Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-12-18
Der the Gay she was porn. MY aear.vo

are an impoStOr."
BARLEY changed color at this chance
shaft. But Colonel Clifford explained:
"You pass for twenty, and you can't
be more than-Let me see."
81 am fifteen and four months" said
Mary, "and | do take people in-c,uelly. y
well" said Colonel Clifford, "you see
you can't take me in. knowyour date.
So come and give your old ruf1ian of an
uncle kiss"
THAT l will" cried Mary, and flew at
Colonel Clifford, and flung both arms
round his neck and kissed him. "Oh!
papa" said she, Il have got an uncle
now. A hero, too; and me that is so
fond of heroes. Only this is my first
out of books"
Mary, my DEAR" said Barley, you
Colonel Clifford. Now, my dear. shake
hands with your cousin, for we must be
going"
Mary complied but not at all impetu-
ously. She lowered her long lashes and
put out her hand timidly, and said.
"Good-by, Cousin Walter"
He held her hand moment, and that
made her color directly. you will come
over the farm. Can you ride? Have
you your habit?"
mo, cousin; but never mind that. I
can put on long skirt"
a skirt. But, after all, it does not
matter straw what N0u wear"
Next day, punctual 20 the minute,
Walter drove up to the door in an open
carriage drawn by two fast steppers.
He found Mr.. BARLEY alone, and why?
because, at sight of Walter, Mary, for
the first time in her life. had Gown up
stairs to look at herself in the glass be-
fore facing the visitor, and to smooth her
hair, and retouch bow, ETC., underrat-
ing, as usual, the power of beauty. and
overrating nullities. BARLEY took this
opportunity, and said to young Clifford:
u owe you an apology, and most
earnest one. Can you ever forgive me?"
Waiter changed color. Even this
humble allusion to so great an insult
was wormWood to him. He bit his Lip
and said:
No man can do more than say he is
sorry. | will try to forget it, sir"
That is as much as | can expect"
said BARLEY. humbly. But if you only
knew the art, the cunning, the apparent
evidence, with which thatvillain Monck-
ton deluded me"
That l can believe"
And permit me one observation be-
fore we drop this unhappy subject for
ever. If you had done me the honor
to come to me as Walter Clifford, why.
then, strong and misleading as the evil
dence was, | should have said, Appear
ances are deceitful, but no Clifford was
ever disloyal." ="
This artful speech conquered Walter
Clifford. He blushed, and bowed lit
tie haughtlly at the compliment to the
CllffordS. But his sense of justice was
aroused.
you are right" said he Unjust trv
and see both sides. If man sails un-
der false colors. he mustn't howl if he
is mistaken for pirate. Let us dis
miss the subject forever. l am Walter
Clifford noW-at your service"
At that moment Mary BARLEY came
in beaming with youth and beauty, and
lllumined the room. The cousins shook
hands, and Walters eyes glowed with
admiration.
After a few words of greeting he
handed Mary into the drag. Her father
followed, and he was about to drive of,
when Mary cried out, "Oh, forgot my
skirt if l am to ride"
The skirt was brought down, and the
horses, that were beginning to fret.
dashed off. A smart little groom rode
behind, and on reaching the farm they
found another with two saddle-horseS,
one OF them, a small gentle Arab geld
ing, had side-saddle. They rode all
over the farm, and inspected the build
thanks to Walters supervision. Bart
ley inquired the number of acres and
the rent demanded. Walter told him.
Bartley said it seemed to him a fair
rent; still, he should like to know why
the present tenant declined.
Perhaps you had better ask him."
said Walter. Il should wish to hear
both sides"
That is like you," said BARLEY; "but
Where does the shoe pinch, in your opin-
/ ion?"
We'll, he tells me in sober earnest,
that he loses money by it as it is: but
when he is drunk he tells his boon com
| panlons that he has made seven thou
sand pounds here. He has one or two
grass fields that want draining; but L
offer him the pipes; he has only got to
lay them and cut the drains. Ny opin-
ION IS that he is the slave of habit; lie is
SO used to make an unfair profit out of
these acres that he cannot break him
self of it and be content with fair
one"
Il dare say you have hit it" said Bart
ley. well, | am fond of farming: but
don't live by it, and a moderate profit
would content me-"
]
he did not want to let the farm to Bart
| ley.
BARLEY saw this, and drew Mary
aside.
Should not you liketo come here, my
,ehild?"
Yes, papa, if you wish it; and YOU
know it's dear Mr. Hopes birthplace"
We'll, then, tell this young fellow so.
Will give you an opportunity"
That was easily managed, and then
Mary said, timidly, Cousin Walter, we
should all three be so glad if we might
have the farm"
"Three?" said he, "who is the third?"
ooh, somebody that everybody likes
and / love. 1t is Mr.. Hope. Such a
duck! [ am sure you would like him."
Hope! Is his name William?"
yes, it is. Do you know him?" ask
ed Mary, eagerly.
81 have reason to know him: he did
me good turn once, and I shall never
forget it,"
Gust like him!" cried Mary. "He is
always doing people good turns. He is
the best, the truest, the cleverest. the
dearest darling dear that ever stepped