The Press., 1883-04-26

Fanny.
 "Come, cheer up, :, said Horatia laugh ing. 'sMiss Van Velsor returns to town tomorrow. The ward schools begin next week, and she must take her place as sec- ond assistant schoolma' am in Peake street. And even if she should take Harvey Car rolls recreant heart with her, why, there's l this consolation-there's as good fish in 1 the sea as ever came cut of 1t. '" 1 s'I hate vulgar proverbs" said the rec tors daughter. sSs 4j2k#F ~s " 2 stYou hate Oriana Van Velsor, you mean, said Miss Dale, shrewdly. 'Horatia," cried Fanny, Eff you say another hateful word, I'll"
 "Come now, Fanny" said Horatia, put l ting her arms around the waist of the sob- I ping girl, t.I'm only trying to raise your dormant spirit. Don't let this conceited city girl think she's breaking your heart /; and don't let Harvey Carroll suppose he is ] the only man in the world. Hush there l they come up the garden path P "Not here," cried Fanny.
 1 ''Yes, here. Why shouldn't Miss Ori- 1 ana yaunt her conquest here as well as l elsewhere p - ssI won't see them" cried Fanny l "But you must" commanded MissDal
 Do you want her to think you're blight 
 your eyelashes at once and come into the parlor." Ezst
 1 And Fanny Forester decided that it was best to obey her friends counsel. Miss Oriana Van Velsor was tall, bril- liantly -complexioned young lady, who call ed herself five and twenty, who wore her hair banged, and generally wore a white lace veil drawn tightly over her face, after the most approved style. Harvey Carroll, the handsome village lawyer, was we'll nigh infatuated by her metropolitan airs and grace, to the grief of little Fanny Forester, who up to this time had been his favorite companion. To lose the rich guerdon of Harvey Car rolls love bowed our little country girls heart to the very ground, and made her think vaguely that 1t could not be so very wrong to commit suicide after all. For Fanny had no mother, and the rector, hon. est man, lived in world of books and manuscripts, from which he emerged re- luctantly, three times day, to eat his ab- stracted meals. ss
 Miss Van Valsor giggled, Airted her fan, as Fanny Forester greeted her in low voice, scarcely even glancing at Harvey Carroll. 'a #&
 'You're going to the nutting party, to- morrow, of course, Miss Forester ?" said she. Fanny was about to say no; but she caught Horatia Dale's warning eye, and changed her answer to:
 Yes I suppose so."
 'We are going," said Miss Van Velsor- .'Mr. Carroll and L He has depicted the delights of nutting party in such vivid colors that really am quite anxious to participate in one. I do hope it won't rain"
 70, it won't rain, said Mr. Carroll
 sI don't think it will rain," said Fanny, feeling she ought to say something.
 'tAn1, ;" Harvey added, ''H you are not provided with an escort, am sure Miss Van Velsor will be glad to have you join olU party
 Delighted !" chimed in Oriana. "I thank you," interposed Miss Dale, be- fore Fanny could reply, ''but Fanny is to go with my brother Lemuel."
 (Now MT. Lemuel Dale was an old bach elor, regarded as the common property of all the girls in town.) @
 "Yes," said Fanny, clutching at the straw of escape, s.I am to go with MT. Lem- uel Dale. And Harvey Carrol's con- science did sting him little as he met the glance of unconscious reproach in poor 'Fanny's eyes. "~S EtN '7-f.$E '"7'
 ''She is little jewell" he confessed to himself. "But then she is only pearl, and Oriana is diamond of the first water; and there can be no better chance for me to propose than tomorrow. " @4
 And morning came-one of those bril- Liant, summer-ike days that seem to have been plucked out of the golden diadem of August itself.
 ''How delightful P isped Miss Oriana as she sat gracefully on twisted tree-root and drank champagne out of silver cup. EE.s .ssAh, how indescribably charming is the country P
 "Could you be contented to live here al- ways ?" asked Harvey Carroll, as he lay stretched on the green turf at her feet. Oriana, lifting her eyes heayenward. s} j
 s"Then-" Harvey was beginning when honest Lenuel Dale came stumbling over the unevens sgreund toward them. 'sI say Carroll what are you dreaming about p cried he. Don't you see the thunder clouds piling up in the west Don't you feel the sudden chill in the air Everybody else is seeking shelter from the storm, while you stay here, apparently 1 blind, deaf and dumb Luckily for you 1 that came back for Miss Forrester's shawl and reused you from your dream. J And Fanny, leaning on Dale's arm, scarce I ly looked up while he spoke. Miss Van Velsor caught up her lace par. asol with shriek. ''Is it going to rain 9 she cried. ''Oh, I have such dislike oi thunder showers Oh, do let us go to g place of shelter, some nice old farmhouse, or dear old dame's honeysuckle covered cottage"
 s'The nearest place is the rectory, at the foot of the hill, half mile off, said Car roll, doubtfully.
 'sWe shall be happy to welcome you there," spoke up Fanny, unconsciously heaping coals of fire on her rivals head.
 ''Oh, do let us hurry" cried Miss Var Velsor, catching at Carroll's arm, as the thunder broke in low rumbling tones anG
 the first big drops began to fall f But Mss Forester and Mir. Dale reach ed the rectorya by short cut across tht meadows, and were at the door to receive 1 their dripping guests when at last they reached the haven of refuge. 1 Carroll surrendered Miss Van Velsor a once into Fanny's care lrTake her up stairs, please, Miss Forester" said he, il startled tone, ssI--I think there's some thing the matter with her. ! s<2$2.
 tsOh, I am all right" said Miss Van Vel sor. with simper. sOnly 8 little tireG