The Penn's Grove record., 1885-03-21

our united kind regards. and, believe
me, dear Miss Buckly,
"Yours very sincerely.
"ARCHIBALD BLAND"
The post always came in early at the
dover house, and the letters were gen.
| orally taken up with the hot water, so
that each inmate read her letters in the
privacy of her own room. Aunt Mar
garet, who happened that morning TO
be the first down to breakfast, awaited
with some anxiety her niece's appear
ance, and fdgeted most unnecessarily
over the breakfast equipage.
The door opened at last, and Miss
Buckley felt a sudden thrill of relief as
Mllly came forward with bright eyes
and a FAINT pink flush on her cheeks.
''Haye you heard from home this
mornings" Miss Buckley inquired as
Milly buttered her toast and leisurely
knocked off the top of her egg.
"Yes,' answered MiiIy very cheer
fully, II have had a letter from papa"
Then she continued, with some embar-
easement, Papa writes to tell me that
Stephen Corcoran has eloDed with a
Young person from the Red Lion. Alb
sence. f" she continued, with the old gay
laugh. ''has evidently made his heart
grow fonder of somebody else."
'.Eere she paused, with a quick blush,
as an amused twinkle in the dark eyes
behind the tea urn reminded her that
the aphoTism might have a double APP
plication.
THAT is very true-sometimes, - said
f. n--IrI-v 9Th vNAnt nXnennl0V ~
gravity; while Milly appeared suddenly
concerned about an imaginary fly In the
cream-Jug.
Mr.. Verschoyle, dropping in that
morning, was pleasantly surprised by
the bright smile that greeted him, and
felt his heart beat with sudden hope as
he saw the shy warm welcome In the
dark blue eyes. lie had been driven to
the verge of desperation during the last
fortnight by Milly's studied avoidance,
and her freezing politenesS when she
was compelled to meet him, and had
been wont, at the close of each misera-
BILE day, to mutter savagely some very
sage remarks about feminine cOntrariety
as lie sought consolation from his trusty
pipe. He had at last vowed never to
meet the ''heartless little fiirt" again,
and to take a trip to Africa, or join an
expedition in search of the North Pole.
Aided by ~forty-eight hours perpetual
drizzle, he had actually kept away from
the dover house for two days; but this
morning the clouds had lifted, self-sat-
isfed dahlias and sturdy asters raised
their downcast heads. while the rich
golden leaves of venerable elms shOne
Il, TIM hpipht ai1tnnnn qnnlIuhf HA
would 90 to the dover house Just once,
to say good bye;'' and. as Milly's eyes
looked into his with a smile, all his
stern resolutions suddenly melted away
in their light, and he found courage to
suggest, with wistfuI humility, that, as
it was such a delightful morning, Miss
Buckley and Miss Milly should come
out for a walk.
Miss Buckley smilingly shook her
head; she had "a thousand things to do
indoors;'' but she added, pitying the
young mans disappointment
81 think you ought to make Milly go,
Mr.. Verschoyle. If she doesn't get her
color back soon and do credit to Sher-
borne air and my COW, Pm going to
send her home again."
Milly's cheeks did full justice to Sher-
borne air when she found herself walk
ing alone with Mr.. V~erschoyle on the
quiet country road, where summers
cool green had been replaced by the
coral of hips and haws and the gold of
fading bracken. She answered all his
remarks in monosyllables. until An
thongs hopes sank to zero, while his
thoughts reverted to the North Pole as
frequently as though they were a col
lection of magnetic needles.
II am thinking of volunteering for
the new Arctic Expedition, Miss
Bland" he announced suddenly.
''Reallyr' said MIlly unconcernedly.
81 hope you VIII enjoy the trip"
"Just as if 1 were going to B%rightonl''
thought Anthony.
81 suppose it is rather cold?" she
suggested calmly.
81 don't find it very warm here" an
swered Anthony l~ugubriously, quite
overcome by this uncOncern.
Then / should think the torrid zone
would be a better CHANGE" said Milly.
"Well, I've been thinking of Africa"
assented Mr.. Verschoyle; ''but a fellow
told me the other day that the lions
were quite done up, and Taganyika had
became as tame as Pail Mall"
81 impose you find Sherborne very
stupidP" remarked the young lady, with
a sudden culver in her voice which i'm
mediately raised mercurial young An
thony to realms OF bliss.
mo, L DON'T" he replied inconse-
quently. SIT is the dearest place in the
~wOrld-when you are In it, Milly"-and
bis arm stole insinuatingly round her
trim waist.
'Then why do you talk about going
to the N-North Polepn murmured Milly
pathetically. submitting to the caress
with a meekness that would have much
disappointed Miss Buckley.
Because | thought it couldn't POSI-
bly, be more frgid than you-you cruel
little darlingl But now, sweet" be
went on, with a happy thrill in his
strong young voice, lyon will be my
own little wife-won't you, dear2 Re-
member how lonely l am all by myself
IN that big solitary house. Look VI
into my eyes, Milly, and say Yes"
Mtlly did not say that important mon
osyllable; but she raised her eyes for
one Shy moment to his; and in their
depths he read his answer and was sat
isied,