The Mineral argus., 1884-10-23
MYSTERIOUS LOVE EPISODE.

"You mean, then, Trevor, that you
have the serious intention of marrying
this Miss Craigie?"
az don't think, Cousin Barbara, that
1 ever mentioned the word marriage;
before 1 speak of such thing 1 must
first discover if sweet Madge Craigie
loves me-"
Sweet Madge CINgie, indeed! Fan
cy calling her sweet Commend me to a
man for being taken in by a pair OF
bright eyes and a silly giggle! No man
ever knew yet who was his truest friend
Miss Craigie isn't yours"
my dear cousin, you are prejudiced.
Madge mas lived a great deal abroad,
and acquired manners which 1 viii ac-
knowledge do not exactly resemble
those you are accustomed to see every
day; but she is none the less true and
loyal and womanly on that account,
while she is certainly ten times more
fascinating than most ofthe people one
meets"
"Humph" growled Cousin Barbara.
Well, those who live the longest viii
see the most"
Then there was a silence, Trevor Lane,
who was an artist, went on with his
painting, and the middle-aged spinster
be called Cousin Barbara sewed her
white seam with much diligence as she
sat in the sunlight on an old settle by
the window.
Cross-gained though Barbara was
there was one being she loved with a
deep. fervent devotion, and that being
was Trevor Lane. And so she ought,
for he had been the kindest Of friends
to her. Left at the age of fifty, without
a s~ixpence, Trevor Lane, who was only
her second cousin, had invited her to
come and live with him and manage
his house for him. This for the last five
years she had done right Conscientious
". both as regards housekeeping and
the giving of such good advice as she
considered ayoung man required.
Trevor Lane accepted both services
with apparent gratitude, bearing the In
Fiction of constant advice with so mucf
resignation, even cheerfulness, that h'
proved himself to be a thoroughly gooC
tempered fellow.
The fact was he was truly sorry TO
his cousin Barbara, who had, he con
sidered, been soured by bad treatmen
in the past; and, though it was no faul
of his, vet he was resolved, if possible
to make her life fair and happy in tn
future. Hence every cross he answers
with a caress, every recommendation
that he should alter his ways with
promise that he would be circumspect
And so five years had dawdled on
and the summer at Heathfield, abou
ton miles from London, where Trevo
Lanes studio and pretty home were SIT
uated, came and went with but few IN
cidents to disturb the current OF th
cousins ways-tiIl Madge Craigie came
This was the evil day for which Cous
In Barbara had never ceased to look
the dav on which Trevor Lane woul
elect to devote to another some porto
of the love she wished to %appropriat
wholly to herself.
"Trevor was not yet thirty, no
could she expect it to be otherwise
she would ask herself, repeatedl'
Then she would shake her head an
mutter: "If / could only like her; bl
this Madge, this Eighty, silly Madge-
TO marry my Trevorl All, mel" Cou
in Barbara failed utterly to recogni'
that whoever the girl was on who
Trevor bestowed his affection, 81
would consider her Objectionable an
displeasing.
For a long while there was no sour
heard in the studio save the flies bu
zing on the window panes and the o
clock ticking on the mantel-shelf. II
yor himself at last broke the silence.
"Madge is coming here this eveninI
Cousin Barbara-yOu will be civil
her for nv sake will you not?"
Miss Barbara looked up suddenly al
saw the light of love in Trevor's hasl
inc eyes, the glow of a deep passion
his handsome face, and the sight OF
aeeemed to chill her heart TO ice.
She answered coldly: Miss Craig
wants no warm words from me; sin
Won can utter them so glibly it is enoug
Int for the last time / say-beware.
Trevor Lane went on working delbe
ateIy at his picture; and Miss BarDa
budding up the white work on WIN