Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-01-17
CHAPTER w.

In an experimental fashion. He was not
yet beyond all chance-nobody ever was. as
the result of a single interview-but a long
ing was upon him to see more Of the woman
who had so much interested him, and he
walked into bondage with his eyes open.
Even thus early he guessed what was the
matter with him.
"1must know more Of her, he said, "A
man must be poor creature who allows
himself to go down before pair of express
sive eyes before he can guess whether there
is soul behind them or not"
The young man set forth deliberately in
quest Of Miss Farmers soul with intent to
examine and appraise it. He found the
slightest difficulty in obtaining second in
PRODUCTION to the lady, and it was managed to
look accidental and unsought. Gorbay was
not big place, nor had it many people of
Importance among its boundaries. The i'm
poftance of people is not determined. 10
themselves, by the estimation in which thew
are held by others, and the inhabitants of
Gorbay were as much interested in their.
own affairs as II they had all been dukes
and duchesses- provision Of nature with
out whose operation things would be ex-
tremely duh for most Of US When Ire
garthen, whose seclusion had been good
deal talked about, began to make visits to
the main land, and TO cultivate the small
gentry ct the town, the untavorable opin-
Ions which had been formed Of him melted
and disappeared. The Tregarthens had al
ways been so far above the professional peo-
pde and the small, retired capitalists of Cor
pay, chat the condescension displayed by
this latest scion Of the house was the more
remarkable and the more valued.
There were people who could tell him all
about Miss Farmers simple and uneventful
history. He learned thatshe was the daugh-
ter OF the Vicar, and except for the time
she had spent at school, and term of eigh-
teen months passed in London, was bredin
6orbay. She passed there as being learned
beyond the rights of woman, but that was
the only fault that anybody found with
her. The Vicar, nearly three years ago,
about the time when Tregarthen had been
awaiting his commission, had departed this
life, leaving two daughters very i'll pro-
vided for. Miss Farmer had thereupon
gone to London, and had there made liv-
ing for herself and her younger sister, it
was believed, by writing for the magazines
Certain poems and stories bearing her name
had reached even to Gorbay, and there was
general belief there that in the outer world
she was famous. But an uncle in the
North-the Farmers were northern people.
1t appeared-had died two years later than
his brother, the Vicar, and had left to Miss
Farmer funded moneys to the value Of some
five hundred year. On this she kept house
In modest and elegant comfort, and the re-
turn OF the elder girl had been welcomed
by all who knew her. The younger had
been put to school during her sisters alb
sence, and was now finishing her education
at home.
There Is not much out Of the common in
this narrative to anybody who does not
happen to be in love with Miss Farmer, or
strongly inclined that way. But to Ire
garthen the story seemed one of heroism
and sorrow, and he thought he could see al
ready some Of those inward qualities of
which he desired to assure himself. The
OF n clergyman is conventionally
q gentewoman, and he was already per
suaded that Miss Farmer possessed all de-
sfrable womanly qualities when he met her
for the second time. They had talked com
monplaces at their first meeting and had
been aware Of the fact. They talked COM
monplaces now and did not know it, because
they spoke OF books and art, and nobody
believes that he or she can talk common
places upon those inspiring themes. Miss
Farmers soul declared itself more and more
freely to Tregarthen's attentive observation,
and he was more and more convinced that
It was Of the right quality and pattern.
The young man had taken apartments for
The rest OF the summer season at "The
George" and Gorbay knew by this time in
what pursuit he was engaged. Mr. Ire
yarthen rambled much in the pleasant fields
beyond tho town, and Miss Farmer. who
had a taste for botany and some little
of the science, was indefatigable
in exercise. The two young people met on
most days, and the little sister was old
enough to play propriety, and-which was
perhaps of some importance-was old
enough to know when she was not wanted.
Any wandering butterfly was reason enough
for race which at least took this sensible
child round a corner Of the lane in which
her elders strolled.
The searcher after the philosophers stone
had found it, but not where he had ex-
pected. Everything had grown golden for
him. The smile is poverty ty-stricken, but
there is no simile which win EXPRESS the
physical wealth of heart which for the
first time has given away all its substance.
1t was time for lovers condolences. and
they were exchanged. The sensible child
had gone full tilt round leafy corner, and
the young man and his sweetheart fingered
at stiae The child caroled with a won
derfuf1y sweet, shrill voice fifty yards away,
and the elders talked
"You remember" said Tregarthen. .sthe
day on which we first metGn
Eyes" she answered, with a delicious
shyness. His ardent eyes-she thought she
had never seen anything SO tender, ardent
as they were-and her hashful glance met
for moment, and she blushed a little
II was lying on the grass" he said, "on
the top Of the cliff, above the landing
place, when I heard your voice, and it awoke
me-"
Twas so boisterous?n she asked. snil-
Ing, with her eyes upon the ground.
NO." he answered, with little tender
laugh, which Of itself was lovers fiattery,
" but it awoke me-from curious dream.n
he added, with an air of odd reluctance.
"Indeed?" she said, questioningly.
Tregarthen began to wish in vague way
that he had not mentioned this. His god
dess might not care to know that one of her
rarest charms had reminded him of an act
ress But, having begun, he felt bound to
go on; so he spoke with feigned lghtness.
and looked anywhere rather than at his
face