The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-10-16

Juou 10 Ihc ieI noaFy uloPs ielI HUN the ofel
laden sky.
"Why there is nobody at home" said Jen.
ME, as, after repeatedly knocking at the door,
she lifted the latch and walked in.
1t was very close day, and Jennie push
ed up the little window, watching the heavy
falling rain, her sweet face framed with clus-
trring honeysuckle.
As she stood watching the rain drops, a
gentleman came in sight walking hurriedly
down the road Jennie wondered who he
could be. She gazed at him curiously as he
approached the cottage, and started when he
knocked sharply at the door, not having
caught sight of the pretty face at the win
dow.
The spirit of mischief took possession of
Jennie. She took off her hat, snatched up a
large white apron and tied it around her slim
waist, tucked up her sleeves, and taking a
broom, went to the door as if the knocking
| had interrupted her in her household duties.
| "l'-began the stranger, and lifting his
| eyes to her face, gave an expressive by
| Jovew and stared at Miss Jennie in silent
establishment, until warm blush stole up to
! the roots of her pretty, fair hair
what can do for you, sir" said Jennie,
| with a demure curtsey.
You can give me shelter from the storm,
| you will ?" said the stranger, recovering
! from his surprise; and shaking the raindrops
! from his hat, he stepped inside the cottage,
glancing at Ienne's little feet as he did so, and
| thinking the little rustic was uncommonly
| well shod
Jennie, on her part, was wondering who
| this handsome man, with dark, searching
eyes could be.
you don't live all alone in this cottage"
he said, accepting her timid invitation to be
seated
ooh, no |" faltered Jennie, bushing like
rose.
"Oh, what tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive"
what a pretty child it is" thought the
young man. And how she bushes; but
that, suppose is rustic simplicity. dare
say che is quite unconscious of my admira-
ton, and does not even know how charming
she looks"
And then he smiled, remembering how he
had been courted and hattered by certain fair
ladies that afternoon, and congratulated Linn
self on the fact that the storm had come
after his departure, for be it known, the angel
Miss Jennie was entertaining unawares was
no other than the "lion" of the garden party,
Mr.. Jocelyn Trehearne.
Jennies book lay on the table, and he
looked at it in surprise. The little rustic sub
scribcd to Nudes then, or had some friend
who was kind enough to lend her books to
read.
us this yours?" he said, and the little
deceiver faltered out that it belonged to Miss
Jennie Reid.
Miss Jennie Reid" repeated Mr.Tre-
hearne. ANY relation to that nice girl who
they tell me is engaged to young DR.. Brown"
You know Ada Reid?" said Jennie in
surprise, and painful blush suffused her
face. How she regretted her foolish within
now
II have seen her once" returned Mr..
Trehearne; "but it is her sister who is so kind
to you, eh?"
yes" faltered Jennie, ready to sink
through the floor.
us she pretty, as well as kind ?" asked Mr..
Trehearne, adding to himself, II only saw
one Miss Reid at the garden party"
Some people call her pretty" said Jennie
with smile: II am no Judge" Then going
to the window, she added quickly. "The
rain will soon be over; see how bright the
sky is getting"
"Yes, it will soon be over" he returned,
thinking to himself. "'rhose pretty little
shoes are, l suppose, present from Miss
Jennie. | should like to make that girls ac-
quantance."
''It has left off raining" said Jennie, in an
agony for she could see old Martha toiling
along the road, armed with gigantic ging-
ham. Here's your hat, SIR"
And before Jocelyn knew where he was he
found himself outside the cottage, while Jen-
ME, having closed the door, hastily Invested
herself of her big apron, and replaced her hat
on her tonny head.
Old Martha was delighted TO see her, of
course, and would have had her remain to
take cup of tea; but Jennie declined, and
bnr ri wit oil L.
for the deceit she had practiced.
The garden party had been very nice, Ada
told her that night although it had been more
of a houseparty than anything else alter the
rain came on. Mr.. Jocelyn Trehearne had
been there, but he had been obliged to leave
early.
Jennie scarcely heard what her sister said.
The girl felt wretched, aid to add to her dis
comfort, her father came home on the fol-
lowing day, and scolded her roundly for her
disobedience.
Don't cry, Jennie" whispered her sister,
cor you'll spoil you eyes, and papa says we
have gentleman coming to dinner to-mor-
row. | don't want my pretty sister to look
q little fright"
81 don't care what look like" declared
Jennie; but she wiped her eyes nevertheless.
Ada was the useful one of the family, and
IL
her sweetheart, the young doctor, had asked
her to name the day" when they met at the
garden-party.
She was little vexed that Jennie did not
take more interest in the joyful news but
Jennie was thinking of what had happened
on the previous day She could think of
nothing else.
The morrow came, and with it the gentle
man aforementioned.
He was standing on the hearthrug talking
to her father when Jennie entered the room
in her pretty white dress with its dainty lace
elbow sleeves.
She gave q little gasp of establishment and
CONSERVATION as she looked at him; but his
smile was reassuring, although he, too, was
dumbfounded at the first moment
MY dear Jennie, Mr.. Jocelyn Trehearne"
and then Jennie knew that Fate had been
too much for her; she had stopped away from
the garden.party for nothing.
We'll, not exactly that, for she won
lover