The Penn's Grove record., 1884-09-27
o ROMANCE.

diugy vapor rolled up against the Win
QOw-paues, stirred now aud then by a
soOuy little breeze, from nowhere in
particular, that dispersed them not,
only made d little black eddy and de-
parted. Indoors it felt at once hot,
clammy, choking and smutty. The
room was airy and spacious. 1t was
one of the best private sitting-rooms
Iangham had to offer.
Imogen Ray had just declared ut
felt like a chimney on fire being put
out with wet blankets. - She was
leaning against the Window-frame as
she spoke, gazing into the grimy sea of
yapOr, half-interestedly, halt-abstract-
edIy. She was very beautiful even by
that bideous light with the singular
beauty only found on the farther shores
OF the Atlantic delicate, fragile and
marvellously brilliant.
She looked like a poem, a melody, an
artists dream. She was a matter-of-
fact, business-Lk TX damsel practical and
self-reliant as became a citizen of
''Airth's greatest nation" Her COM
panion was leisurely finishing his break
fast. He might have been a dignitary
of the Church by his dress. Ills stall
wart build, and a general suggestion OF
open air life that pervaded him, seemed
to indicate a sailor or a COlOnlst, but the
noble. intellectual head, with its Silken
name Of snowy hair, the massive TEA.
lures with their curious expression OF
indolent shrewdness could belong to
meme but tie original of the face that
smirked In the Graphic and scoWled n
the Illustrated on the side-table, and
had been for the past week decorating
the photographers windows III very
mixed company the face of the tenn
porary bon of London literary society,
che great transatlantic poet, phil0so-
pher and critic, Everard Holt, whom
the literary world aforesaid had for the
past week been delighting to honor.
You have your wish at last, lmo-
gen." he said ''this is quite a London
particular according to Guppy."
Eyes. | thought we should lose
something if we left without a fog
but l have got a thicker II than l eN-
pected here
Speaking, she glanced out in the din
gineSs and i'll at a square envelope which
size he'd daintily and respectfully. 1t
was fastened 10y a big red seal bearing
a coat of arms and a cOronet, at which
She glanced with an admiration I'M
worthy her race.
This is a gloomy ending to our holi-
day, DEAR said EYerard, looking
towards her %anxiously.
He looked towards her, not at her,
thereby ~betraying what many of his
casual acquaintance never perceived,
that he was blind-totally, hopelessly
bliud-lrom some accident late in his
life at the very zenith Of his popularity
and usefulness. lie had accepted the
calamity Enthusiastically, tried pa
tientiy and fairly every possible means
OF recovery. Then, these failing, with
tue same Zest with which he had been
wont to turn to some fresh branch of
study, he had applied himself to the
mastery Of every art and device by
which the lost sense might be supplied.
He had a marvellous memory and Il
c~uriously sensitive nervous organization
and he had Imogen, his loving, de-
voted adopted child.
Nothing can spoil our holiday, OF
u home coming," she added quickly.
"FrOm first to last all has been pleas
antness."
And you don't regret the old III
try in your heart of hearts ?"
II am very glad to have been here
and seen England and English people
for myself; but my heart of hearts is
and always will be American. Oh, IT'S
good to think that IN a fortnight more
we shall be under the ChiSlehurst elms
again ="
Eyerard and ImOgen had spent a year
wandering happily about Europe to-
gether, sightseeing, making friends,
collecting materials for anew work and
"a course of lectures. and finding them
sehe rs welcome and hOnOred everywhere
by Eyerard's brethren Of the great
craft of boOk-making.
what time do we leave this :" Ey-
erard asked presently.
"Not till five, " Imogen replied rather
dismally, ''and I've packed my last
scrap aud read you every line worth
reading in all the papers, and there's
nothing left to do but sit and long for
some fresh air after all last nights elo-
quence till the fog rises. Ugh how it
seems to close Onein and strangle one"
'Fogs after all have their limits"
said Everard. 1T is possible, l believe.
to go right through and find light and
free air beyond. Should you like to
try. am all ready
so I'm /, but stop let me put up
your things first and start with a clear
Conscience
"YOu are too late for once, oh most
scrupulous of guardian angels. l have
packed. Did it myself in a fit OF indie
pendence and consulted the chamber.
maid on the result. She says / have
left nothing out and made a beautiful
job of it,"
"Uncle, are you tired of me ?" with
Il panied ring of reproach in her voice.
'lmogen, are you jealous Of your
authority over me, and afraid of my
ascertaiHiug the limits of my powers Z?
There is better work IN the world for
you, my dear, than playing dog-in-a-
string to a blind Old man and when it
comes, | want you to feel that though
l prize your love and service beyond all
else ON earth, | can live without you,
my datIing.n He spoke slowly, as if
H- r- .-I 1900 - -