Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-12
Gales aud Sketthes.
BETWEEN rWO STOOLS.
CHAPTER II.
CONTINUED from yesterday. J

load off her mind: but she was not in
any fever of impotence to post this letter,
it would keep till she was on her way to
school. After the hurried emotions of
the last twenty-four hours she was physi-
cally tired. and so she sat rocking herself
backwards and forwards in her wicker
chair with faint sensation of relief in the
motion.
Twilight was fading, and timid little
stars were trembling into the sky beyond
the uncurtained windows, when there
came a soft tap to the door. and Mousie
Graham's rosy, roguish face peeped in.
..Oh. you are not busy-thank goodness
for that was half afraid | might find
you deep in the differential calculus, and
did so want good long chat"
Come in, dear, | am so glad to see
you; it is an age since you were here be-
fore" Mary took the soft little face be-
tween her hands, and kissed the delicious
pink cheeks.
Ceramic has been worse lately, weaker
and more fretful. and so felt could not
leave her without special errand."
but she is better today?"
'Oh yes, ever so much better. and then
Aunt Lizzie came to pay her little visit,
so left Grannie with her and ran over TO
see you"
THAT was very good of you, dear"
"Oh no, it was not; came on business"
Mousie laughed and flushed little, then
she drew letter from her pocket .This
came addressed to me yesterday, but it is
evidently meant for you. 1t is from that
BOBBY, John Hayward; he is always in
the clouds. or among the cogwheels of
his looms. and so the result is a blunder."
She unfolded the sheet as she spoke. and
handed it to Mary. and this is what stood
before the latter's astonished eyes
DEAR Miss RANLEY,-ln the pleasant
excursion we had together last summer,
remember you mentioning a book on
ferns that you desired to have, but could
not get, as you had forgotten the authors
name. have just come across volume
of Teakerstone, the opening chapter of
which is on the Osmunda RECALLS. If you
think this is the work in question | shall
be happy to forward it to you.-Sncerely
yours, John HAYWARD"
Mary Ranley was sure some complex
machinery in her head had got out of
order. so loud and persistent was the
whirring in her ears.
When she spoke at last, her voice sound
ed FAINT and tar away.
'.Is your name Mary p"
.'Of course it is, or rather Mary Ann.
but every one calls NE Mousie except
John Hayward. He thought Mousie no
name for girl. and so he always called
me Mary-Miss Mary; it did sound so
funny"
''Then, Miss Nary. have an ooffer of
marriage for you. 1t came to me, and
naturally enough took it to myself"
Mousie was SO furried that she did not
notice her friends perturbation.
II fancied," she said, holding the letter
in her hand. but not looking at it, 'that
he must have been writing to me, and had
mixed the covers" That Is so like your
very clever people! But how lucky the
letter came to an engaged girl -
"Well. don't see the luck of it, for |
wrote yesterday and accepted him."
"Oh, Mary And Tom ~
Tom and had Guarreled. and Johns
letter came at my worst moment, so ac-
cepted him."
Poor Mousie's eyes grew dim.
I'm that case, Mary, suppose you had
better keep the letter." she said, faltering
a little ''It was really sent to You, and,
after all, don't mind so very much"
You are generous little darling, but
there is no necessity of your sacrifice even
if Mr.. Hayward would permit it. wrote
him my recantatlon this afternoon. There
is the letter: you can send it to him with
your own. He will be sure of its genui-
ness that way.
Then the two girls kissed and cried over
each other, and after the exchange of
divers condolences Mousie went away.
carrying Johns letter, still unread in her
hand.
After she had gone Mary took out her
needlework with an underlined feeling
that chaos had come again and that in the
midst of it it was well to hold on to some
commonplace every day employment.
By-and-by Bessie came with the tea
tray. and as she fitted about the table
Mary spoke with the feeling of pespera-
ton which makes us always want to lay
finger on our wound.
"You posted my letter last night
Bessie ?'
Bessie paused, the picture of consterna-
ton.
20, miss. I'm afraid forgot all about
it."
"You forgot to take it out. suppose P"
speaking in a voice so high and eager that
I L
it scarcely sounded like her own.
.,Oh no, Miss, took it and put it in my
waterproof pocket. but Peter met me be-
| fore | reached the office, and then | for
got; but III run out with it now in a
minute
Bring it to me instead, please; don't
want it posted now"
! Bessie never knew till this hour why
Miss Ranley gave her five shillings instead
of the scolding she expected, neither does
John Hayward understand why letter
number one never reached him.
Tom Danvers went to Rangoon. as he
had said, in much disgust and dispair.
Mary's unfaithfulness had turned the sun
| light into darkness for him, but through
/ his pain certain resolution to be and do
something grew daily. He would forget
her, he would never speak of her. and if
men uttered her name he would turn aside,
but he would do so well with his own life
that one day she would know him the su-
perior of the man she had married. So
| in much wrath and scorn. he sailed away
/ to succeed or fail as might be.