The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-19

WOHldu invited them IN, ana, notlclnS now
! tired and pale poor Maud locked, she made
shoes, and doing her best to dry them by
her fire
Mr.. Dunstan inquired whether any convey
ance could be found to take them to the
, riverside, but there was none to be had within
getatable distance
Refreshed with that beverage which cheers
but does not inebriate, Maud started off once
more with her companion, leaving glad
/ heart behind in the humble cottage; for Ed
win Dunstan was generous fellow, and
seeing evidence of the pinch of poverty
around, had left golden piece in the wo-
mans palm. When they reached the river
they could for time gain no information
respecting the Swan, and they walked along
the water-side, hoping that the boat would
soon overtake them; and the girl grew so
tired that Edwin Dunstan persuaded her to
rest under tree, with a fallen limb for
seat. But no shallop arrived, and the pretty
lace became anxious and worried
By and by barge came up against the
stream. Mr.. Dunstan hailed it, and found
that the Swan was a long way down the
rlver-the barge had especially noticed her;
and, upon further inquiry, he was still more
annoyed to learn that they were not more
than half mile from the point from which
they had started, SO it was evident that they
had doubled, like hares; and the only thing
lett tor them to do was to return to the creek
where they had landed and hire boat TO
convey them to Radleigh, a distance of ten
miles,
Tears rose in the girls eyes when she heard
OF the dilemma she was in and her compan-
ION strove to reassure her.
Don't fret Miss de Lara; who knows but
what we may overtake them2 They are sure
to wait reasonable time for US, and will
make inquiries at all the locks"
They had some difficulty in persuading
n fnf hs.n -
distance but money does most things, and
1t overcame the uAwillingnesS of the men to
start for so long pull, when evening was
fast closing in, on such a dismal night.
They did their best to be cheerful, even
trying snatches of songs, their young voices
blending together and going out over the
water softly and melodiously; so that passers-
by on land stopped to listen, and more than
once faces peered from windows of houses
upon the banks attracted by the music under
that umbrella
But the singing proved a failure as the
shades OF evening drew on, and the shivering
girl crept closer to Edwin Dunstan for
warmth and shelter.
There was no one there to see them; even
the boatman was shut out by that paragon
frame covered with thick brown silk. There
was no one to hear, for the boatman was de-
cldedly deaf Had these two met under or
binary circumstances, they would of course
nave bSCll URINARY dCS upon lnlS
the first day of their meeting but the cir
cumstances were not at all ordinary, and
Edwin really felt obliged to put his arm
about the little shrinking FORM to protect it
ali he could Cor at any rate it pleased him to
think so) from the stormy Dight-wlnd; for
the rain had not ceased for q moment, and it
seemed quite natural to clasp the small, cold
hands which she trusted in his with such
child-like confidence; and when few tears
rolled slowly down the pale face, there is not
much wonder that he kissed them away I'M
der that protecting umbrella, nor that he
strove to comfort her in his own fashion.
Il said You were not TO be conventional,
little Maud" he whispered softly rest your
head upon my shoulder, that will be pillow
for you"
But ought |? Do you think ought?
What would Beatrice sayr'
He was nearly as possible saying. Bother
Beatrice!" but instead, he replied:
Il am sure you ought ard mast. Little
one, cannot you trust yourself to meP'
And she had crept quite close, like tired
child, glad to rest; and so he had held her
tenderly, his heart going out to her with
great love.
Then lao loaned oyer her and spoke again:
"Only fancy we met to-day for the first
time and yet it seems as though | had known
you all my life. Perhaps | have seen you in
my Dreams but sweet Maud, | cannot part
from you again You asked me iuet now
"
know, but whatever 1t may be, you will
give me the right to stand by you. Maud,
will YOU be my wife?'
And he stopped and kissed her rosy lips
unchdden, once, twice, thrice; and again
there was silence, delicious silence which,
like man, he broke.
You do not answer me, my little love-
Are you happy-are you cOntent2''
More than happy-more than content.
My heart is too full for words"
MY little queen" he whispered, chow
fortunate it was that I brought my UNI
brella! otherwise might never have gained
you for my wife. | wonder If any other
man ever won so charming a bride thus
strangely%'
And the oars went on with their monoton-
Gus turns in the rowlocks, and darkness set
in, while those two, sheltered under the
umbrella, needed nothing but their own
Joy. When they reached Ripplebank, there
was great commotion.
Mrs. Roley had waited for the lost couple
for half an hour at the place appointed; then
she had inquired OF some people coming up
stream, and had learned that they had seen a
gentleman and lady enter a small boat and
pull down the river; and, upon further in
quries, had gathered that the gentleman
had an umbrella, which he gave to the lady
before taking the oars himself; and the
umbrella was conclusive evidence that the
couple could be no other than Miss de Lara
and Mr. Dunstan. The other four couples,
who had been deeply engrossed in their own
affairs, and knew as little about the manner
they had missed them as Dunstan and Maud
asserted that they were sure they had walked
on ahead of them, and that no doubt they
had hired this boat just for piece of fun,
and that most likely they should pick them
up a mile or two down the river.
But no boat did they overtake at all an
swering to the description given them, for
la hat thn
and lady whose possession of an umbrella
had led them astray had gone home to their
cottage by the riverside, and the umbrella
was peacefully draining in the stand in the
hail, while the two were partaking OF their
evening meal behind closed blinds.