The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-05
"ohl She and Dick walked on a lit

| Nellie, who was soon to be married and
to live in a pretty little house on the
hill, asked her sister one day if she
would not walk with her, as she was
going to see about some of the arrange
| ments in her future home. Echo as
scented, but being ready ooner than
Nellie. grew impatient, and called out
from the foot of the stairs, Nell, l
can't wait any longer. I'll walk on,
and you ear join me-"
Every well-and wait for me in the
churchyard - so Echo turned her foot
steps toward the hill. where the brown
church stood distinctly against an in
tensely blue sky, its golden cross gilt
tering like a star in the afternoon light,
and where a Towering tree, like a cloud
| of purple bloom, shed its petals on the
g~rass-grown paths. She opened the
gate and walked in bit the first object
that met her eyes, made her stop and
stare in amazement it was Lancelot,
evidently asleep, his hat off, his closely
cropped head pillowed on his arm, and
his clearly-cut profile in relief against
the gray stone. As she paused, I'M
certain whether to come in or to turn
back, LancelOt lifted his head with a
Jerk, and exclaimed, by Jovel Miss
Tudor"
"Sir Lancelot sleeping" laughed
Echo, mockingly-''His knightship in
a new aspect"
II assure you, l wasn't asleep | just
strolled in, and it vas so quiet and sun
shiny that | flung myself down on the
grass, and cogitated, until | heard the
gate opening" asserted Sir LancelDt.
Then they were both silent. y wild
passiOn-lower trembled in the sunny
glare; a shy little brown lizard darted
along the fence, and ruStled into the
leaves to hide itself. The wind shook
lightly the purple blossoms overhead.
1t was all so still, so bright-Echo was
vaguely touched and stirred without
knowing why. Such golden moments
come into our lives sometimes, and
often slip by unnoted. All if Lance
lot had only spoken then, what trouble
they would both have been spared.
"Echo," he began in an agitated
tone, and suddenly broke off.
"Oh there is Nell +; good afternoon
Mr.. Verschoyle," she cried, and was
gone in a moment, leaving him standing
disconsolately among the graves.
That very evening as Eeno sat alone
in the parlOr, by the open window which
faced the street, she saw several men
coming toward the house. The room
was dim, and where she sat IN the
shadow of the curtain, she could not
be seen !; but she could hear distinctly
what was said outside. AS they passed
they were evidently rallying one OF Their
party ON his devotion to some one.
With surprise Echo heard her own
name mentioned, and then a voice
Lancelot's voice-exclaimed inpatient
" : Nonsense she is only a nice little
girl, very pretty, and pleasant enough
to fiTt 1ritb. aChen no one better is pres
enJ." Inefr Voices anu rUUJotcpS died
away in the distance, leaving the street
quiet and deserted. But Echo-my
poor Echo-there she stood, straight
and slim, with burning cheeks and
heaving breast, one hand grasping the
window-sill fiercely.
1.-The wretch - she muttered, be-
; tween her teeth. ITO speak of me in
such a way after looking and acting {.
Stop I'll be just the same as ever,
and not crafty him by letting him
think | care enough about him to be
angry"
Next day, Lancelot came to take Echo
out rowing IN the river, and outwardly
she was the same as when they had
parted in the churchyard therefore it
may be seen that Mademoiselle was an
accomplished actress. 1t was rather a
grey day, except when a ray OF after
noon sunlight shot now and then
through the clouds, and as they stood
on the banks, Echo expressed a fear
that it would rain.
When they were launched and row.
ing up the river, the girl found that
her position directly opposite Lancelot
was decidedly embarrassing, owing to
his unpleasant habit of staring. She
was very pale, and was dressed all in
white, her long, bright, rippled hair
floating loosely back from her face.
GLOW dreary-how desolate everything
looks this afternoon said she, with a
slight shiver. Gradually their CONVEX
sation flowed along, until they began
to talk of the ancient DAYS of jousts
and tournaments. "What cruel old
times they were," exclaimed Lancelot,
and npon Echo's saying that she did not
think them so yely cruel, he asked,
"Could you be sans merci' to your own
true knight, as some Of the damsels
were ?''
LET any II prove himself false,
where thought hun true, and then !
could be sans merci, u" she cried, a sud
den CLEAN in her dark eyes. Besides, -
she added softly, Like the Lady of
Shallot, l have no loyal knight and
true.'n
"DO you remember who would have
been her knight, had it been posslble?"
he asked significantly.
Il remember only one, " she answered
coldly, ''for whose sake a curse came
upon her"
Lancelot spoke presently. "May
have your bouquet of forget-me-nots
to remind me of to-day =? Darling
may | not ~
She dung back her golden locks. and
said, with 4 solemn smile in her large
eyes, holding out tie bouquet as she
spoke, Take them, and keep them IN
remembrance of the little girl who WAS
nice enough 10 lut with, when ne one