The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-04

MI. Eyre, SulllulP dJ Ills ItCOllcCblOuS,
'such young shape, and such slim
foot and ankle, L wished the descent
had been twice as long; and half way
down you stopped, and said you would
stay there till doomsday unless 1
promised not to try and kiss YOU"
And you promised" said Madcap,
logged by memory into fiercer bushes
than the actualities of life had caused
her these five years. 1T sounded Just
like Franks voice; but when turned
round and saw y0u-why had you got
that look on your face? she cried, stop
ping short to laugh. "Of course L box
ed your ears-whO could help it?"
And so my acquaintance with
Franks sweetheart began" said Mr..
Eyre. thinking of his friend.
"Why did gOp" he added, as one
thinking aloud: II loved the boy, and
suppose loved you for his sake before
ever saw YOU"
but when did you begin loving me
for myself" said Madcap, coaxingly.
LET me see" he said: twas it when
you tucked your skirts round your
ankles and walked out Of the room on
your handsp"
"You had no business in the school,
room, nor Frank either" cried Madcap,
ashamed. II had forbidden him to
come there; and-and how do you know
it was /, after all? No one could posi-
lively swear to another PERSONS heels!"
And, when next we met, you walk
ed demurely and wore boots" said Mr.
Eyre, gravely; "yet could have sworn
to those shoes as the very same that 1
had seen twinkling down the ladder.
No-I did not fall in love with you
then"
I.p,,t v,arhons yo,, bod 5ooo a. n
ready?' said Madcap, saucy, though
abashed.
perhaps" he said; land your"
"You were so old, so grave, $3.50
respectable" said Madcap, looking
away. "Do you know, Twas so amazed
when I heard that you had the reputa-
ton of being-wicked."
did Frank tell you that?"
Frank No; it was Lady Betty"
"And what did you sayp"
THAT it must have been so long ago,
I wondered people hadn't forgotten It'll"
Ibid seem such an old fellow to you
as that Madcap?" said Mr.. Eyre, laugh
20! yes" she said, gravely; "you see
Frank and were so dreadfully young
and two of trade never agreed"
And so, as was old, the tales Of my
NO" said Madcap. very low; "only
when you stayed away SO Lonesome
times they would knock hard at my ears
to be let in; and when Lady Betty
screamed out, He's got another sweet
heart; he'll never come back l began to
say to myself that was to be punished
just as had punished Frank"
NO" said Mr.. Eyre; "Others may
suffer, but you never shall. 1t was our
first parting; would to God" he added,
with sudden bitterness, THAT might
never have left you for an hour since
the moment that we first met"
And yet you stayed away all yester-
day and last night" said Madcap, as
they left the high-road for part of Mr..
Eyre's estate that he rarely visited.
20! mere matter of business; it
won't detain me again." he said, care
lessly, as through an open gateway they
Rode under groves that looked paradise
OF blossom. over sheets of hyacnth
That seemed the heavens upbreaking through
the EARTH
for high above them closed vast apple
bOughs, now all coral and white with
blossom. while at their feet the hyacinth
of her million bells had woven carpet
of azure across which now and again
bird swept low. as thinking that in seek
ing earth he had CHANGED to light upon
heaven.
From overhead the busy coil of wing
ed life struck out faint aromatic scent,
penetrating as the wild, far-off sweet
ness of the blackcap's note. To an ex-
quisite rhythm of sight, sound, and
scent Madcap seemed to move as she
passed down that long arcade, silent,
yet no more dumb under her delight
hu 10 a Nxyhn 10
breath, or stormy sunset who speaks
living words to us by its hues.
Mr.. Eyre was no longer by her side,
but he was close at hand; and there lies
the soul Of wOman's rest or unrest,
whether the man she loves be within
her reach or beyond it-and Madcap
did not miss him as she went, counting
her treasures up as poor mortalS Will,
when all unknown to themselves the first
quivering shaft of disaster threatens
them.
"This apple-blossom looks well for
the crops" said Mr.. Eyre to the farmer
who had joined him.
"Well, sir, there's the late frosts yet;
and Providence don't usually take
much count of farmers"
II suppose Providence is not respon-
sible for all your gates being Open,"
through half mile or so of uninter-
rupted orchard, but blamed the care
lessness that had made it practicable.
"It's just that old Busby," said the
farmer, scratching his head, che must
ride through here instead of by the
high-road; he's securing the country
about the mortal for the poor soul up
at tn Jail, and every unborn babe in the
parish must sign it, or he'll know the
reason why"
Have you signed?" said Mr.. Eyre,
looking at the man keenly.
NO" said the man, sturdily; "the
woman drowned the child, and an ounce
of fact is worth pound of talk. Wheth-
er tn feyther was up at tn Tower or
elsewhere-I beg your pardon, sir" he
added, stumbling in his speech; land
to be sure, you were married to the
young mistress then; but somebody she
come to look for in this village, that's
certain, and who else could it be but
the young lordp"
"Pshaw!" said Mr.. Eyre, with a gest-
ure of disgust; ''it's impossible"
"YOunp men will be Young men,