Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-31
Gales aud Sketthes.
SECOND TH0UGRfS.
4 Story in Three Chapters.
CHAPTER (WHICH IS IT TO BE?

| CHAPTER (WHICH IS IT TO BE?
IL am sure don't know - SAID AIDE
laide Berry GROSSLY to herself, as she stood
before the glass. hurrledly tying on her
plain dark bonnet.
.And yet. after all. suppose it must
be Yes Most people would not be able
to see why should hesitate for mo-
meut "
/ But Miss Berry frowned more GROSSLY
than before as she said this, and then,
having drawn on her gloves. she forgot
that she had been in a hurry. and stood
still for a minute by the dressing table to
think. The truth was, that the worse part
of her nature was trying hard to conquer
the better. consequently she was feeling
by no means happy or at her ease.
| Words come to her, which she had read
to Mrs. Muontebank only that morning.
mo man is bound to be rich or great :.no.
nor to be wise; but every man is bound to
| be honest"
| "And am honest" she said to her
self in low. quiet tone. WHO dares to
say that am not"
She was young woman of seven or
eight and twenty. dark complexioned, and
rather sharp featured. fairly good-looking.
with black eyes and shining black hair
very nicely, yet. at the same time. very
plainly arranged; for Mrs. Mountebank,
with whom she lived as companion. would
| have found fault at once if the slightest
sign of = curl or braid had appeared.
even on an afternoon like the present
when the two were going out together to
drink tea at the vicarage.
| Miss Berry" called somewhat irrit-
able voice now, Il hope You have nearly
finished your dressing. have been
ready these five minutes ~
And Adelaide hurried out thinking to
herself:
II should be foolish, indeed. if | said
No am getting more tired every day
of this sort OF life, and yet"
But now.she had reached the hall, and
at the open door stood Mrs. Mounte bank
little old lady with pale face and
white curls. and robed in rustling black
silk. over which a white shawl with Law
ender border show ed to advantage.
The two were soon in the lane; and
there, only few hundred yards distant,
was the vicarage-a little brown. old
fashioned building, almost hidden by trees.
And very near it was another house,
also partially hidden by trees, larger.
and certainly far handsomer house. with
an imposing white front. More than once
Adelaide glanced in its direction. but Mrs.
Mountebank did not observe her.
The sky was dull, the air was chill, but
the ground was dry, and both ladies felt
that The walk was refreshing and cheer
ing them But they spoke scarcely a
word as they went; they saw so much OF
each other that they really had very little
to say.
They arrived at the vicarage, and were
presently seated at the table in the bright,
cheerful drawing room. and being talked
to by the kind but absent minded vicar
occasionally; and by his busy, happy lit
tie wife continually.
And now Miss Berry felt that she might
might consider herself relieved for time
from her duties as companion. Mrs.
Mountebank, being an old inhabitant of the
village, would find enough to talk about
with Mrs. Leigh for some time, and very
possibly would forget her companions
presence.
As Adelaide, (even more silent than us e
ual this evening, Mrs Leigh thought her)
slipped her tea very leisurely and COM
posedlv, to all appearance, the door
was thrown open, and Mr. Stapeton an
nounced,-a tall, thin gentleman. with
atace as dreamy and gentle as the wears
own. And Adelaide started visbly, and
split few drops of tea upon the pretty
bright table cover. But no one observed
her. for all were busy in welcoming the
new conner, who was a person of no small
importance in the village, being both rich
and benevolent, He was also unmarried,
and, as far as was known, disengaged
As he went round shaking hands the
gentleman was, in slow kindly voice,
making his excuses for being late. but
no one appeared especially to regard them
the wonder would have been had he been
in time, for, as every one who knew him
was aware, he was punctual in being I'M
punctual.
II am afraid entirely lost myself in a
box OF new books which | received to-
day" he said II am very much ashamed
to own; but it is better to tell the truth (
once"
Adelaide did not feel pleased with this
complimentary to me, ~ she was think
ing. she knew should be here How
ever. everybody knows that he is always
late. And. besides. what can it
signify to me? | have quite made up my
mind; and shall not say Yes"
No one imagined for moment that Mr.
Stapleton had ever given a thought to
Miss Berry therefore Mrs. Leigh was
not careful that he should have an oppor-
tunity of conversing with her as she other
wise would have been. And Mr.. Staple
ton did not feel inclined to make his OPP
portunity. His time would come. And
he engaged himself in conversation with
the vicar, for the most part. and appeared
quite content.
And Miss Berry sat holding wool for
! Mrs Mountebank to wind-or looking
through collection of photographs with
Mrs. Leigh thinking her own thoughts the
while; and in way. she also was con-
tent.
/ But the hours passed quickly away and
/ the evening seemed soon over; and bon
nets were once more donned, and the two
ladies were returning. And MIR. Staple
| ton had volunteered his services As escort.
to Mrs. Mountebank's evident gratifica-
ton.
! And on the way he contrived to find an
opportunity to whisper-gravely enough ::
I ''ls it Yes or No Miss Berry
And Miss Berry whispered hurriedly in
return. an write"
CHAPTER II.-No.