The Portland daily press., 1883-08-30

'nSiA ninunoos' Anal scdSoI, Melalne spend
ing three months with her cousins in Boston.
Mr.. Waring had not, perhaps attended so
many concerts and operas in long time or
visited such a variety of picture galleries and
museums. Somehow, he always had with
him an enthusiastic little person who en-
joyed everything with girlish delight and yet
grew quite wise withal in knowledge of art
and music.
Odd, too, that Mr.. Waring should pass the
month of July following, in the pretty sea-
port town where he first met Melanie that
stormy night But what was there surpris-
ing in mans spending his vacation at such
charming resort he met Miss Danes
friends, masculine and feminine, and the
bevy of pretty girls informed him that of
course there were no such resources in the
amusement line as at Boston, and that boat.
ing was their favorite summer diversion.
1t was Mr.. Warnings pet recreation-vacth
ing, and he seemed vastly to enjoy the row.
ing and sailing parties. 1t was on one of
the latter that Melanie sat opposite Mr.. War
ing. He was listening with great apparent
interest to the lively 'chatter of a bright,
pleasant girl-a friend of Melanie's-who
was playing the agreeable to him, but all the
time he watched Melanie furtively. He
thought he had never seen her more charm
ing than then. Her "sailor suitn of dark
blue flannel, fitted gracefully her figure, and
from under the jaunty hat, that was in keep
ing with the rest of the costume, her golden
hair strayed perversely down over her fore
head, and, as it crinkled and cured natural
~, the sea air just coiled it into tiny rings
about her temples. Mr.. Waring would have
liked to substitute the young man, admiring
but stupid, who talked to Melanie during the
entire sail down the harbor. But no. the
devoted youth prolonged the tete-a-tete
when they landed on one of the islands,
built their fire, had a picnic supper and
chatted for an hour afterwards. 1t was only
when they started from home that, by the
exercise of strategy on Mr.. Warnings part,
he secured the coveted position. They said
nothing. Melanie was leaning back, watch
ing the trails of phosphorescent light in the
water, and the attitude was in keeping
with the lazy plash of the waves, and the
gliding motion of the little craft. The moon
light touched her sweet face tenderly. The
young people were shouting to get the echo
at one place off-shore, or singing snatches of
college songs, and their merry talking and
laughter drowned Mr.. Warnings voice as he
said, 1T is true, what someone writes, that
the only people with whom it is pleasure
to sit silent are those with whom it is a
pleasure to talk was not conscious till
this moment that neither of US had spoken
''Nor - said Melanie; sthough it may
have been absence of mind on my part. I
have been bored to distraction by a we'll
meaning but diminutive minded boy. ST.
lence. maybe, in my case, comes to heal the
blows of sound"
go, then I am to remain dumb? You
have already suffered from too much con-
versation this evening"
"That remark is unlike you, Mr.. Waring;
you compel me to state that you have res
cued me from an avalanche of small talk,
and took time to get my breath. Now
shall be most grateful if you will talk to me
as if were person of ordinary intelli-
gence."
''But can't"
"Why not?''
Because you aren't"
Melanie laughed 81 am not in the mood
for picnic. 1 wonder why came tonight.
I might have let the rest of the family go
with you without me-"
"a dispensation of providence" said Mr..
Waring gravely.
81 don't KNOW suggested Melanie, ''of
what possible importance it could be to
providence-my coming"
Providence has other peoples interests at
heart" said Mr.. Waring with an expressive
look and accent
Melanie sat up very straight. "Why, Mr..
Waring, I did not suppose yoa would de-
scend to conventional compliments p'-this
in severe tone.
adopted had been real enough; but they
gradually ceased talking and only listened
to the rush of the water as the boat cut
swiftly on-tbe wind had freshened sudden
ly. 1t seemed long time to Melanie that
she felt Mr.. Warnings eyes fixed upon her.
She looked up with a quick blush, as he
leaned forward, took her hand in his and
said, "Let me speak seriously. / am SO
much older than you, you think of me al
ways as so grave and sedate-I-"
"MelanieP' called young voice, the
sound rapidly approaching, "Im coming up
there where you and Mr.. Waring are. 1t is
too cold here. Give me your hand and help
me up, will youP" The practical tone was
so homogeneous just then that Melanle could
not repress smile, as she complied with her
pretty cousins request.
Sometime that interrupted sentence must
have been completed, for after Mr.. Warnings
return to Boston, the close of letter ran
thus:
"Let US be married the 2lst of September.
No matter if it does storm, for shall be only
thinking of the sunshine you have brought
into my life, and of the fact that if it had
not been for the line gale of year ago,
should never have said that I am yours.
ETC., etc., ETC., Austin T. Waring.
Melanie thought it shame to spoil the
sentiment of the date by declaring a period
of eight weeks very short engagement. She
has learned faith in modem fairy princes
''Don't be surprised, girls" she says, 'if a
lover falls from the clouds. Mine came, not
exactly like Macbeth's witches 'in thunder,
lightning but at all events in rain," and
she is ready to sing, with one of the quaint
old poets,-
"Over the mountains
And under the waves,
Over the fountains
| And un Ter the graves,
| Under floods which are deep
| Which Neptune obey,
Over rocks which are steep,
Love will find out the way"