The Penn's Grove record., 1884-01-26
A GIRLS FOLLY.

Dt1OT6 II W hO"SAoJ "HN
charming country landscape spreading
out in the distance. Inside, in Its
small but pretty parlor, on the red
table-cover waited the tea-tray, with its
cups and saucers. The window stood
open to the still, warm autumn air, and
the French porcelain clock on the
mantel-piece was striking FIVE.
A slender girl of some 20 years came
in. She was very lovely. But her
bright blue eyes bore a sort of weary
or disconnected look, and her bright
brown hair was somewhat rufled. She
wore a print washing-dress of black
and white, neither very smooth nor
very fresh, and a lace neck collar fast
ened with a bow of black ribbon.
She had made an appointment to
meet Reginald VavasOur, a rich young
gentleman who had made her %acquaint-
auce down by the willow walk, and her
lover, Thomas Watkyn, had told her
he would call,that evening. Just before
he left, she said:
''May L ask you to do me a little
favor, Thomas?"
what is it?" he repeated.
IF you would not very much mind
going home by the hill and would
leave this note at Miss Ford's. 1 par
ticularly wish her to have it this even
ing"
He paused for an instant, not reply
ing. She went on hurriedly:
81 see that 1t is disagreeable to you.
l have offended you too much"
Not that" he answered, holding
out his hand for the note. bat l can
hardly spare the time for the long way
this evening, as l have to call at Kill
lexis for my father. However," he
said no more, but took the note.
''Good.by. Thomas"
''Good-by."
"I'm glad he took the note. l shall
be safe now"
Miss Alison Reece was a clever
young lady. The direct and way
to Mr.. Watkyn's home would lead him
past the willow walk. She had devised
this impromptu note to her dreasmakeI
in the afternoon to prevent his taking
that usual route. Had he seen young
Vavasour cooling his heels within the
precincts of the willow walk he would
inevitably suspect he was waiting to
keep a lovers tryst.
Alison was busy in the kitchen next
morning when she heard her mother
open the front door and some n come
in. SIT is that chattering Mrs. Ben
nett" thought she, as she dried the
teaspoons.
"Alison, come here, called her
mother, in a quick voice.
She went to the parlor just as she
washer sleeve turned back at the
wrist, a large, brown Holland apron
on. Very pretty she looked with it all.
But it was not Mrs. Bennett who sat
with her mother; it was a venerable,
white-haired old gentleman Mr..
Watkyn, the elder.
II am come to ask about Thomas y
said he. II believe he came here last
night, Miss Alison; at what time did he
leave your"
A provision struck her with a sort OF
terror that something was wrong. "He
left quite early" she faltered.
"Well, he has never come home"
mot come homel" she said, with a
whitening face.
81 sat up till l o'clock, and then /
thought the mist must have kept him;
that he had stayed at some friends
house. / knew not what to think, and
that he would be home the first thing
this morning. But we have not seen
him. and l cannot hear of him."
Mrs. Reece was impressed with the
frightened, guilty took that Alison
could not keep out of her countenance,
and began to feel uneasy. "Cannot
you tell what time 1t vas when he left
your" he demanded, sternly.
sit was after dusk. 1t was just
after sunset-before the mist came on.
1t must have been near 7 o'clock"
(Which road did he take?n pursued
Mrs. Reece. And very reluctantly
Alison answered, for she foresaw ii
would bring on further questioning:
''The long road-round by the hillP''
Ground by the hill?" echoed Mr..
Watkyn in alarmed surprise. "Why
did he take that way?"
Alison flushed and paled alternately
her lips were trembling. The fear
creeping upon her was that he and
young Vavasour had met and quar-
relied. Perhaps fought and injured one
another fatally. In these dread mo-
ments Of suspense the mind is apt to
c~onjure up far-fetched and unlikely
thoughts.
~ asked him to go around that
way" she replied, in a timid tone. u
wanted him to leave a note for me at
the dressmaker's.
Old Mr.. Watkyn sank into a chair,
putting his hands before his troubled
face. 81 see 1t ALL he breathed
family. HE must have fallen down
the Scar"
Alison uttered a scream of horror.
Deceived by the mist, he must have
walked too near the edge" continued
the old man. Heaven grant that il
may not be SO, but 1 fear it. Was be
mad, to attempt to cross the plateau on
such a night?n
Catching up his hat, Mr.. Watkyn
went out swiftly. Mrs. Reece grabbed