The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-12
A MAID FORLORN.
BY THE nrCurss

0HoHly Inel! ana Jnere; but Mrs. Rivers
cheeks her by saying blandly-
ou know all about him. of course.
MAJOR Jervis. His father was a great
friend OF yours, | believe"
e-es," says the Major, so doubtful
", that Ronnle and Cecil both decide
that the late Mr.. Craven suffered him
more than he regarded him.
Have any of you seen his place yet?"
asks the Major, turning as if instinc-
IlNely 10 Cecil. She cOlOrs hOtly.
nave been hardly anywhere vet;
the weather has been so TERRIBLE" re-
Phes her mother, coming quickly to the
Splendid old place" saws the Major
antique, plctureSque-pure Gothic,
you know, and all that sort of rubbish
Inc draWlng-roOm Is a study in medi-
9valism, and the old china is priceless"
"Oh, yes, those beautiful old Queen
Anne cups with the tiny gold tracing!'
exclalms Cecil, leaning forward, and
forgetting in her eagerness all her words
may convey to the Major
Eng What" -suSpiciOusly. Il
thought you said you had not been
there. Then how did you see the china,
Miss Cecil-ehY"
L heard of it." replies Cecil. blushino
"Heard-eh? Very accurate descrip-
tion from mere hearsay."
Really, Major" says Mrs. Rivers.
half smiling, yet wholly angry, Cecil
VII not be pleased with you if you
doubt her word. Some day we are all
going over to see those wonderful
things. Mr.. Craven has kindly express
ed wish that We should go and look at
the old place"
"Ah, yes, no doubt" growls the Major.
Not that think it would be an adYiS-
able step on your part, my dear madam.
II you will allow an old friend of the
family to give his opinion on this sub
ject, l should say young ladies are bet
ter out of bachelors quarters! They
are hardly suitable for young unmaT-
Tied ladies, / should think. Better at
home, eh? But. of course, my dear
madam, you are the best judge of all
that"
Yes, think So" returns Mrs. Riv-
ers, little haughtily; but this terrible
old man is not to be rebuked.
NO offense," he says. y word in
season, you know; and-er-my young
friend Craven is rather a gay fellow
nothing very much against him, you
know, my dear madam. only young
men will be. young men to the end of
the chapter! Ia-ha."
His words mean nothing. his manner
a great deal. y vague shadow as of
coming grief falls upon the heart of
Mrs. Rivers as she turns almost inStinc-
lively to look at her pretty Cecil.
Her pretty Cecil is looking utterly
unconcerned, and is simply regarding
Major Jervis with a glance suggestive
OF indifference and contempt. Mrs.
Rivers sighs, and wonders inwardly
whether she is doing wise thing in al
lowing this acquaintance with Duke
Craven to ripen into friendship-nay.
into something that may prove even
warmer than friendship. and more capa-
bic of bearing fruit either of JOY or SOT-
if If ChOYllH he sOrrOVxD 4
er all, what do they know about this
young man Craven? He has fallen into
their lives by the merest chance, and is
literally unknown to them beyond the
fact that he is of good family and has
house and some considerable property.
OF his character or his usual habits
they have learned absolutely nothing.
And even now is not the Major throw
ing out hints of most unpleasant nat
uTe about him?
Meanwhile ROnnie is crOss-question-
ing Major Jervis about Craven Court.
Yes, it is a capital place" he says,
but draughty-yery, and haunted INTO
the bargain"
Haunted How deliciousI" Cissy
cries, clasping her hands. DO tell us
all about it, Major?"
Whereupon the Major, who dearly
loves the sound of his own voice, gives
them a most extraordinary account of
evening now more than a week ago. He
has hardly finished his highly colored
recital when, to the surprise OF all,
Craven again enters the room.
L really must beg your pardon" says
the young man, blushlng mgenuously.
But not until 1 had reached home,
Mrs Rivers, did remember about that
address for which you so wished. l
have it with me now. AS was going
to Carbery"-a village some three miles
away-"I thought l might as well drop
in again and leave it with YOU"
Much better" answers Ronnie, gra-
I ciously.
! "Ah, Major; knew should find you
here!" says Duke, genIally. Il hope
you are making yourself agreeable"
What an absurd question: cries
Ronnie. when is the Major anything
elseY Just now, too, he is making him
/ self more than usually charming, be
! cause he is telling us ghost-stories.
( Think of thatl"
/ Just that little adventure of mine
| the other evening"" says the Major,
/ airily. Nothing much, you know; but
/ of course it is something to have been
! face to face with real ghost.
/ Something! Everything" exclaimS
/ Cecil. Weren't you frightened tc
SNot I. indeedl BY Jove," he says
! looking ixedly at Cecil, L have it
| There was a certain familiarity about
| that ghost that puzzled me at the time
I Thought ii resembled somebody, bu
could not make out whom. Now
/ know. 1t was you"
and Cecil and Craven break into merry
laughter, instantaneous and nrepres
IT think it is very unkind of you,
saws Cissy, presently, with a httl'
laugh TO compare me 10 horrl(
ghoStp -
yours. persists the Major, IN puZZle'
lone. "and the side-face too
sTbe story grows more thrilling ever,
instant observes Rounie. Il do hope
Cecil. that yoa Will not initiate you
ghostly fetch and dissolve away into ;
sI1,S saDoptf Won feel very uncomfortable
Miss Riyers?" asks Craven, addressing
Cissy.
~No-rather flattered than otherwise
A very little more thought on the sur
iecr would make me imagine was IN
acfuaI heroine of the story the MaJo
well / must be going" says th
Major. rising. "You will come wit
me, Craven!" -
@So am L" says the Major, determir
edIy. and so. sorely against his Will, tn
voung man is compelled TO rise tror
his comfortable lounge, and follow hin
CHAPTER VI.
A month has flown swiftly by. A
raadv the earth is whispering of spTin!
the trees are budding, the grass
throwing out fresh green shoots; an'
indeed. all Nature is lifting up It's hea
- -o;nininnr ls aSnrinp come I'D tn