Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-03-28

You would condemn your 1elloW-
man for falling into temptation ?"
CATER the first time, yes; men
should notplay sharpened TOOLS"
She laughed and gathered up the
reins. 81 have asked you questions
enough. | resign the bluff to you.. /
shall never come here again."
"Why"
"It would remind me too vividly
of the death of my pet theory"
81 did not know that you had
theory"
"Well, l had. Goodbye"
"My horse is not far off; if you
have no objection l will accompany
you home"
AS they rode homeward, Clifton
said to his companion: "WhO is
this Mr.. Weston, whom 1 met at your
brothers. ?"
"He is Sidney Weston; that is all
/ know about him. Robert knew
him in Europe. He has been here
two or three months on a visit, and /
begin to fear he is going to stay al
ways"
"That is unhOspitable."
eyes, but | am candid"
"You do not like him."
Like him ! Do you know any
thing about him ?"
81 don't know"
"Your words imply suspicion"
"Of Weston? Yes, l have sus-
picion."
"You know nothing of him? Have
you ever met him befOre?"
81 don't know. He reminds me
very much of man whom ! have
good cause to think is in his grave.
Yet such strange things happen"
"Well, l can tell you nothing of
him." said May, looking closely at
Clifton as he rode on silently for a
while. Presently he said:
81 want your assistance, Miss
Moreland."
"For what"
"To aid me in knowing more OF
this man. If he is indeed the man /
think, the State peaitentiG'y aciU hare
another inmate ere long,"
Suppose l refuse to help you"
"You will not, for | promise you
your name shall not be made public
in this affair. l only want you &c
keep him here as long as you can. u
"How?"
"He loves you; you know what
hand to play. Will you do it?"
81 will try"
They had reached the gate, and as
Clifton assisted his companion to dis
mount, he said:
"Now we understand each other
do not be surprised at anything do
l am going in with you and you mus
treat me to a double dose of you
naughty indifference, for this man il
watchful."
May played her part well. Rober
and his wife entertained Clifton
while she condescended to play 70
Weston. He turned the music 70
her, and mingled his fine bass wit
her clear, rich tenor, thinking as h
watched the fairy fingers that sh
was treating him more kindly thai
usual. She looked a little worried a
the presence of Clifton, and when h
3 left an expression of relief came owe
her face.
, Several days passed, and Westo
I began to think May slightly NOR
, agreeable. She was too wise to a.
sumo too much at once; she Onl
h came into the parlor occasionally an
+ entertained him for a short time.
1 One day she was out in the garden
Weston saw her white dress mOvin
4 about among the shrubbery and slil
ped from the house and joined he
+ He half expected her to be displease
l. at his intrusion, but on the contrar!
she treated him very kindly an
v talked with more animation than
had ever seen her exhibit. II
It stopped and pulled a rose which bel
y gracefully over the wall.
Is "Miss Moreland, imagine this
It your favorite flower"
e "Why%
p "The rose is the queen of flower
g this one your florist calls the queC
Of teas and it is such a graceful
l. stately beauty, itreminds me Of you
e. He paused fearing her displeasur
ID but she only smiled quietly as 81
to said:
"You are an adept in fiattery.