The Mineral argus., 1885-03-26

shown me both; and l might have
been received into Q far less happy
home than this. I have long wished
to speak, but I had not the courage. ]
had letter leave you, il you please, .
month from this. In strange place
with only strange faces around me.
may have the good sense to be more con.
tented. Forgive me- am"
But here Mss Berry's work fell on
her lap, and she covered her face with
her hands and astonished Mrs. Mounte-
bank thought that she heard sob.
"My dear Miss Berry" in . tone OF
mingled concern and imIatience, "what
can possibly be the matter with you:
Leave me What do you mean? don't
want you to leave me! and what is more,
I shall not take your notice! And so ]
tell you! Perhaps the hot weather has
tried you. Put on your bonnet and &C
ont for quiet stroll under the trees.
That will do you good, ! dare say; and
don't let me hear any MORO nonsense
about leaving!"
And Miss Berry dried her tears, ut
tered her thanks, and did as she was bid.
And, ten minutes later, she was
slowly walking mp and down . shady
field path. while hoary old oaks
waved their green branches over her
head, and whispered their sweet "leaf
music" in her ear, and clouds Of
bluebells" stretched away under the
hedgerows. and dogrose and bramble
were Haunting their long streamers
against the clear sky. And bees were
humming, and grasshoppers chirping
and butterflies fitting hithcr and
thither. And altogether made up o
happy living picture Of golden summer
day.
But Miss Berry herself was the cen.
ter figure in the picture, of course;
and she certainly did not look happy.
She had long ago discovered that she
had made gre at mistake last autumn.
4, II she had been honest. she had alse
been hasty; and "too great caution, too
much rashness. both alike are harm
full" Honor and respect" for Mr..
Stapleton had hy this time developed
into something far deeper and stronee or
but, sad to say, though she not unfre-
quently met that gentleman at the vi
Garage. or in the village, he seemed en-
tirely to have forgotten the past, and
simply treated her rs the most common
place acquaintance might have done
But now she paused in her walk and
listened. What did that sound of rush
ing and running mean? Were oil the
cows in the adjoining pasture setting
out On race?-Or what? Why it was
Farmer North's bull-the terror of the
village! And after Whom was it rush
ing? But hs the bull could not leap
the stile, and
"Oh it is Mr.. Stapleton!" Adelaide
exclaimed, aloud, in distress; and al
the same moment the gentleman
lcaped the stile, and, only q
little out Of breath apparently. was
proceeding, without much discompos-
ure, ON his way, when trembling
shaking voice said:
"Oh! Are You hurt?"
Mr.. Stap.eton turned with o great
start, and there, with flushed face and
frightened eyes, stood Miss Berry.
"No, "he slowly answered adding then,
"and if had been, what would it have
signified?"
The only answer was deeper flush.
Would you have cared?" coming
nearer
A low "yes."
"Then you must think little more Of
me than you did last autumn?"
The question had to be repeated, and
then came u still lower YES"
Mr.. Stapleton heard the bull below
ing in disappointed rage on the other
side of the stile, and in his heart he
thanked him.
"Then-if ! once more beg of you tc
become my wife-for, believe me, l have
never forgotten Won for day--no, moi
for an hour. during these past months
what will you say?"
And, is there any need to write, that
it Was yes after a,l?-The Culver.