Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-27

them from the edge Of the sea-Waf1 abOve.
Mrs. Pierpoint had chosen a seat apart, and
welcomed me with faint smile. She had
come to town to try and get rid of her head
ache, but might stay, if L did not mind dull
companion. Sowe sat and talked softly to-
gether in the still, clear evening, and when she
rose to go home went with her.
MAY tells me she made foolish mystery of
our plans when she saw you this morning. l
was very angry with her. silly girl! The fact
is, We doN'C quite know ourselves where We
shall stay IN town. 1t is an odd time to be
there, but May has a chance OF getting some
violin lessons, and we can stay on to get peep
at the autumn exhibitors When l have Sue
ceeded in finding rooms l will send on our
address, if you care to have it,
Colonel Wriothesey could help you in your
quest. Nobody knows town better than he. 1
expect him here III a day or two"
didn't make that speech, III! swear. 1t was
some demon who got possession OF me for the
moment and spoke with d.aboical significance
through my voice. l saw and, oh, how l
wished hadn't seen-her start and color, as
no mention of an ancient and respectable rea-
tive need cause any woman, cons@ence-free to
blush. l blurted out some commonplace stu
pidity in haste, to save her the embarrassment
Of a reply, but the walk homeward was ended
in silence, except for a few forced fragments
of conversation. When we parted she gave
me no invitation to enter. nor did her eyes
meet mine as she held out her hand. Shall
we see you tO-morrowY and to my fancy there
was a wistful apoogetic ring il her words
"You promised May to come. She will be DIS
appointed, and Wonder
'Thank you, will come"
SIN the afternoon shall be glad to see you,"
and she bowed and let the gate close gently on
me, while las miserable and conscience-smit-
ten as if had been found out in anything
turned slowly honeward to compose another
letter to Lady Dorothy.
This is what~ed
Il can only answer your anxieties about me
by the truth-the truth about myself, mean
Perhaps you have already guessed somewhat of
it from the letter that this follows. AS for Mrs.
Pierpoint am as far from knowing anything
about her as was then You limited, half in
joke, that she was not what she pretenGs to be
plainly spoken. that means that she is an ad-
venturess of whom wise man would keep
clear. think You are right at least l have
been trying all day to convince myself that you
are wrong, and have succeeded in discovering
what? That if she is an impostor, instead
of unmasking her, I, for my part am ready to
turn round and make common cause with her
against you and the rest of the world-if she
will have me for an accompliee. The murders
out, and l can but throw myself on yolr
mercy. II is somewhat of relief to have my
own folly set clear and plain before my eyes,
and to have fathomed its depths Doroth
kindest and wisest of fairy godmothers y
ticllty-out OF many more than you ever
pected; but here even you are powerless.
are indignant with me, and ashamed of
folly? So ought to be, and the worst sy
tom is am no such thing Here am at
and-forty, steady-going old veteran, hd
lessly in love with woman not young
beautiful Gas beauties go-I have my
opinion on that s1bjec), of whom know
soutely nothing, except that she has
liant touch on the pianoforte, a delicious
tralto voice. and laugh like somebody
years ago down in Yorkshire
'No, am not ashamed, and decline I'd
pitied.
"'What is to come of it?' you ask. 1 d
not an idea OF one thing only am Ger
believe it or not-SIrs Pierpo;nt is in b
ignorance OF my folly, and shall remain
She thinks, indeed, that am unjustifi,
curious about her past life, and there 1t el
Perhaps the advent of Colonel Wriothe
may. Ii not, 1 shall keep discree.ly al
from Tamarisk Lodge till their stay
comes to an end. Not from one remain
spark of prudence or common sense, but
ply because Mrs Pierpoint cares not one
for me, and don't want to provoke her
telling ME so, as l should most assuiedly
gave myself the chance"
May and her aunt welcomed me as u
when paid my promised visit next day.
afraid my performance was not as correct
might have been had l not been absorbed
watching the changes of expression
drifted across that handsome inscrut
face of Mrs. Pierpoint at the wind
l caught her beautiful eyes fixed on
| too, once. 1t was when May had left
piano and returned to her cello. l Liked
watch her as she played-with her long W
arms and fingers, her intent luminous g
and her loose ripping hair May Away
minded me of some angel making music I
seen in church Window and sat admit