The Red Cloud chief., 1884-03-28

which Mabelle was TO go TO 1rkfOru.
She and Philip and Grace had planned
a last excursion with DR. johnson in the
pony carriage, to some fine old woods
from which they could descend to the
shore. and picnic under some huge
cliffs an almost unknown, untrodden
region, which Mabeile had a yearning
to visit.
1t was September, yet the heat was
great almost sultry; there was aduSky
haze over sea and sky when the three
would-be eXcursiOnists met at break
fast. Their elders had finished long
ago, for / do not suppose any one Will
attempt to dispute the fact that the
present generation as a whole. break
fast later than the one Immediately pre-
ceding them. Mr.. Massey had been of
in his fields by half past seven, and
Mrs. Massey was at this moment in the
kitchen. not exactly ''eating bread n
honey" but experimenting her hand
maids in the preparation of something
which at the evening meal should far
surpasS in excellence any bread n
honey that ever passed mortal lips.
Letters said Philip. strolling in
last, as he simultaneously kissed his Sis
ter and took up a blue envelope adj
dressed to him.
GOOD morning. Mabelle." he added,
for Grace, As well as he. had discovered
that the Miss Fairfax" sounded UNI
natural, and Philip had adapted himself
to the circumstances which required
him to call Miss Fairfax "Mabelle.'
while Mabelle adapted herself to the
uncomfortable method of not calling
Philip anything hut you"
He read his letter. while Grace began
to lament the necessity for Mabelle's
early departure the following morning,
and was expressing the wish that she
had not so long a journey to make
alone. when Philip. laying down his
letter and helping himself to an egg,
observed in a well-feigned matter-Of-
course accent:
II shall have to go to Irkford myself
Immediately, so l may as we'll 90 to-
morrow a the day after, and then Ma
belle will have an escort"
Gra.e looked swiftly at him, while
Mabelle's face flushed, and the former
sad:
Really: If you could manage to go
to, ether it would be very nice. What
calls YOU to lrkford; Philip"
"A letter from Mr.. Starkie. I've
been expecting it, to tell the truth, for
some days. They are establishing a
branch concern al Bradford, and had
a hint that most l kelly the management
would be offered to me: so that the let
ter is not exa: fly a surprise: but l know
Mabelle likes to have rs little to do with
me as possible, so l thought l would
not make her unhappy with the idea OF
nv travelling with her unless it was alb
~solutely necessary.
What do YOU mean.?" began Ma
belle. but Grace interrupted:
''Why, Philip, you must be congrat'
ulated, mustn't you? Isn't it a very
good thingP"
1T will be by no means a bad thing.
and it is very quick promotion.
..Ah, but then. you have gone through
the iuconceivable hardships.' etc.
And Bradford may be a very dull
place." he added.
..Oh, the idea of thinking of that!
Why don't you congratulate him, Ma
belle? Don't you see that he is waiting
for you to do it?"
..Is he? l am sure / do congratulate
you very much. 1 am very glad
..If YOU are pleased, l am so glad.
though it seems to require a great effort
on your part to make the necessary
speech for the OCCASION said Philip,
unkindly. '.But, considering the jour-
ney tomorrow, l will say no more about
it."
Mabelle could not answer the teasing
remarks of Philip with her wonted
clever little thruSts in return. She felt
an uncomfortable sensation of cropping
in the dark. She wished that Grace
would not keep looking at her so ear
nestly: that Philip would not persist in
talking about the journey tomorrow.
Above all. she wished, and yet did not
wish that that dreadful journey was
safely over.
Very soon after breakfast the pony
carriage came round, and Dr.. johnson,
coming from the hall, where he had
been waiting, summoned them forth
and it did not do to keep DIR. johnson
waiting. They all went cut, Mabelle
and Grace in their shady hats, and Phil
ip in what Grace called 1.-The Australian
novelty" in white straw. They took
sun-shades, little shawls, and a goodly
basket of provisions, as to which Philip
hazarded the inquiry:
'.WhO is going to eat them?'
Never mind that. but put them in"
said Grace, land when we come back.
l hope your bushes may nOt betray
YOU when mother asks if we had enough
to eat. Now. / think, WI are ready"
A parting wave of the hand; a
pheasant day, children! Supper at
nine, and don't be late for it," from
Mrs. Massey, and they drove slowly
away.
They passed a long and glorious day
amongst the woods and OIL the sands:
sands miles away from any house or
habitation whatsoever. under dark.
frowning cliffs, around and beneath
which the sea Numbered forever in SOL
itary splendor. Such yellow. hard.
ribbed sands: such rocks full Of strange
fossils and pebbles; such crystal pools;
unruffied as a mirror, rejecting the
sky. and studded with exquisite
anemones, fringed with fairy seaweed
of every hue and every kind; in and out
of which darted tiny gray crabs. and
other minute marine treasures, more
difficult to recognize and more al.
strusely named.
aft is like Heayen.r said MabelIe