The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-06-15
miscellaneous.
A Little Coward.

That was WHAT MISS MerlVdle DaQ CalleC
her that morning, when she trembled and
turned pale because the black mare reared
with her She begged Sir Robert to take hel
of, and stood in ignomiNious safety while
Agatha Merivale mounted Stella and rode of
triumphantly down the avenue. She was @
coward. She did not deny it, and was some
times very much ashamed of it. But no one
had seemed to mind it until Agatha Merivale
came, with her bold dark eyes and her dash
ing ways, her riding and hunting; and every.
body admired Agatha so much, even Sir
Robert
She almost hated Agatha You see, until
Agatha came they had been so happy at De
Rossett. Little orphan Madeline Leigh had
never been so happy in her life as here at the
hall with sweet Lady de Rossett, who was
her guardian, and her son, Sir Robert. They
were so kind and good to her. They petted
her and loved her so. And now Agatha had
come, and for two weeks had monopolized Sir
Robert, and had kept the house in a turmoil
of gayety, and laughed at Lima and made her
life wretched. Lina's maid reported that
everybody said Sir Robert was to marry Miss
Merivale Lima made stern resolve that she
would run away from the hall when that
event took place. Run away She would
run away now Not far, though-she was
too much ola coward to venture far into the
world alone but she would go away across
the field to Aunt Margarets," as she called
Lady de Rossett's widowed sister-in-la
who lived in quiet comfortable house a
mile away from the hall. Mrs. Harrington
was an invalid, paralyZed, and confined to
her bed She was rather grim old lady
and most people were inclined to shun her
But ut the little gate that led from the park
to the fields Lima was greatly disconnected
by an unexpected encounter with Sir Rob
ert and Miss Merivale, who came laughing
and talking along the path, both looking
bright and handsome in the golden rays OF
the setting sun.
She brushed past them with hasty
Good evening"" but Sir Robert turned back
to speak to her
Where are you going, Lina?" he asked
ITO Aunt Margarets,' she answered, not
looking Mt him.
you will wait little while | will go with
at the girls flushed cheeks and averted eyes
mo, thanks" Lima answered hastily. 81
will not trouble you. Leo will take care OF
me. And you would be late for dinner il
you went with me-"
May come for you, then, after dinner 9'
Sir Robert asked.
"fhanks !" Pm not coming back shall
stay all night" was the hurried answer, and
Lima turned to go.
But Sir Robert detained her for moment
Lima" he said in a low tone, "what
makes you avoid me so lately9 What have
done to offend you?"
Lima raised her blue eyes hastily to his fol
one moment and then dropped them again
II have not avoided you" she said, coldly
"You have been very much occupied with
other people there, | will not detain you
She waved her little hand haughtily and
walked away from him. He watched the
pretty, white-robed figure for a moment, and
then Leo came and fawned on him.
Leo! Leow called Lina's voice.
"Go, Leo" said his master, and the ODE
dent dog trotted off down the path after the
girl.
1t was rather dreary at the lodge thai
evening. Mrs. Harrington was out of hu
NOR because her agent had failed to call that
day to receive Il 900 that she wished him tc
deposit for her. And Parkins, her nurse ant
housemaid, let the maid servants all go of
to a fair in the village "Where they will
certainly get into mischief" Mrs. Harrington
said.
But when Lima had talked TO her ant
made her laugh little, she forgot her griev
ances and chatted away very pleasantly. Al
10 o'clock she declared she had laughed til
she was tired, and Lima must give her hel
drops and let her go to sleep.
"There, the spoon is gonel Where car
Parkins have put it Child would you MIND
me spoon? / would ring for Parkns, bu
,lo toI1 mn oha want oil IN un nm opn,o ,,,,,s
Inns this evening, and would come up as
soon as she had finished"
Lima did not altogether like TO pass down
the long stair and silent entries leading tc
the pantry; but she went, and Leo trottet
after her As she stood in the pantry, look
ing around for spoons, with no light but
faint CLEAN from the hall lamp, sound o
voices reached her ear.
The pantry was on the ground floor, it!
iron bound shattered window looking into
the garden. The sound was outside the win
dow, and Lima paused to listen. The first
word that caught her ear startled her.
"A thousand pounds and all the old lady,
jewelry and plate" said a mans voice In
husky undertone
YES" was the reply, in woman's voic,
the voice Lima knew, OF Parkins, Mrs. Har
rington's model, soft.voiced, lady-lke nurse
"and there won't be any trouble about il
because | have let the women go away t,
stay all night, and sent the gardener ON
FOOLS Grand to Missis' brothers, twent,
miles off"
but this girl that came to night-wha
about her ?" asked the man.
"Oh, she will go to her home presently
and stay there if she is wise. She'd be n
hindrance any way-a silly, timid lttl
thing But it's as well to let her get out q
the way" said Parkins, coolly.
But see here, Molly; why not do it now
Then well have more time to get away b
daylight" said the man
II tell you it's not safe before II o'clock,
said Parkins, positively. People may com
in. Sir Robert don't like her out ofhis sigh
or long, and that idiotic young Marsden ma
/ noma rnnnninn in Wait till Ii 90 and I'll