Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-16
Gales aud Sketfhts.
oyLr AUNT MARGERT.
(co,tinued from yesterday


other married ladies - to rs Young ones,
and-did you notice ?-the other evening
he actuallv danced with Aunt Margery !"
Which last exploit of the hero was evil
IDENTIFY considered an unnecessary waste OF
hi. GOOD offices by Miss Derwent. Still
less did she approve of his next proceed
ing. which was to send to London for two
songs which Aunt Margery happened to
mention had been her favorites long ago,
but which she had lost through lending
them to an acquaintance.
1T is all very well, you know, Connie.
sbe said. in a confidential talk with that
unfailine svmpathizer. IL like him to be
kind and attentive to the poor old thing.
but really that IS carrying things little
too far-she might expect the same atten,
ton when we are married, which | shall
certainly not permit"
"You think he really means something,
then. Kate ? He has not proposed yet p
mo. but mamma says he is sure to do
80 soon. Why he is here nearly every day,
on some pretext or other. and what else
can he come for? Beside, don't you know
that he has arranged q grand picnic to
Carnforth ruins? Mamma says she IS
certain he will ask me then; so. if you see
all intruders, will you not p"
81 will certainly remember that two are
compapy. but three none," answered Con-
ME, laughing.
She could afford to he good natured for
she was engaged to handsome young
lieutenant. the only son of the rector, and
would be married on his return from his
next voyage,
The day of the picnic arrived. The
weather was superb. and everybody was
in high spirits, except the originator of
the holiday. At starting he looked pale.
and his manner preoccupied and nervous.
unlike his usual bright. genial self. Mrs.
Derwent and her daughter exchanged
chances; Kate's was triumphant, and she
saw herself. in imagination. returning
home the promised bride of the rich and
popular Maurice Chester of Chester Grove.
as he had renamed his splendid home.
By the time they arrived at their desti-
nation, Maurice had quite recovered his
usual spirits, and was soon rowing Kate
ard some other gay young friends on the
lake, while Aunt Margery walked quietly
along its margin alone and rather sad, for
she could not but recall, as the sound of
their merry laughter came to her from
the water, her own bright youth, when
she had been surrounded by love and
friendship, as Kate was now. She felt
little hurt, too, that Mr.. Chester had not
offered her a seat in the boat; it was not
like his usual kind thoughtfulness for all,
which she had so constantly admired in
him.
'Ah, we'll, l am only Aunt Margery to
him, suppose. dare say look forty.
at least. beside Kate" she thought.
But it was not in her nature to spend
long in repining. She was soon engaged
in merry hunt through the maze with
the younger members of the party, and
when the rowing party returned, shouts
OF '.Auntie, where are you? This way.
Johnnie ~ Take the path to the right !"
keep round to the left" "Oh, am
lost ~ resounded through the usually ST.
lent ruins
Presently Margery found a gap in the
hedge, which she plunged through. call
ing On Reggie. her youngest nephew, to
follow her.
I'm coming Aunt Margery; wait a
moment ~ he cried.
But. willing to give him a good chase.
Margery sped on, and presently found
herself in small stone grotto. in which
the path unexpectedly terminated, and
shut in on either side by masses of tan
gled bushes and underwood Breathless,
She sat down on little worm eaten wood
en- bench. and waited for Reggie.
Footsteps soon were heard on the leaf
strewn path, and, springing out, intending
to give Reggie a start. Margery flew right
| into the arms of Maurice Chester.
Kate herself could not have blushed
more wildly than did Margery at this I'M
| looked-for visitor to her retreat, nor. had
it been Kate. would Maurice have looked
more embarrassed, or have had 2 brighter
look of pleasure on his handsome face
directly after.
pray. excuse me, Mr.. Chester:
thought you were Reggie" exclaimed
Margery, who, woman like, was the first
to recover herself.
well, Miss Derwent, really think you
owe me some apology for so nearly knock
ing me down What sort of place is
this ?" he continued, coolly looking around
him and not offering to relinquish the
hand he had caught when Margerv darted
out upon him.
ut is a very nice place l think we will
60 back, Reggie cannot find me-" said
Margery. blushing more deeply, and try
ing to withdraw her hand
81 don't want Reggie or any one else to
find you just now, though l am only too
glad have done So" answered Maurice.
and he gently drew her back to the grotto
Come and sit down just for flew mo-
ments have something to tell YOU"
Margery's face grew pale again, and
with a gentle, yet dignified movement,
she withdrew her hand.
HE is going to tell me that he loves
Kate, and wishes to marry her." she
thought. And with another sigh for her
own vanished youth. when love- and Joy,
and a happy marriage had lain within the
limits of a sweet probability for her future
life, she seated herself to listen.
1t was strange how the commonplace
civilities she had received from the man
now before her had seemed to reawaken
the hopes and thoughts of that time which
had tor so long seemed buried. But, he,
too, began to speak of buried past, and
she resolutely put aside her own thoughts
and listened with an interes, in the speak
er that bred in her vague alarm. What
was Maurice Chester to her. she trem.
blingly asked herself. that his tones should
/ thrill her