The Penn's Grove record., 1885-03-21

~ N n ndlh
which one can't, of course, repeat to
Milly, though you might just hint to
her, my ear"
Eyes; and then he's got red hairl'
said Mrs. Bland, as though that etfec-
tually closed the discussion.
And 80 the important question was
settled within the closed doors and vel
vet porticreS that screened "mamma"
from her unruly children. Miss Buck
ley was consulted III a lengthy epistle
from Mrs. Bland, and expressed herself
delighted at the prospect of a lengthy
visit from her 'dear little Milly."
Milly shed a few mutinous tears when
told of the projected visit, and poor
Steve vented his wrath in a little strong
language against the unconscious Rec
tor, and the lovers INDUCED In a very
pathetic farewell interview, when Mllly
protested her undyiug faith, and spollt
her blue eyes, and made the tip of her
dainty little nose unbecomingly red,
while Steve solemnly placed a little tur-
quoise ring on her finger, at the same
time expressing his regret that he was
so confoundedly short of cash'' ard
could not afford diamonds; though, to
atone for that deficiency, he presented
her with a lock of that auburn hair to
which Mrs. Bland had so unfeelingly
alluded.
Milly was however naturally too anna
BILE to sulk long over the parental de-
crees; besides, she was very fond OF
aunt Margaret, and a visit to her charm
ing cosy house was generally a welcome
change from the round of Milly's rather
Woodworking life.
Poor papal How will you manage
without me2' she asked, on the evening
before her departure, gently rubbing
her soft peach-bloom cheek against the
Rector's stalwart shoulder.
Il shall miss my little girl very
much" replied the Rector, strokIng
AIilly's golden hair; ''butI shall console
myself by thinking how much she is
enjoying aunt Margaret's society. l
have the greatest respect and admiration
for Miss Buckley"
"Yes, she is a d~arling!' responded
SIllly heartily.
when they were girls at home, your
mother was supposed to represent the
beauty, and Margaret the talent and
common sense of the family"
.sAnd you chose the beautyH' re-
Joined Milly, rather slyly
YES" answered her father, with a
faint sigh; 81 chose the beauty"
1t was a bright sunny September
morning when Milly started, and, not
w~ithstanding the melancholy of the &C
casion, she could not help feeling bright
and sunny in sympathy, except when
she remembered how unhappy poor Steve
must be feeling at that moment, unable
even to anticipate the faint consolation
of gazing at his divinity in church every
Sunday; and then she called herself an
unnatural little wretch" for feeling
even moderately happy, though, could
she but have known it, Steve was at
that moment c~onsoling himself with the
smiles of the buxom BARNARD at the
''Red Lion'i at CotswOld.
Her father had intended to accom-
pany her, but had that morning re-
ceived a note from the Bishop requiring
his presence at Cots Old; so Milly was
travelling alone, and ''the boys" at home
had been improving the occasion by re-
lating for her comfort all the tales of
railway horrors they could collect, and,
when the supply ran short, supplement
ing it by blood-curdlihg inventions that
did much credit to their powers of i'm
agination.
OF course Mllly had professed to scorn
the idea of being frightened; but that
| did not prevent her from looking out in
alarm at every stoppage and feeling
much relieved that nobody came into the
compartment where she sat in solitary
dignity. Upcott Junction was especially
| alarming, because here the local trains
| Joined the London Inc; and Milly, as
| she saw the guard preparing to give the
signal to proceed, was just beginning tC
congratulate herself, when there was a
hurried scamper.
"First-class? This way, sir"-from
an obsequlous porter,
"Look sharp therel''-severely from
the guard; and a male being, with all
his various impedimenta. was bundled
into her carriage; and the train would
not stop again for another hour. Poor
Millyl
Haunted by confused of
Muller and LEROY, it was several min
utes before MIlly ventured to steal a
glance at the ogre, WHO was apparently
absorbed in the pages of the Field.
"Really he does not look so very
alarming, " was her verdict; but then
he might be what the boys called a
''sWell mobsman.D "What a delight
fully long silky moustachel"-and Milly
remembered with regret that poor
Steve's was, as yet, conspicuous by its
absence. mice dark eyes tool"
Here this critical inspection came to
~ nhrn,hk arp1fnafinn 90 Ohio Found
with sudden disnay that the eyes in
question were looking at her with some
amusement in their gray depths.
"Wonld you like to see Punchs'
asked the wner of the eyes. politely
handing her that periodical.
''Thank you, I" said Milly meekly, glad
to hide her bushes behind its friendly
pages; while the stranger opposite noted
with critical approval the dark brown
taAor-made costume that did full justice
to the graceful girlish figure and the
brown felt hat contrasting so well with
the fair golden hair; man-like, too, he
took special notice of the well-shaPed
hands in the small four-button Suede
gloves, and of the dainty Pinet boots.
Punch was handed back when Milly
felt her cheeks a little cooler.
"Tenniel's cartoon is rather good this
week" remarked the gentleman, with
the same amused twinkle in his y
"Yes-yery," she answered feeling
that she must appear like a stupid little
schoolgirl.
Here Mily, who was blessed with a
sense of humor, felt suddenly struck
with the absurdity of the situation. To
be sitting calmly discussing Tennlel's
cartoons with a possible murderer al
ready armed with the necessary weapons
for taking her lifel for Mlly had been
furtiyely regarding the balZe covered
breech-loaders, but had consoled herself
with the reflection that revolvers and
pistols were generally preferred by such
people; and, as she tried TO hide the
sudden smile under a cloak Of lady-like
impassiveness, she looked so charming,
with the sparkle In her violet eyes, and
two tantalizing little dimples playing
hide-and.seek in the rounded cheeks,
that the young man opposite, admiring
- al coil 80 Af..a,lF