The Penn's Grove record., 1885-04-18

" NAis q lAtu lAElGAdlA-
took it, and this is his only daughter. "
AS this little history was ended the
children came in. Jack saw Miss TAI,
bot walking back through the fields, and
again admired her graceful figure and
simple dress.
"Did you ever hear of a statue being
erected to the inventor of croquet, MISS
TalbotPn asked Jack, finding himself
near that young lady in the progress of
a game.
mo. Who was he2"
Another proof of the ingratitude OF
human nature! [ intend to start a sub
scription for a pyramid of croquet-balls
to be placed in Westminster Abbeyi
Look out, Mss Talbot You are IN
jeopardy"
"Oh. -dearl felt so sure of winning.
Do have some pity, Alice"
EVIL for evil, my dear. Revenge Is
sweet" returned Mrs. Arthur Barham,
sending the white ball spinning across
the lawn.
Miss Talbot walked after it laughing
Don't you like her, Jack?" asked
Alice.
II haven't decided think l do"
"Sbe's awfuIly clever, and such ID dear
good girl. We are all very fond of herY''
''She isn't pretty" remarked Jack,
CHANGING at Miss Talbot's face.
"Well. I suppose not. It's a wonder
she'snot married yet; but she is engaged,
you know
"IndeedI'
"Yes-at least she never told me so;
but there's a handsome fellow called
Launcel0t Murray always down here,
and it is as good as settled between them,
| think"
''Ohl" remarked Jack. "It's my turn
now, | SUPPOSE with rather a saw
age stroke he sent his ball flying through
a couple of hoops.
The game was soon oyer, Jack being
victor, and Miss Talbot threw her mall
let down and declared she must go.
Jack walked with her across the
meadows. The companionshIp of the
high-bred, talented woman was growing
very sweet to him. They were. talking
of foreign poetry. Jack was an enthu-
siast for German authors, and strongly
recommended Miss Talbot to devote an
hour a day to Schills r and Goethe.
"They are too mystic, too unreal, )"
she said.
An, that is because you have never
suffered You are not yet a graduate
in the school Of life"
Her dark eyes looked at him with
pity in their glance. No one could gaze
on Jacks noble face without seeing
there the beauty Of sanetified serrow
swell, that must be it," she said. 81
have never had much trouble; but still
[ think in the old times feeling was
truer than In these ages. l have never
read the classics. except in their Eng
fish dress, yet it seems to me that the
poetry Of those old poets is splendid"
$50 il is. The old fellows are capital
company, although lam afraid it is their
age makes them so respected. 1t is the
rust we value. not the gold. You don't
know Latin then?"
"Only a little. A g%overness l had
oncedragged me through the rudiments,
to my great disgust; but l have often
wished since that [ had p~erseyered."
LET me teach you" said Jack, for
getting Launcelot Murray and Miss
Talbot's engagement. sit would be a
real boon. Give me something to do.
| wish you would"
II am awfully stupid"
CSC much the better. Come, Miss
Talbot, for sweet PHYS sake. 1t is so
dull here without an object in life."
"Dear me, l thought you were very
happyl"
'Just see what mistakes people make.
Let me give you the first lesson to-day.
| heard you tell Alice you were coming
over with something or other"
"Wel to keep you from perishing
from ennui, l wish L could teach you
something in return" d
~ think yon villa very sweet les
SON" murmured Jack. shaking hands
with her.
She laughed and colored as she went
away across the garden to the house.
Z Jack walked back slowly along the
beach. His heart was stirring with a
new feeling. After dinner Jack went
upstairs to get some Latin books for
his pupil. She was in the drawing-room
when he came down.
81 am obedient, you see, Mr.. Bar
ham,
THAT'S right. L am not going to be-
gun at the beginning. L shall put you
into Virgil at once, Miss Talbot"
'Just as you please" she answered,
smiling, as he sat down at her side and
opened the book.
Alice sat by, declaring they were both
awfully learned, and the lesson went
merrlly on. Mss Talbot was an apt
pupil-indeed She knew more than she
had saId-and Jack declared that in a
few months Latin would be as easy to
her as French
This first lesson was the prelude of
many. Jack was soon a great fayorite
of Mr.. Talbot's, and many mornings he
would take his books across the fields,
and give Miss Talbot her lesson in her
pretty morning-room, or under the trees
on the lawnl They grew fast friends
in these pleasant hours. Poor Jack was
learning "A lesson, too, very swiftly from
his pupils bright dark eyes. No Launce-
lot Murray appeared to break the spell.
Jack had forgotten his existence in the
sweetness of the flying days.
They had been having a picnic on
the rocks, keeping In6 FESTIVAL OF
of the little ones birthdays, and even
ing was come before they thought of
turning hOmeward.
''What a lovely night" said Miss
Talbot. at would make a capital pic
ture, those dusky rocks against the light
of the sky and the calm sea-"
YES; the rocks are very pretty, but
they are veig dangerous. l should not
like to be caught below there by the adj
vancing tide.
II have heard that it is very danger
returned Miss Talbot; and, their
stock of original remarks failing, there
was a pause.
Mr.. Talbot was waiting for his daugh-
ter at the RectOry gate. Jack saw his
broad figure, aud stopped a moment,
He would have given anything to have
power to speak just then-he longed to
put his fate to the test.
Miss Talbot stopped too, looking up
with shining eyes at the starry heavens
above her. The passionate words of
ancient BOet rose to Jacks Iins He