Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22

gagged my room for fortnight.
| would sum up my experience during that
fortnight, in the Que word, Bliss with very
large capital. There was Constance in morning
sunshine and muslin, Constance in afternoon
breezes and short coquettish costumes Con-
stance in moonlight and queenly draperies,
Constance in air. earth and water. No, not IN
The water except metaphorically, for she didn't
like the sea-bathing. 1t was Bessie who romped
in the breakers and blistered her nice nose
Oh, speaking of Bessie, when we CHANGED to
meet, treated her in a pleasant old-friend
fashion. She gave me some reproachtul
glances, some scornful ones, and when she
went away forgot the train time, and was sit
ting on the beach with Constance, under her
rose-lined parasol.
OF course there were other men about Con-
stance; or, to be more correct, every man
was about her. She used to say, with little
grimace:
"Oh know everybody, for I've been coming
to Long Branch every year for ages and ages. "
''If you've been here many years, you must
have come as a very small child" said l.
GA woman is just as old as she looks the
wise French people have it," Constance an
swered.
"Then you are about twenty-one?" ven-
tured, interrogatively.
ing; II never allow anybody to put me at more
than twenty"
My hardest trial was to see my adored Con-
stance driving out with Reynolds, or some other
opulent rascal, in his own trap. To be sure, l
had sent to Joe for more money, and showered
her with rose-buds and bonbons, but for driv-
ing had to use a team of hired horses.
Once l told her, with the most delicate cir
cumlocution, that l was quite poor, but she
treated me with just the same coniiding sweet
ness, and Immediately after accepted basket
of flowers with the goodness and grace OF an
angel.
At last, of COURSE there came an end to Joe's
money, and had to go. But at parting Mrs
Darcy said, "Come and see us in the city" and
Constance had given me long, sorrowful,
tender look
When, in a savage humor, l reached my
boarding-house, there was awaiting me small
parcel and a letter. 1t was one of these absurd
letters l was quite used to receiving from my
great-aunt Annette Van Boosen, who lived down
on Long Island in an ancient tumble-down
homestead. As a boy, had seen her, and re-
membered her as hard-featured, snutfy, high
tempered old woman, given to long yarns about
deceased Van Boosens OF remote periods, OF
whom one Jan Van Boosen was the chief orna-
ment and glory. From time to time Aunt An
nete would send me musty papers, old Dutch
books, decaying scraps of lace, once an old
shoe, and other queerrelics, all, as she declared
of immense value, and to be kept until she
called for them. 81 am afraid, she would
write, "of being robbed in this lonely place;
but some time shall come up to the city and
arrange for the proper bestowal OF these valu'
ables."
This last letter ran
81 send you six military buttons and ring
for safe-keeping. See that they are locked
away in vaults at once. They are relics of Jan
Van Boosen. IL shall come to the city soon and
see them properly put away"
l,,,tt s,,o 1raxu M
the clumsy old silver ring, set with what seemed
small diamond, into my pocket, to rattle
about with my keys and penknife, and said to
myself, ''Bah the old woman is crazy"
The rooms on Fifth avenue occupied by Mrs.
Darcy and her daughter were spacious and lux
urious, and the parlor was besieged every even
ing by adorers and admirers. OF course was
in the very forefront of the forlorn-hope.
Sometimes / was allowed to drop in out OF call
ing hours, and by an especial grace to sit on
the same sofa with Constance while she lazily
| embroidered, and the mother came in and out
| of the room. 1t was on such happy occasion,
one day in late December, when l spoke of an
exquisite bracelet that Constance Wore.
sit was Christmas gift last year." she said,
| handing it to me to examine.
"Fromyour mother?" l asked.
"Oh, no From Mr.. Smith,"
Smith was one of our set of fellows.
'Why," | stammered, 81 didn't know you
cared for Smith,"
Scare for smith Why should L? Mr.. Smith
sent me a present at Christmas, that's all. Sc
good of him Do you see the beautiful silver
casket on the table? Mr.. White sent me that.
"Oh," exclaimed Mrs. Darcy, coming in al
the moment, ''all my daughters friends are SC
kind to her at Christmas Mr.. Herman sent
her great pile of gloves in such pretty box
and Mr.. Frost q necklace, and Mr.. Carter q
dressing-case; and there were dozen fans, oi
| course, and jewel-boxes and satches and vases
and perfect shower of fruit and flowers
Then the butterfly Constance did you never
show Mr. Van Boosen the jeweed butterfly
| from Mr.. Reynolds? 1t was very elegant, Mr.
Van Boosen, very elegant-diamonds ant
rubies."
BY this time Mrs. Darcy was putting out o.
| the room again.
had been feeling uneasy, for Reynolds wa'
at the house great deal, and | fancied hi
treated Mrs. Darcy with resigned patience, al
if he intended to get used to her. He was old
to be sure-forty seemed to me well ON TOWARD
the grave-and he was plain. and he was bald
In fact, / had grown morbidly jealous and anx
ious. Love had mastered discretion, and | iel
must speak; so, with all my worshiping sou
in my eyes, began, passionately: Dear Mis-
Darcy-daring Constance
"Oh, hush !" said she, laying her finger ol
her lip. "Mammas coming" Then she gav
me such shy, sweet glance, as II she under
stood everything, and the mamma came, TO
good this time, and sat down with her knitting
The chance had disappeared for that day, ant
1 rose to go. Constance took one step into tn
hall with me, familiarly yet discreetly. l fel
SO warmly toward her, and so happy-I was s.
young, and had been 80 seepless thinking o
her, that was near to crying like woman
There were tears in my eyes when | pressed he
hand. Mrs. Darcy was close by, yet | starve
for still more assurance of favor; SO | said
'You don't admire bald heads, do you"
Constance laughed. "Why, what an absur
idea hate bald heads"
That was ALL l was content. A last loo
from those gentian blue eyes, one more han
pressure, and went home happy.
Two days before Christmas fatal Christmas
l went into Tiffanys to buy suitable presen
for Constance. At school and at college i
country places had known nothing of the pt
culiar customs that obtain in some circles c
fashionable society, but l was learning theI
I I.IA