The Penn's Grove record., 1883-11-17

among the cool, white pillows, ant
gave way to a passionate burst o
tears.
81 never will do such a wild, idiotic
trick agan-neverl l don't care how
much the girls will laugh at me foi
backing out. Oh. l could just die o.
notification | shall never, never have
the courage to look him in the fac'
againl"
1t was, indeed, several days before
Minnie was herself again. In The
meantime Miss Claiborne had com
and gone, and Minnie, watching from
the window, had seen the pretty, styl
ish young lady promenading In the
grounds ON the arm of her handsome
father, and she had no doubt that he
was even then laughing at the story OF
her own foolish escapade.
When at last the unavoidable meet
ing between MI. Claiborne and herself
took place Minnie's saGcy eyes were
timidly ~downcast, and a guilty color
dyed her face from forehead to chin
To save her life she could not meet
those eyes which she felt were reading
her very soul and laughing at her con-
fusion.
But on the contrary, Mr.. Claiborne
tried so kindly to make her forget it,
and led the conversation so skilfully
in his " easy way from IN subject
to another of deep interest to Minnie,
that before the evening was half over
she could look up into his face and
smile almost as naturally as though
that miserable, madcap adventure had
never been; and IN a week or two they
were the best of friends.
Miss Minnie" said he one evening,
the very last before the breaking up of
Summer boarders, ''do you remember
our singular introduction to each other
in this very room?"
Did she rememDerY Minnie glanced
around, and the parlor, in its dusky
solitude, with the breath of late roses
scarlet honey.suckles waited gently in
through It's open windows, brought
back most wildly that other evening,
and those warm, delicious stolen kisses.
whose memory had made her life half
paradise, half purgatory, ever since.
They CHANGED to be alone and Minnie
felt painfully embrassed. Her eloquent
bushes were her only answer.
"Come, Minnie, tell me-" he went
on, his beautiful eyes brimful of mis-
chief as a schoolboy's; ''were you really
expecting to meet your father on that
eventful e~yeningp'
sob, Mr.. Claiborne. don'tl please
don'tl And bright saucy, daring Min
ME Moore, unable to bear another word
or look, crossed her arms upon the low
windowsIll and, bowling her bright
head upon them, wept as if her heart
would break. Oh, what a bitter sweet
memory those kisses in the twilight had
provd to heri
Mr.. Claiborne was grieved and
shocked at the startling effect of his
playful question. Minnie was always
so gay, 80 full of mischief, he had never
dreamed of her taking anything so
seriously. But now her bravo was ut
terly broken down, and she sobbed out
the whole story of her foolish joke, and
begged his forgiveness like a naughty
child.
my dear child" said he at last,
streking her golden hair so tenderly
that Minnie thought she would like to
sit there forever, II have nothing to
forgive. / suspected the truth long
ago, for 1 have a mischief-loving little
girl of my own, you know. But, in
deed Minnie" with one Of his rare,
beautiful smiles, sit was the very
sweetest moment l have known for
years. If l were not so Old" +
His voice ceased here, and he was
silent so long that Minnie looked up
and saw an expression of such yearning
sadness on his dark, handsome face
that it touched her heart with pity.
sob, MI. Claiborne, you are not SO
oldl" she cried, impulsively. "No one
would think so; Pm sure / never did. -"
Then down went her golden head
upon the window sill again. for her
words had brought a sudden light into
Mr.. Claiborne's eyes that fairly daz-
zled her.
"Minnis-Mlnnie Moore" he was
saying. passloDately, 'don't triie with
me now. Is it possible that l am not
too old to win the love of a bright
young girl-to win yours, Minnie2"
There was no very audible answer,
but once more his strong arms were
around her, and his warm thrilling
kisses ~crimsoning her cheeks again in
the deepening twilight, but this time
there was no mistake about it.
Ea.Aaf A1-aa