The Penn's Grove record., 1885-06-06

the band of the GrOtoler. | knew now
that it was the bright blue eyes and
golden curls Of the handsome young
second officer which had made that
night one to be remembered afterwards,
for from it the happiness OF my lie
sprang. Time after time Hastings ana
| met. He was always coming TO the
Clyffe, which was the name OF our cot
tage, until at last one evening he asked
me to be his wife. Any Il might nave
guessed what my answer nad Deen,
could they have watched his light,
bounding, happy step, as, some three
hours afterwards, he sprang IKE an an.
telope from rock to rock until be eached
the shore where the boat waited TO take
him gu board his ship, which was sta
toned just opposite our windows,
Time flew all too gu ckly, and at last
sailing orders arrived from the Adml
rally. Our dream of happiness was
broken up, and | saw my sailors bright
eyes grow dim for the first time since |
had learned to love them.
ut will be only for twelve months,
Grace, - he whispered, as he held me III
his arms. alt will soon pass, and then
| shall come back again, my darling.
If there were no partings, there would
be no meetings"
II was six months nov since | had
stood and watched the Gr0tgter diminish
into a.''moylng speck, !" and the speck
sail far away beyond the range OF my
glass, and IN six months more 1 hoped
should again see Hastings.
1t was to help to pass away this last
SIX months that | had written to ask
my friend Lettie Preston to come to us.
Earle, being a doctor, was so much out,
and | was so often left alone that, when
he inquired one day if l would not like
to ask some one TO come to the ClyHe
and help me TO admire the sea and the
rocks and the beautiful summer sun
shine, | was quite delighted with his
suggestion, and wrote of at once to
Lettie, urging every possible and impos-
sible inducement for her consideration
aud my pleasure was great when l re-
ceived word that she was coming.
"DreamingP" Earle's voice asked me,
50 close to my ear as | sat on the seal
of the window that l almost jumped to
my feet. "Drearning, GraceP And
what about, little sister? | am afraid
that you are so much occupied that you
do not want this. Well, will send it
back again"
AS he spoke. he put a letter into his
pocket, and then he walked off down
the garden; but had caught sight of a
crest of d bulldog with a broad collar
on, and | knew that on the collar there
was printed III. NJ. S. GrOt0ler, !" so
was off after him as fast as my feet
would carry me. l soon get my letter;
aud, oh, what "a happy night that was!
| had heard from Hastings, and on the
morrow Lettie was to come.
The next morning | was up and out
in the garden, gathering the prettiest
flowers | could find to put into my vases,
long before lazy Earle had drawn up bis
blind and opened his window. There
seemed 80 much TO be done before the
evening came, so much to arrange and
rearrange-for | wanted Lettie's first
impression of our little home to be d
pleasant one. So l hustled about, and
let Earle laugh at and tease me as much
as he pleased.
1--WE are much too busy to-day to sill
and talk with you, Sir Edward" he
said as a shadow fell across the window.
I'VE are expecting a young lady this
evening; she is coming to stay with us.
and the unusual novelty is making
Grace and me quite i'll. Win you take
a buster and help us, ~Squlre?" And
with a droll glance at me, Earle held
out my little check buster to Sir Edward
Melville.
as it 80, Grace2" Sir Edward asked
as he seated himself on the sill of the
window. 81 am so sorry, for l camt
to ask for some breakfast; | am on my
way to Redstone."
"And you shall have some," | said
''Do not pay any attention to Earle, fol
be is not very accurate in his state
ments, but come in and rest IN YOU
own favorite chair. Breakfast is being
brought in now,"
Sir Edward Melville was one of my
greatest friends. | had a sincere liking
for his kind genial nature, and warm
admiration for his fine handsome ole
face. Although in his seventy-irsI
year, Sir Edward was younger-looking
and more active than many a mar Of
fifty. 1t appeared to us that we haC
always known him, for his face was a.
familiar to me as Earle's. | knew ht
had been intimate with our father anC
mother; and he alone, with my brother
who was very little then, had followed
them TO their resting-place in the
chui chyard on the cliff, where the ever
sounding waves sang a perpetual re
QUEEN.
Our breakfast passed off with an un
usual amount of laughter and noise; in
the midst of il Earle rose to go hi.
rounds of daily visiting.
Now, Grace" he SAID. after kissing
me, II may be detained somewhere: 81
do not wait for me after five, or you viii
not be al the station in time yourself
If | am not here then, tell George X
bring round your ponies, and | will b,
home as early as l can"
There was generally the same charac
t~eristic of vagueness and u~ncertainty
about all Earle's arrangements, but
knew it was because he had so littl,
time at his WI disposal. He was thu
only doctor in the neighborhood Of Red
stone, and very frequently he was called
away many miles along the rough wilt
coast.
81 am sure you are wanting me to g
also. Grace" Sir Edward SAID, risin,
and choosing a flower from the vase
$50 | am off. But first let me tell yor
that | shall expect you to drive you
friend over to Melville very often. L
she is fond of an old bachelors estab
lishment, | can promise much to amuse
and then there are my flowers"
AS he concluded, Sir Edward finished
fixing in his coat the rosebud he hat
selected. and held out his hand, | re
membered too well the many happy day
Earle and l had spent at Melville no
to accept gladly Sir Edwards kim
offer; and we parted with tie under
standing that in two or three days til,
Squire himself was to drive over for US
The day drew to a close at last, AM
at five, as Earle had not returned,
ordered my ~pony-carriage and ran up
stairs to put on my hat.
was soon driving through the quie
lanes to the Redstone Station, an,
reached Ii some minutes before tn
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