Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-11-18
GALES aud Skftehfs.
A BRAVE DEED.

4 Ada Carft was decidedly the belle oi
Scarborough; and as that small but bust
ling Midland town had a reputation among
its neighbors for lovely ses.the distinc-
ton was great one-
In figure. the girl was somewhat small
and slight: but in feature she had attained
almost to perfection. both of outline and
of tint
She had lofty. well proportioned brow.
around which rippled rich waves OF au-
burn hair.
She had ewes of dreamy blue, cheeks
lust sufficiently tinged with delicate car
mine to throw into relief the pearly white
ness of teeth.
The worst of il was she knew that she
was beautiful, and the knowledge spoiled
her.
Ada was the onl, child of wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer. and added 10
rher other charms that of being very
considerable heiress.
Naturally she had of suitOrs not few
But Ladies' Clara We're de We're can exist
in much lower circles than that Of the
poets faulty heroine, and Ada Carit had
caught the voice OF proud coquetry.
/ She relished her power over susceptible
hearts, and did her best TO extend it.
The breath of homage was a life to her.
/ She led her wooers gently on till the
| tolls were all around them, and then OF a
sudden. they found an impalpable, impas-
/ sable barrier erected, and Ada's smiles
were for newer comers-
1 Ii was an amusement, half the Zest of
being. to her she never wasted an anxious
| thought on what It might mean to her
victims.
Men were strong, and must protect
1 themselves.
/ The last to enter the charmed circle had
/ been a youth from the North. who in ap-
pearance and manners was certainly at a
disadvantage with those whom he quickly
came to consider his rivals.
! Roger Herlestone was two and-twenty !;
but his thick set, burly figure. and his
abundance of beard made him look years
older
! He was heavy in feature. uncertain in
movement, and awkward in address.
As the nephew of Mr.. Marston, of
Marston & March, cotton mill owners,
I his prospects were very good.
But the knowledge OF this fact somehow
| tailed to give him the needed self conf
dence.
| Rogers many blunders. made him. to a
! large extent, the butt of his male acquan-
tances and it was probably this that made
Ada Carfit, out of sheer opposition, to
treat him with marked favor.
! Philip Dare, the lawyer, had likened
/ Roger to the prOverbial ''bull in the china
/ shop" and Philip Dare should be made
/ to bite his lips with vexation at her defer
ence to the despised one.
But once again she was kind only to be
cruel.
II cannot tell whether she cares tor me,
or whether she does not" said Roger
Herlestone to his younger brother Martin
Sometimes think one thing. and some
times another But this am sure Of she
/ is all the world to me-
Then I'd ask her. old fellow"
''But-but-she has always so many
round her. Ada Carfit is the queen OF a
large circle, and /"
Have been the best of sons, the best OF
brothers, and have no doubt, would
make the best of husbands"
And I.n said Roger. resuming slowly.
and paying no heed to this enthusiastic
praise. lam a rough and homely man.
1 who has almost as good right to dream
of becoming Prime Minister. as of winning
such wife"
Nonsense. Roger, Don't be so un-
necessarily modest. You are just As good
as she. and the girl must know it,
Then" and the elders tone changed,
suddenly: "I'll put 1t TO the test, and see,
If Ada refuses me. it will be Just another
dream dispelled. and | shall face the
worst"
The opportunity soon came.
The two were thrown much together al
summer picnic party, and some malign
genius made Ada more than ever gra-
cious.
/. 1t seemed to her that she had succeeded
in thawing the ice of her admirers awk.
wardness, and the studied compliments he
paid her awoke the CLEAN of sunny, sat.
isfied smile.
She little suspected the commotion that
was working beneath the surface.
: They had wandered out OF sight ant
hearing of the rest. on pretence of exam.
ining some curiously shaped rocks
How still the air is under the sun =
| crossed the hillside.
, For moment her companion did mo-
, answer. and she cast casual glance up
, wards at his face.
What Ada saw there made her start anC
slightly shiver.
Yes" he said. with hoarse anC
mighty effort. ''this is just the turn of the
seasons, and this hush is frequent and very
suggestive then. You and have come tC
a turning point, too, Miss Carfit, and
must break the stiffness py very impor
tant question. Can you not guess what i
is-the story have to tell. Miss Carfit-
Ada ?"
"No. no. We had better return,
think. We shall be lost. Mr.. Herlestone
Ada was keeping her composure wonder
E fully. and she hoped by this coldly spokel
hint the confession she feared might b,
D averted.
; She did not know the speaker
q wait an instant. Ada" Roger cried
abandoning the last shelter of reserve: .
love you. Ada-surely you must have di
vined it! Can you love me back again
however little viii you some day be m,
wife ?"
| His words were coming swiftly enough
, now and his beseeching eyes emphasized
their truth.
The man was transformed, and a fain
, response of admiration was raised in tn,
: girls heart.
Put he was-pouId ha- No mora tho,