The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-18

Now Mr.. Lemuel Dale was an old
bachelor. regarded as the common prop
erty Of all the girls in town.
ayes" said Fanny, clutching at the
straw of escape, Il am going with Mr..
Lemuel Dale" And Harvey CarrolPs
conscience did sting him little as he
met the glance of unconscious repToach
in poor Fanny's eyes.
'She is a little jewel" he confessed to
himself. But then she is only pearl,
and Oriana is a diamond of the first
water; and there can be no better chance
for me to propose than tomorrow.
And morning came-One of those bril-
liant, summer-like days that seem to
have been plucked out of the golden dia-
dem Of August itself.
Chow delightful lisped Miss Oriana
as she sat gracefully on a twisted tree
root and drank champagne out OF sll-
yer cup. ''Ah, how indescribably
charming is the country
could you be cOntented to live here
always?' asked Harvey Carroll as he
lay stretched on the green turf at her
feet:
81 could desire no happier fate" said
Oriana, lifting her eyes heayenward-
Then" Harvey was beginning
when honest Lemuel Dale came stumb-
ling over the uneven ground toward
them.
II say, Carroll, what are you dream
ing aboutm cried he, Don't you see the
thunder clouds piling up in the west?
Don't YOU feel the sudden chill IN the
air! Everybody else is seeking shelter
from the storm, while you stay here, APP
parently blind, deaf and dumb! Lueki-
" for YOU that | came back for Miss
Forrester's shawl and reused you from
your dream" And Fanny, leaning on
Dale's arm scarcely looked up while he
spoke.
Miss Van Velsor caught up her lace
parasol with Shrek rs it going to
rain" she cried. ooh, | have such a
dislike of thunder showers! Oh, do let
us go to a place of shelter, some nice old
farm house, or some dearHold DANES
honeysuckle covered cottage"
: The nearest place is the rectory, at
4 the foot Of the hill, half mile off, said
t Carroll, doubtfully.
eve shall be happy to welcome you
there" spoke up Fanny, unconsciously
heaping Goals of fire on her rivals head.
ooh, do let us hurry" cried Miss Van
j, Velsor, catching at CAROLS arm, as the
thunder broke into low rumbling tones
= and the first big drops began to fall.
" But Miss Forester and Mr.. Dale
reached the rectory by short cnt across
: the meadows, and were at the door tc
T. receive their dripping guests when Al
IS last they reached the haven of refuge.
y Carroll surrendered Miss Van VclsoI
1t at once into FaHny's care. "Takc he
n up stairs, please, Miss FORESTER" sale
he, in a startled tone, Ell think there
something the matter with her"
y "Oh, | am all right" said Miss Val
% Felsor with a shipper. Only a littl,
tired with the haste we have made"
u But Fanny started back with dismay
quite comprehending Mr. Carols dis
u comfture when she caught glimpse 0
n her rivals face. 1t was striped like
IN zebra, where the streams Of rain had rul
'e down her brow and cheeks, the streak
n OF red and white paint blending curious
a ly together; the penciling was washct
n entirely from her eyebrow; the other
= shielded by a fold of the lace veil, wa
u totally unchanged. Fanny was silent
but Mr.. Lemuel Dale, honest old bach
G elor that he was proved less discreet.
Excuse me, Miss" said he, with hi
u eyeglass at his eye, 'but rather thinl
your paint is washing of,
y "My paint!" repeated Miss Van Vel
sor.
a And then, happening to see the rehec
81 ton of her face IN an opposite mirror
70 she uttered wild shrek, and went O
81 into good oldfashioned Mysteries.
X When she came out of them again MI
y Carroll had vanished from the scene.
le Miss Oriana Van Velsor went back t
nc the ward school in Peake street quite ur
fettered by the golden clasp of an en-
gagement ring; and they say there is t
- bea wedding at the rectory, in which pre-
IL ty Fannie Forester and Mr.. Harve
Carroll are to play the principal part
Strange how slender a straw will SUI
% tice to turn the current Of the stream {
- life! If it had not been for that thundei
y storm in the woods, the whole aspect {
~ Miss Oriana Van Velsor's existenc
;. might have been different.
IL But her complexion unlike the rose
!, and lilies of Fannie Forrester's fac,
~ was not waterproof.
I -