The daily gazette., 1883-11-17
On the River.
rTne srsosv.I
tCOncludsd.,


~ whose grave aepect would hardly
.,trsctivr 10 children In general. Yet
',t. into a kindly emile, "a, lifting the
nrID one on his knee, he glAuces from her
, IA that Of the mother, older only by
n. 10 years, aud recalls the days when
s,', Fnrr, ste had sat as cOHhdlngly on the
,a,,. Of the shy young cornet.
"yo, viii let me acull you up the river,
y,. Fair;axt' says Vane, as he puts down
n. trscup. II have not forgotten" (here
~ voice takes more tender inhexion)
",ur last expedition TO Hampton Court"
Mr.. Fairfax looks doubttully toward her
o,6er guest, who somewhat stlfay observes:
sDout let me be any hindrance TO your
mans. r perhaps you VIII allow me TO
toke an oar 10 your sefvice."
Y nes face darkens, but the widow ciaps
b., hands an answers gayly: Colonel
Il would really have been hard work for one
alone in this heat"
No Queenie runs 70 fetch her mothers
hat, but at the last moment dnds the charms
al tavorlte kittens society Irresistible, and
slects 10 remain on terra frma herself.
Yane pulls stroke, and the boat glides
smoolhIy away from the emerald bank and
out into the CLASSY expAnse of water, amid
srores Of others gayiy laden with q similar
freight, and looking as II Paying their part
10 some no)icsy scene.
"Ths has been very hard on mep MUIR
nurs vaue, ben ling forward, so that his
Eocds are audible to the fair steerer only.
Any pleasant afternoon all spoiled, be.
tause--"
because you arc foolish self.willed
bcy," answers the littls woman, who, albeit
some four years his junior, sometimes like
% play at maternal airs. "O0me, shake OF
your 1T Of blues be agreeable, aad stay ard
dine With u.s. a
with US I Are you going" Every low. }
40 invite that fellow too"
Certainly am. He iS Que Of my very
oldest friends"-(" "old enough ~ grumbles
VaDr) and have not seen him for years.
We have heaps of gocd things to say to one
smother.
oThen you will certainly get through them
better uninterrupted" says Sir Reginald, In
a sspitelui sOtto voce. Then aloud: am
awuliy sorry, Mira Fairfax, but have lust
remembered that have todine out tonight.
lam afraid must ask you to land me at
sarblton, so that can get home by train,
Steer more 10 the right, please; you are run
Ling us into that barge.n
aWhat are you growing nervousp and
again that sweet, clear voice rings out, and
yanp grinds his teeth as he feels, rather
than secs, that a grim smile Is overspreadlng
the lace behind him.
When Surbiton is reached at length, he
Narcey attempts TO disguise his relief,as he
springs ashore.
"Good-byel Many thanks, Mrs. Fairfax.
| lmaY come over again soonp
III you like--only It is best to give me no.
tee beforehand, as l might be In London
for III day. But, yes"-eoftening as If his
hrr iall '-"come when you like. Any day
tls week "
THIS Colonel's heavy moustache has sus-
talued sundry pulls during this colloquy,
cod his face Is a shade graver than usual "a
usual as he steps into the vacant seat and
possesses himself Of both oars. As with q
lew vigorous strokes the boat Is once moro
IN IN m 'tlon, the Widows eye for the hrst time
lights upon the MANNED left hand, and she
Ida rua 60 dismay:
"When-how--did that happenW
"Ta South Africa long ago. Don't be
drdl NV sculling may be somewhat
cumr, but will promise TO get you safely
homr in due course Of time"
On was not thinking Of myself But
does II not hurt youf | am 30 sorry | did
not know before Sir Reginald lett us Oh
ttay-,uuld help you, wonder |"
''Whh those tiny baby ha ds Of yours
NJ no am getting on perfectly we'll; but
p!ya that steam launch more space, or W,
snail ..'t tossing after she has passed"
A silence followed, during which bott
sra tu,y with their own reflections. v her
Mn. Fairfax lifts hereycs 70 her compan
Ions lace, II Is so grave that she exclaiml
In HOuder:
Twas going to say, "A penny for you
thoughts, but from she expression OF you
couni,uance yours muat be weighty enough
to ba worth much more. Won't you he gen
g'ns enough and impart them gratisp
long pause during which she lean,
oVtf ne side Of the boat and idly dabble
OH hand In the water.
:, Fake care" he says, warningly; ''yol
vii Inte your rings"
"l lave none on that hand; except
bhe takes the little white fingers out c
Sat'r, and Razes half.sadly on the thicl
gold band-Jack's wedding rlng-place
there six years ago, and only elghteel
months before Jacks own honest heart wa
Itill aud cold.
Leslie Grahame Is looking at It also. an
somehow the sight nerves him to the ne1
Eof's he has to say.
Ut Is long time since We met, is 1t no
! was with poor Jack, when he bought tha
ring, and few daNs later we had order
ior India, and so missed the wedding. Blu
Idld not forget my old friend or his BRIDE
nor he Adds, more gently, adld forge
you when sadder news reached me. Poo
Jack" he says, dreamily, his thought
busy with the boy friend of his youth, an
ID a manner forgetting that he is speakin
70 mat ilitnns widow; $50 young go oper
healtrh an generous"
"All that and more," she said quickly
he was too good for this cold, hard worlt
All me! TO think that Jack, who was 8
Strong, should have been taken, and littl
NE lett To face life Nl0neW
You have your child" Unconsciousl
hs tone has grown q little stern again.
Darling Queenie. Yes. But It is du
Mmttimrs, and one wants some ono TO col
snlt-to lean on"
"A you think to fnd that some one
Reginald Vane."
He is sorry the next moment to hay
buried out the words, but II is too late
recall them. She flashes glance at hin
and he meets II steadily, expecting to be a
sai'fi with torrent OF femenino wrath, bl
Is taken aback at meeting, instead suddC
burst OF tears
Mrs. Fairfax-what brute am lilo
give me. have lived so much alone that
nave ldllrn into a dreadful habit OF speakil
my thoughts Aloud
;, But how came you to have SUI
h0ugLt}p
Could help III Only last night hea
your names couped together by the voice
sOhnon gossip, and-to day have not Sc
toir confirmation of the reports And
would not pre,ume to find fault, though
was once not only Jacks friend but almt
4 Sl2h SSlnn2h elder brother to you in the forgolt
Jay OF long ago."
Not IOrt5ott.n - r,,,rr,,,rs a atIAad Wi,