Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1885-07-24

The daisies were an unconscious
background to her thoughts also.
The daisies that had brought only
happy memories and golden dreams to
the girl in her teens, had come to
have quite other meanings for the wo
man Of twenty-five.
+ Five years. Was it likely that the
five years old story could seem any
thing but d boy-and girl romance to
Robin Lindsay now: That was the
question that the daisies had been ask
ing Margaret Lakewood this morn
iag, that they had already asked her
more than once as the empty years
went by, and Robin Lindsay gave no
sign Of claiming the one flower in
the world for him
Need it be No." Neta:" said her
mother once more. "Lord Castleman
Is well born, distinguished, Il polished
gentleman, and an upright man.
! " hat fault can YOU find in him ?"
"Noae," said Meta YEARLY. She
thought that life would have been
easier to her if her suitors had been II
little less uncXceptionable.
"Then, my dear, why do you not
accept him: DO you know, Meta,
what is the natural conclusion when
Il girl be ares rs you do"
Yes said Meta hastily. "The
natural conclusion, the only conclu-
sion, is that she likes her home and
her mother too well to leave them"
Lady Mary put aside the tlattery
With lofty Indifference.
"Ihe n,tural conclusion is that
there Is some one she likes better-or
raucieS sh. does" said the mother,
consj!cguteIy changing the form Of
expression as she saw the sudden flame
~ Meta cheeks. 1t failed as quickly
Is it had come, and Meta said stead
ily-
That i, is not the case with me,
mamma
Il was not willful untruth. Her
mornings communions with the dai-
sizes mad brought home the conviction
that Robin Lindsay had forgotten her,
or thought Of her only as cousin,
and nothing could therefore be more
evident to Margaret Hazlewood than
that her own feelings must have un-
dergoue a similar change.
- am relieved 10 hear it, said Lady
Mary. Il hal really begun to wonder
alb uri rs it sc ms--it there could
have been anything between you ana
No. oh. no." ctieI Meta vehement
Is. How could YOU think ST., mann,
ina, Hhen he has-uever-' She
stopped, afraid Of her own voice.
What was she going to do: To falter
and break down before her mother
to b-trav the weakness that had rob
bed her gjrihood Of It's brightness, and
that, instead of being conquered as she
had believed, seemed ready to over
whrlm her ROW with a sudden despair
IuL shame: She paused IA moment,
Steadvlug herself against the garden
seat, and then she said. with a ner
vous iltt!e laugh--"'llow could you be
so absurd mamma? | shouli have
thought YOU knew me better than
that The two women Were both too
much excited to notice outside things.
1t c,me upon them both with little
shock, when a page appeared before
Them and announced tuat Lord Cas-
tleman was in the drawing room.
Il will come" SAID Lody Mary ner-
yousIy. and then she looked at her
daughter.
My dear, what shall say You
will not sacrifice your prosPects-your
happiue>s-
! My happiness is not III qH2stion.
mamma" said Meta proudly. you
can send Lord Castleman to me-"
Lady Mary d,i not venture to ask
any more. She kissed her daughter.
aud went oil to her guests, rejoicing,
Meta would not have sent for him
only to reject him. she felt sure. And
as for the doubts which the daisies
had sugge>ted, if Lady Mary did not
believe her dau4 hter' 5. .protestatlons As
entirely as Meta would have wished,
she believed in the healing power OF
/ time and the evanesCent nature of hu
man emotions. with IL fullneSs OF con-
yictlon that Meta herself would prob
ably never attain to. She turned for
IA moment and looked at the girls
white clad figure with tender mater
nal pride, and then she went on to the
house and into the drawing room,
glowing With satisfaction and good
will.
Lord Castieman was standing by
the table with Il face that was becom,
ing anxious aud grave, bat he flushed
! into eager anticipation AS Lady Mary
came into the room.
You brlng me good tldlngs, cried
he ioyfullv. Il see it in your eyes
She will see you." said Lady Mary,
beaming with smiles. You will tind
her in her fayorite corner by the con.
servatories.>
He pressed her band, and went, see
ing everything little mistily through
the sudden dazzle of new hope, but
pleading his cause with as much hu-
mlllty as though he had not just seen
Lady Mary, and drawn his own deduc-
tlons from the encouraging interview.
And Meta sat with downcast eyes,
and listened to his tail in silence he
felt to be still more encouraging; but
when he would have taken her hand,
she drew it back.
Wait" she said: there is something
| should like TO show yoa first"
She took from her pocket faded
leather case, aud opened it with fin,
gers that trembled little in spite OF
her efforts to keep them still. Inside
were the Christmas cards with the
pretty frosted daisies, and the robins
that used to be SO. seldomly absent
from Christmas cards, but that had
perhaps special reference i'll these,