Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-27

IL,
nature.
Within half an hour after my arrival at tho
forlorn, ont .at-elbows old castle. had struck
up a friendship with the little childish brde|
that was to last my life. She was so romantic
IN her devotion to her handsome, middle-ageG|
bridegroom, so splendid in her scorn of any
advantage that his wealth mi ht bring her, anc
so determinedly loyal to my interests when il
came to a question of settlements, that it il
less than wonderful that she should touch M
heart as no woman could before or since. I'll
day after the wedding sailed for India, an
we never met again.
In my letter to my godmother I made
amusing story as could Of my meeting wit
Mrs Darsie Pierpont, and even assayed wor
picture of pretty Miss May Leyland, which
guessed would bring me into dire disgrace. NJ
godmother, good soul, oblivous of the year
that had rolled over my head since we parted
had let sip in one of her last letters hint of !
certain romantic scheme in petto.
My godfather had remembered me hand
somely beyond all expectation in his will, bu
the bulk of his property was naturally left t.
his wife for her lifetime. She in her child
less widowhood had adopted a pretty penniless
| relation, "the sort of child I was myself" SHIT
wrote; and knew what her frequent mention,
OF Mays goodness, and pretty ways, and gen
eral delightsomeness meant; and I gave
sign in return.
l was punctual to the time named at Tam
risk Lodge next day. The drawing-room W
empty. and had time to look about me a
note the traces of its occupants with approx
Leaning up against the wall, was a violence
that grinned me welcome from its eve
string. l was gazing amicabiy at it, thinking
of certain cherished household god of LILY
own, and, suppose, whistling Involuntary,
for
Beethoven, G minor No. g." remarked
Mrs Pierpoint's voice behind me. ''You don't
mean to tel me you play the violin 1 thought
l saw something like its case when we came
yesterday, but did not like to ask. That's
Mays cello. She will be here presently"
Then in she came, fresh as rose.
We had glorious practice. The two ladies
knew all my favorites as well as did, and had
piles of things. new and old, that it was per-
feet feast for me to plunge into. Mrs. Pier
points music was something out OF the COM
mon, too. She played us Chopin, while May
poured out afternoon tea, and let my cup get
cold untasted as 1 listened. When we parted,
Mrs Pierpoint had given half doubtful con-
sent to my suggestion of a drive to Shingle
Bay next day, and luncheon with me after,
with an inspection of my collection of Indian
curios to follow. We were to meet for prac-
tice in any case before long, and blissful
vision Of days to come stretched out before me
as took my way back to my quarters.
The days flew by with harmony on their
wings; how fast, 1 hardly guessed, till 1 found
with q start that Godmother Dorothys letter
! had fallen due for once without my having
counted the posts to its arrival. l was en-
gagged to dine at Tamarisk Lodge that day. We
had some music in the evening, and after that
strolled out together on the terrace under the
summer moon.
found myself telling Mrs. Pierpoint great
deal about myself, and learning very little
| about her in return. She had seen great
deal of the world, and her life had been sad
one-that was all gathered. My life had been
| lonely one, too, she OWNED instinctively-
here, half unwittingly, let Godmother Doro-
thy's name fall. 1t was followed by a sudden
chill and silence, as if cold mist from the
sea had blown in upon us. My companion in
deed was shivering. MAY May" she called,
''come ins 1t is damp, the dew is falling"
Nav obeyed, her wavy locks Strengthened and
stiffened by the salt air. her cheeks rosy. We
went back to the softly-lighted room and
slipped our coffee and talked commonplace for
few minutes then May disappeared, and her
aunt sat down to the piano, as if to avoid any
| further speech. She sang song after song in
| the rose-tinted gloom-sang them to me- every
| word and listened until my heart grew full,
| and my eyes wet, and the years seemed to roll
| their long length backward and, instead of
the elderly bronZed old major had left in my
looking glass that afternoon, was the care
| less subaltern, with the world before me and a
heartful of hopeless love for little Lady Dolly
again.
lay letter from my godmother with the Paris
postmark. An odd misgiying came over me as
| opened it. but it was just the same as ever
amusing, friendly, sympathetic -with bright
| little comments on my bits of news.
II utterly decline to be interested in your
new friends" it ended. 81 mistrust that wan
dering widow, without baggage or escort, and
| should not be surprised to hear that Colonel
Wriothesley knew no more about his charming
cousin than 1 do. l must decidedly exercise
| my godmotherIy privilege, and come down to
look after you as soon as l can get free. The
meeting at the station reads so very like put
up thing. Miss Leyland may be the sweetest
bud that ever doomed but buds are not such
| harmless playthings as roses, remember.
Good-by, my dear boy. Take good care of
yourself till the arrival of your loving god
| mother"
1 laid the letter down, laughing to myself.
There was an awkwardness, a sort of forced
| liveiness, in the whole of the last paragraph,
very unlike the rest of the letter. 1t read as
if goGmother had felt obliged to say something
when she had nothing good to say, and l
fancied detected fash of mild spite in the
reference to Miss Leyland that bore out the
suppositlon. Poor dear godmother II she
only knew how Indifferent l was to the charms
of that dangerous little bud, except from an
artistic point of view. AS for Mrs. Pierpoint,
she had only to be seen and known to dispose
of all criticism. AS soon doubt that the stars
| are fire. in fact much sooner, than suspect her
| to be of Brummagem origin. l forthwith
opened my letter-case and told Lady Dolly SO
Indignantly three posts before my letter was
| due.
Then. with parcel of new music for ex.
cuse. 1 sailed forth to call at Tamar;sk
Lodge, and obtain material on which to form
my opinion. 1 devised few neat diplomatic
little questions that shouid extract sufficient
particulars of the BIRTH parentage, and social
position of my new friends to set godmother's
doubts and-must it be confessed?-my OWL
likewise at rest for ever.
May was alone and defenceless. "Auntie
has headache and is not up to music to
day" she explained. Il expressed due regret