Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-08-22

such was the name Of the@gentle
man who had come to her rescue
shook his head.
s'I'll carry it," he said, obviously
"You don't think | ain going t.
leave you in the lane after wllal
has happened. Where are you go
ing?D
s'7o North LODGE faltered Eve
line.
"You will find the Thursbys in
great trouble," said Ralph, looking
at her curlously.
II know it," returned Eveline
coloring. II have come from Lon
don to make up their mourning
"Oh!" cried Ralph, little sur
prised, for he had imagined that
she was some poor relative, at
least.
His manner was far more respect
full than before, and Eveline 6eit Sc
glad of his company that she soon
frightened. up, seven laughingea al
the recollection Of the tramp, as-he
crawled away On his hands and
knees, and then suddenly sprang
to his feet, flying off like the wind,
1t was too dark for Ralph to dis
tinguish the girls features plainly,
but he could see that she Was pref
ty, and that her figure was slight
and graceful. Her voice, too,
pleased him; it was 30 sweet and
refined.
The little dressmaker was a lady
in every sense Of the word.
'Pray, take my arin," lie said,
kindly. II know you are very
tired and upset by the fright that
ruffian gave yOu."
"But-you have tile parcel to car
ry," returned Evellne, hesitaLing.
".
~ can manage both you and the
parcel" he told her with a laugh.
"You have never carried a par.
eel before in your Iife," observed
Evelne, as she accepted his arm.
"How do yon know that3' he
asked, good hunoredly. "WeIl, if
| have never made myself useful
before, 1T is high time I began
now.n
They had left the lane and were
in the high road. Strange to say,
the walk, at the commencement
seemed SO intolerable to Eveline,
now appeared marvelously short.
~ shall never sec him again" shc
thought, with a faint sigh, as they
parted at the gates of North Lodge.
and it was with very weary little
face that she entered the presence
of the lady of the house.
He had told her that Mrs. Thurs
by was very amiable. woman, but
still Eyeline was agreeably sur
spriSed at the kindness of her re.
sception She had been to many
houses onethe same errand before,
butsWhere had she 5been.treated.
- aansIf = (:
ieras cav & !. t IS .aEsar
had depended on it, and as she
worked Der thoughts we're of the
handsome stranger who had res
cued her from the brutality of the
tramp.
Once Ralph came up the car
riage drive, and peering from the
window, she looked at his frank
face and stalwart figure with q
queer little ache at her heart.
He was making a call on the Ia
dies of the house, and, no doubt
was a lover of-an acceptable lover
of-one ofMrs. Thursby's daughters
those graceful, f;sir.nair ladies
who were so dignifed in their
grief at the loss Of their father.
She felt relieved when her bust
ness was over, and she stood wait
ing in the little railway station for
the train that was to carry her to
London. Our little heroine had re.
peatedIy glanced at the clock, when
tall forin darkened the doorway,
and she looked up to see Ralph
Vernon standing before her.
$50 you are going back to town."
he said, shaking hands with her as
if they had been old friends. IL
thought would like to come and
say good-by."
.'How did you kDowf" she asked
in surprise.
"Oh, Grace Thursby told me-" he
answered, carelessly; "she is one Of
the best girls in the world"
"She seems very nice to her i'll
feriors," observed Eveline, little
bitterly. II can imagine how
charming she can be to her equals"
"Wbo is her inferior9" asked
Ralph, quickly. 'Not you, BY Jove!
She was saying to me that you
were perfect lady"
"yery kind Of her, I am snre,"
said Eveline, haughtily; "only | am
at loss to understand how such a
discovery came about"
s'There. now, l have offended
you," said Ralph, contritely; "but ]
am such a clumsy fellow"
"Not at ALL" returned Eveline
huskily. sit is very kind of your
affianced wife to take such an in
tereSt in me-"
aMy affianced wifem he said, with
a hearty laugh. ~ should like nay
brother John to hear you say that
He was very close to her now, az
ID. ffTn