The Penn's Grove record., 1885-09-19

lie knocks three times, with decent in
teTvals between each rat tat, but moth
ing comes of it. When however he has
arrived at the awful certainty that a
tragedy has been ena ted within, with
a girl with earnest speaking eyes for It's
victim, a maid-of all-work opens the
door about an inch or so, and 8 k him
with mothered Indignation what he
wants. She is not genial, this girl, and
has a smut on her nose and a black
streak over her left eye, and is alto
gether more striking in appearance
than strictly handsome
Sir Gerald is deeply impressed by her.
He is impressed too by the s~uddenly-ac-
quired knowledge that there is a difficult
ty about making a call on a young lady
whose name is unknown to ne, In
desperation he chances at the little
brush, and it supplies him with a ready
wit. When he has smiled upon the
smudgy maid without, and squeezed
half a sovereign into her dusky palm,
with effect. be says mildly
1.-The Young lady v no lives here, and
~who-paints you understandable wish
to see her. ! have a message for her.
Will you be SC good as to take her my
eard?''
IAN rIght-you foller me, " says the
undalnty lass, ignoring the card and
beckoufng him toward the staircase.
Gladly, willingly SIR Gerald repeats
her footsteps one by II upon the creak-
ing boards that lead him higher heaven
than he has ever yet benin truth,
the stairs seem in~terminable. Reach
ing at length the right landing, his con-
ductor taps loudly ON the panel of a
door and cries with stentorian lung
"a visitor to you, Miss Horrocksl'
and Immediately afterwards vanishes
with a speed incredible down the murky
staircase.
Come inl" cries a voice blithe and
joyful, and full of happy expectation.
Sir Gerald pushing open the door, ac-
cedes to this h~ospitable request, and
enters the
1t is a poor room, indifferently fur
nished, yet very pretty IN its own small
quaint fashion, and SO 30 like its mis-
tress in many ways. The mistress her
self is hardly up to the mark a her
eyes light on Sir Gerald. First the
gladness dies from them, and then a
surprise largely mingled with disap
pointment takes its place.
"Oh, DEAR" she says quickly, ire
pressibly, show you surprised mel |
thought you we're" She stops short
and again regards him ~curiously but
TO longer unkindly.
I'm so sorry Pm not, " says Sir Ger
aid a little bitterly, though with pre-
tended contrItion. He is standing mo-
tIonless in the doorway, feeling rather
] ,E-,,I - nJ,rnNaa .pka- this t,nrrOnt
tous reception. What may not her
pause mean? Who was it she was ex-
pecting? For whom did she mistake
him? An acknowledged lover, no doubt.
Dire jealousy enters his soul and dead
ems all other sensibilites.
He looks so detected that his hostess
at once recOvers her self-possession.
"Pray come M she says politely, if
coldly. SIS there-what a | do for
your"
II brought you your brush, !" he says
laying it on the table. 81 was passing
by, and thought perhaps you might be
wanting it. Good evening"" He moves
toward the door.
"Oh, let me thank you before you
gol'' says the girl earnestly.
"Some other time. / beg your par
don for having intruded at all, and now
especially, when you are expecting
friends"
"Not friends-one friend only. /
haven't had time''-smiling softly-''to
miss my brush vet; but can see it Is
one of my best.n
Zone friend is always more attrac-
tive than many" says Sir Gerald. igno-
ring the brush-question, He is indeed
full of an absorbing desire to hear
something more of the friend, though,
when thinking of him, he leaves out
the r."
my friend is certainly more attrac-
tive than many" responds she brightly.
"But-but I'm afraid now'-glancing
sadly at a tiny clock in the corner-''it
is growing too late tosexpect any one.
I'm afraid | shall see no n tonight.
''Too late at eight o'clock Surely
your friend will not be able to keep
awayI" says Sir Gerald, with a slight
| sneer. meant for the recreant lover.
''She cannot always come, poor
thingl" says the girl, divine pity in her
eyes.
She-shel His whole face changes;
his heart once more grows light. Who
ever the blessed ''she" may be, he knows
that he loves ''she"i
Meantime the little gracious figure
| standing at the other side OF the table
is regarding him with glowing inten-
sity. Presently he breaks the silence.
"What could have brought you to
this neighborhood?" she asks slowly,
as if still bordering irresolutely some
puzzling thought. 81 hope-I do hope
you did not come simply to restore me
my brush"
"Well yes. l did, " says Sir Gerald
humbly. He is well versed In society's
lies, this Young man, yet he fRds it i'm
possible t O lie to this girl with her pure
beautiful face and innocent earnest
eyes that seem to read his very soul.
VIII she be angry with him for calling?
VIII she turn him out, and forbid him
ever to look at her again2
Raising his head to meet his doom
he meets a charming grateful face in
stead.
"How more than good Of you'll" she
saws. $50 few people will take so much
trouble about any one, But how did
YOU find out my address,"
81 followed you" says Sir Gerald
honestly. 81 didn't like to give You
the brush in the street. you know-that
is-I--I wanted to call on you, but |
was afraid you might not like it, and
So Look here, Miss HorrOcks-as l
know your name, | think it is only
right that you should know mine"
AS he saws this, he hands her his
card. Having read 1t she looks al him
again.
O"You had a long walk, | am afraid"
she says sweetly, but not more sweetIy
than before-a fact he nc, es; then
MAY | give you a cup of tea2'she says
shyly.
isYou must not let me be a trouble
to you," returns lie, thinking how ire
sistable she is with the faint touch of
nervousness about her.
ut will be no trouble. The fact is"
-~blushing warmly and la%ughing-"I
want my own tea now. cit is ready
so YOU may as well have it with me