Daily Republican., 1883-09-24
the house, and saw her no more that

tne mouse, ana l saw h0s ho nioro th'
evening.
Left to my own reflections, which wei
not very comforting ones, Il began
wonder why 1t was l bad been no al
noyed 1T the proposed absence, and
think I had acted like o tool.
). That I should ever have spoken rude
u ly and unkindly to Daisy, she who ha
been my friend from the very hour Q
my arrival at Glen Jingle, who ha
. sympathized in all my griefs and hopes
:, and who had tried In every way to max
me forget my altered circumstances !
1t was unmanl ly-ungenerOu
u Yet despite my self-aCcusations sucl
a desolate pain filled me ut the though
of losing her tor even short period o
three weeks that the thought suddenly
flashed upon me "what II should los,
her forever ?" The prospect was horri
BILE. I could not bear to think oft ant
yet 1t forced itself upon me. She had
many suitOrs what II one should wir
the flower l longed to possess.
i had offended her she was angry
and Just Y no. Would she ever forgive
and speak to me again.
These, and q hundred other doubts
tormented me. l knew now that
loved her, and determined, ON the first
opportunity, to beg her pardon and con.
fess the cause of my rude conduct.
The next morning Daisy did not ap
pear at breakfast she was suffering
from headache, her mother said, and
having loitered round until my time.
piece warned me must not longer risk
losing my train, was forced to depart
without seeing her.
"This evening, shall surely have q
chance to EXPLAIN" / thought, and 80
ct mforted myself But when evening
came Daisy had gone to visit a friend
u mile away and intended staying all
might.
| was In despair. "Does she mean
to avoid me always and give me no
opportunity to apologize ?" asked
myself.
Too much disturbed in mind to re-
main in doors l wandered out across the
fields, aimlessly taking the direction of
Daisy's steps.
1t was a warm, beautiful night in
September. The mellow moon was
flooding the earth and sky with a
silvery, white glory. The hoarse
croaking Of frogs from the marshes and
. cricket concert were the only sounds
that broke the stiffness of the night
There was slight fall Of dew and fine
spun gossamer.like webs hung from the
trees and on the fences. The air was
sweet with the breath of clover.
wandered OH for some time, lost in
moody reverie, when sound OF hurry
ing foot steps fell upon my ear, and the
next moment, to my great surprise,
Daisy came in sight.
| The instant she recognized me she
spraug forward and clung to my arm.
She was trembling and painting her
white robe trailed on the damp grass,
her lovely hair hung In q disordered
mass around her shoulders.
"Wby, Daisyn' / cried in amaze
ment, "what Is the natter"
"Wby do l find you here alone at
this hour ?"
"Oh, am 10 frightened" she pant
ed. ~ determined on coming home
despite the opposition of my friends
have often walked this way before
after nightfall, with no fear OF moles-
tation, but tonight, as came opposite
Drew's Hollow, man sprang from the
bushes and grasped my shawl. l loos.
ened 1t from my shoulders and ran as
fast as could. How thankful l am
that met you" and she looked up in
my face with relieved, trusting |
gaze. ..
"The scoundrel 70 cried, throwing
my arm protectingly round her. 81
will go in search Of him and let him
feel the effects of little cold lead"
"No, no" said Daisy, pleadingly,
"do lot leave me, | could not bear to
stay alone"
Every WE'LL" replied soothingly. |
" You have nothing more to fear. Take |
my arm and do not be so rash |
again as to venture out alone after
dark"
Meekly she obeyed, and we walk
ed on in silence for a title way.
Now was the chance 1 had been
longing for, to make my peace with
her.
Acting on the impulse of the moment
Islid Daisy, was a selfish fool
the other evening. l ask your pardon
for my rudeness, and if you can forgive
me, signify your willingness to do SO, by
putting your hand in mine.
A soft, warm hand was slipped con-
fidingly in my own and musical
voice said g" Max, do forgive you,
though you were provokingly cross"
"Then We are friends once more?" l
asked.
She gave a little, rippling laugh.
eyes, until we quarrel again"
She had paused TO arrange her disor-
dered hair. Her arms were uplifted,
ard the loose sleeves falling back, show
ell them white and rounded in the
moonlight Her face was partly turn.
ed toward me, and wore an arch smile.
Her eyes were shining and her lips red
der and more tempting than ever.
Even plain woman looks fair in the
moonlight; imagine, then, a beautiful
one bathed in the silvery radiance.
The subtle spell of her presence and
the witchery Of the moonlight over.
came all my fears. caught her In my
arms before she could demonstrate, and
kissed her for the first time, full on her
scarlet lips.
"Da.sy, love you. BE my wife ?"
With low cry she Shrank away
from me, pale as death and trembling
violently.
have been too vehement-I have
startled yOu," ! sad, self-reproach-
fully.
No, no, it is not that" she gasped
" But you must not thought you
knew --that-that | am--engaged.
Engaged had never dreamed of
such a thing. My cousin Daisy Thorn.
ton engaged
Yes" she went on hurriedly:" 1t
is an old atfair-more than q year. His
name Is Harold Moore. Just now he is
travelling with his uncle in Europe, but
l expect him home very SOON"
So after all she was lost to me. III
looked in her beautiful face and fierce
anger filled me. AL the time she had
been SO kind and gentle to me, her
thoughts had been of another. Her
sympathy and sweet interest had only
Ill