Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-01
A GIRLS FOLLY.
The Argosy.

1t surrounded by flowers, and a charm
ing country landscape spreading out in
the distance. Inside, In its small Int
very pretty parlor, on the red table cover,
waited the tea-tray, with its cups and
sauoerB The window stood open to the
still, warm autumn air, and the French
porcelain clock on the mantel-piece WAS
striking five.
A slender girl Of some 20 years came
in. She was very lovely. But her light.
blue eyes bore sort of weary or diseon
tented look, and her bright brown hair
was somewhat RULED. She wore a print
wAshing-dress Of black and white, neither
very smooth nor very fresh, and lace
neck fastened with bog OF black
ribbon.
She had made an appointment to inset
Reginald Vavasour, rich young gentle,
msn,who had made her acquaintance, down
by the willow walk, aud her lover,
Thomas Watkyn, had told her he could
call that evening. Just before he left
she said
"May | ask you to do me little favor,
Thomas 2"
"What is 1t I" he repeated.
"If you would not very much mind
going home by the hill and would leave
this note at Miss Ford's. | particularly
wish her to have it this evening""
He paused for an instant, not replying.
She went on, hurriedly:
81 see that it is disagreeable to you.
have offended you too much"
"Not that" he answered, holding out
his hand for the note. "But can hardly
spare the time for the long way this even.
Inn 7 hor 90
father. However," he said no more,
but took the note.
"Good-bye, Thomas"
"Good-bye."
"Im glad he took the note shall be
safe now"
Miss Alison Reece was clever young
lady. The direct and near way to Mr..
Wstkyn's home would lead him past the
willow walk. She had devised this i'm
promptu note to her dressmaker in the
afternoon to prevent his taking that
usual route. Had he seen young Vaya-
sour cooling his heels within the pre-
cincts of the willow walk he would
inevitably suspect he was waiting to keep
lovers tryst.
Alison was busy in the kitchen next
morning when she heard her mother open
the front door and some one come in.
'It is that chattering Mrs. Bennett, -
thought she, as she dried the teaspoons.
Allison, come here, ''ealled her mother,
In quick voice.
She went to the parlor just as she was
her sleeves turned back at the wrist, a
large, brown Holland apron on. Very
pretty she looked with it all. But it was
not Mrs. Bennett, who sat with her
mother =; 1t was q venerable, white haired
old gentleman-Mr. Watkyn, the elder.
81 am come to ask about Thomas, -
said he. 81 believe he came here last
night, Miss Alison at what time did he
leave you 7"
A provision struck her with a sort OF
terror that something was wrong. "He
left quite early" she faltered.
well, he has never come home"
mot come home ~ she said, with 9
whitening face.
II sat up till l o'clock, and then
thought the mist must have kept him
that he had stayed at some friend's
house. knew not what to think, ard
that he would be home the first thing
this morning. But we have not seen him
and cannot hear Of him."
Mrs. Reeoe was impressed with tn,
frightened, guilty look that Alison could
not keep out of her couutenanoe, AND
began to feel uneasy. "Cannot you tel
what time it was when he left you ?'' sh,
demanded, sternly.
SIT was after dusk. 1t was lust afte1
sunset-before the mist came on. /
must have been near O'Clock"
"Whioh road did he take 2' pursued
RAaaA 81,
answered, for she foresaw it would brin,
on further questioning:
The long road-round by the HILL
Round by the hill ?" echoed Mr.
Wstkyn, in alarmed surprise. "Wh,
did he take that way p
Alison flushed and paled alternately
her lips were trembling. The fear creep
ing upon her was that he and youn
VaVasour had met and quarreled. Per
haps fought-and injured one anothe
fatally. In these dread moments OF sua
Pense the mind is apt to conjure up far
fetched and unlikely thoughts.
" asked him to go around that way,
she replied, in timid tone. 81 wante
him to leave note for me at the dress
MAKERS"
Old Mr.. Watkyn sank into chaii
putting up his hands before his trouble
lace. 81 see it all, p" he breathed family
HE must have fallen down the Scar ~
Alison uttered scream of horror.
deceived by the mist, he must hay
walked too near the edge" continue
the old man. Heaven grant that it ma
not be 80 but fear it. Was he mad
TO attempt TO GROSS the plateau on sue
night p
Catching up his hat, Mr.. Watkyn wer
out swiftly. Mrs. Reece grabbed ht
daughters hands. They were lev colo
Allison, what passed between you an
Thomas last night 2''
Don't ask me, mother Let me folio
Mr.. Watkyn; cannot rest indoors. on
IL cannot, cannot BIZ as he fears =,
NOT one step until you tell me whs
PASSED, said the mother firmly
fhere's more in all this than meets III
eye" - -
Mr.. Vavssour."
"And you refused. Well 2"
de told me | must choose betwee
them," continued Alison, bursting I'M
Tears. "oh, mother, it was all my foil,
al my temper he could not See that, an
when he went away he said he went f
good"
Mrs. Reeoe drew in her thin Ii,
sternly. She was thinking.
and what does it mean about yo,
giving him note for the dressmaker
do not understand. You had nothing
write about"
The girl had got her hands free al
hung them before her face to dead,
the sobs. But Mrs. Reece was a resolu
mother at times, and she extorted Ii
confession. Alison had improvised Ii
note and sent Thomas around the lo1
way to deliver 1t, and 80 keep him fro
passing by the willow walk.
"Oh, child, child p moauad tho Al
mayed woman. "If he has indeed fall,
over the Scar 1t is you who will ha
given him his death"
And it proved to be 80. In taking Il
TWO miles round between the cottage Al
the farm high and perpendicular pre-,
Pioe' called the Scar, had to be pssse
The tablelsnd, or plateau on the top, W
wide and perfectly safe road by da
nght, since traveller could keep as 4
from the unprotected edge as he please
but on dark night or in thick fog
was most dangerous. Deceived by II
mist OF the previous night, Thomas Wa
kyp must have drawn near the adga n
Willingly and fallen over it. There
lay, on the shap rocks, when the no
father and others went to look for bir
MS death-iike face upturned to the bli
sky. .... -
Speak to me, Thomas, speak to me-
walled Alison nuita ba.;1 ~