardly account for the change.
1t was rather the result of lifelong
family ways, which had always encour-
aged dreamy state rs soon as the clock
struck ten.
- spinster, or an old mad?" some
one was asking, at last, at the other side
Of the room.
Is there any distinctive difference.
/ that you know OFF asked Europe. turn
/ ing around in his chair
Certainly" Miss Asia replied, with
laugh that covered little yawn. "A
| spinster is a woman who remains single
1 from her own deliberate choice, while
an old maid" but al that instant Miss
Asia discovered that King was part of
| the double shadow promenading the
lawn, and rose in dismay. Was the
child crazed, to be risking all her i'm
provement in ten-o' clock airi 1t was
quite time to go.
But when the sanctity of her own
room was reached, there was a knock.
and King stepped noiselessly in, with
something glittering on the forefinger of
her left hand.
She, said, with her oyelids not fully
lifted yet. HE has brought me a new
setting for my stone. He found it the
day we went walking in the glen''
1t was the grandmother brilliant
Miss Asia knew it too well for any ques-
ton of that; but discovery before
which the rays of the diamond paled
into lead was bewildering her heart and
her eyes.
''King"' she cried, with slow, sharp
ring of terrible pain; but the next mo-
ment she had gathered herself up.
Kings happiness had been first in her
thoughts for the last twenty years, and
no agony of her own should come in
the way of it now.
my darling y she said, and stopped
for one long, passionate kiss; and then.
IN another instant, she started suddenly
back. But what would ever become
of us if he shouldn't prove to be good?''
What, indeed? There Law the ques-
ton, and there it continued to lie in
Miss Asia's mind, and only time and in
Ksfa ftf.r, Oh
allow, could bring a reply.
1t was useless for King to plead; for
the first time in her lite, Miss Asia with
stood her like a rock.
But, Asia, dear Asia! Did | not
prove him, in those four long months?"
But Miss Asia only shook her head;
and the Captain met with no better sue
cess, though coming up brayely, after
each new repulse, to the charge, and
daring even greater requests, when his
first were refused. His ship was to sail
at the end of a month, for a still longer
trip. If Miss Asia would let him take
King, he would never ask such a grace
at her hands again. An ocean life was
by no means essential to him; they would
live, for the future, wherever Miss Asia
pleased.
But entreaties and promises met with
the same reply, Her treasure was hers,
to be guarded first of all She could
never intrust it to any man whom she
had not had time to prove.
I'm glad to have seen You to-day,
however" she said, after fighting the
battle once more, for this evening YOU
would not have found me at home.
Europe wants me to meet an old family
friend. Only elderly people this time,
so King will not go; but my carriage is
ordered for half-past eight
Twilight gathered in early that even
ing, rs the two sat together on the porch
for clouds lingering after a shower had
not dritted away.
Il really must 90 inside and dress,
said Miss Asia, rousing herself at length
Make the most of your resources,
then, laughed King, rs she stepped to
the parlor mantcl for tiny Cyprian
cup. Here is the very last match We
have left in the house,
The last Then the two boxes |
ordered yesterday cannot have GOMEZ
And Miss Asia took the match quickly
in her hand, and examined the head
with a critical eye. What would erer
become of us, if it should not prove to
go off ?'' She exclaimed, with swift
turn upon King.
King laughed again, but the next in
slant she caught her breath in dismay.
There was a scratch, q fiz, and quaver
of yellow light; then flicker, and
burnt little stump in Miss Asia's hand
-
whether it was good, and puff from
the open window had blown it out!
There was a moments silence, and
then King found her voice.
'What viii become of us n0lO 2" she
asked, not daring to laugh or to cry.
1t was too dark in the house already
for any dressing to be done; the boxes
Miss Asia had ordered were mile away,
and the road lay through woods romantic
enough for drive, but too shadow for
feminine foot after dusk. And, be-
sides, how was King to be left alone a
whole evening, in the dark?
Miss Asia turned the stump slowly
around in her hand. and looked at it on
every side. Then she dropped it into an
embroidered cup that hung ready for
such use. A sound like half-whisper-
ed ridiculous Y came from her lips.
but She turned with the quietest move
ment, toward the door.
We will sit on the porch again till
the moon comes up" she said after
that we can move through the house
very well.
The clouds drifted lightly away, but
the night settled in quite as fast. and
Miss Asia and King could scarcely dis
tinguiSh each others forms by the time
the expected carriage rolled into the
yard. Miss Asia rose quietly and sent
il away. and then came back to her seat
but neither of the two seemed lust then
in talkatiye mood. King drew more
and more closely into the screen of the
vines quite out of sight at last. and the
curve of Miss Asia's elegant shoulders
was Just visible where She sat, shadow
and dim Strangely alike. in outline of
head and shoulders, Miss Asia and King
had always been said to he, and King
sat dreamily peering out at her. and
thinking about it, rs the echo of the re-
treating carriage died away
Suddenly a firm quick, footstep fell on
the gravel-walk; then nearer. then on
the shadow-mat King had sketched on
the floor of the porch 1t hesitated for
one instant. a if searching through the
dark then came closer. and for the first
time in her life, Miss Asia felt the touch
Of strong lips left reverenuv just above
her ewes.
.fs.