Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-02-12

10 North Lodge" ialleIeu Eve
/ line.
"You will find TIE Thursbys in great
trouble" said Ralph Vernon, looking
ut her curiously.
II know it," returned Eveline, col.
cring. 81 have come from London to
make up their mourning.
ooh I" cried Ralph,a little surprised
for he had imagined that she was some
poor relative at least.
His manner was far more respectful
than before, and Eveline felt so glad
of. his company that she soon frightened
up, even laughing at the recollection
of the tramp, as he crawled away on
his hands and knees, and then sudden.
ly spruny to his feet, flying off like the
wind. 1t was too dark for Ralph to
distinguish the girls features plainly,
but he could see that she was pretty,
and that her figure was slight and
graceful. Her voice, too pleased him !;
/ it was so sweet and refined.
This little dressmaker was lady in
every sense Of the word.
Pray, take my arm," he said kindly
~ know you are very tined and upset
by the fright that ruffian gave you."
but you have the parcel to carry"
returned Eveline. hesitatingly.
81 can manage both you and the par
cel," he told her with laugh.
"You never carried a parcel before
in your life," observed Eveline, as she
accepted his arm.
"How do you know that ?" he asked
good humoredly. "Well, If l have
meyer made myself useful before, it is
high time began now."
They had left the lane and were in
the highr Dad. Strange tosay, the walk,
which at the commencement seemed
so intolerable to Eveline, now appeared
marvelously short.
~ shall never see him again." she
thought, with faint sigh, as they par
ted at the gates of North Lodge, and it
was with very weary little face that
she entered the presence of the LADY oe
the house.
He had told her that Mrs. Thursby
was very amiable woman, but still
Eveline was agreeably surprised at the
kindness of her reception. She had
been to many houses on the same err
rand before, but nowhere had she been
treated with such consideration.
She was at North Lodge for several
days, working away as IL life had de-
pended on it, and, as she worked, her
thoughts were of the handsome stra n
ger who had rescued hel from the blu
tality of the tramp.
Once Ralph came up the carriage
drive, and, peering from thu window,
she looked at his frank face and stall
wart figure with queer little ache at
her heart.
He was making a call on the ladies
of the house, AID no DOUBT was lover
of-an accepted lover of-one of Mrs.
Thursby's daughters, those graceful,
fair-haired ladies who were so dignified
in their grief at the loss of their faith
er.
She felt relieved when her business
was over, ard she stood wa iting in the
little railway station for the tram that
was to carry her to London. There is
no place under the sun more depress-
ing than country railway station, and
our little heroine had repeatedly CLAN
ced at the clock, when a tall form
darkened the doorway, and she looked
mp to see Ralph Vernon standing be-
fore her.
$50 you are going back to town. he
said, shaking hands with her as II they
had been old friends. ''I thought 1
would like to come aud say good-by."
"How did you know 2" she asked in
surprise.
ooh, Grace Thursby told me-" he
answered, carelessly, "she is one Of the
best girls in the world"
'She seems very nice to her infer
iors," observed Eveline,a little bitterly,
81 can imagine how charming she can
be to her equals"
"Who is her inferior ?" asked Ralph
Vernon, quickly. "Not you, by Jove
She was saying to me that you were a
perfect lady"
"Very kind of her, am sure," said
Eveline, haughtily /; ''only am at a
loss to understand how such discov-
cry came about"
"There, now, haye offended you,"
said Ralph, ,contritely :"but I am such
clumsy fellow"
"Not at ALL" returned Eveline, hus-
! kily. ut is very kind Of your affianoed
wife to take such an interest in me-"
"My affianced wife ~ he said, with a
hearty laugh. "I should like my broth
er John to hear you say that" He
was very close to her now, as they sat
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