The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-21


smiled doubtfully over the long silken
gloves she was just then drawing upon
her pretty hands.
She had her own ideas concerning Mr.
Burt Moltemar. She had her own no.
tions, too, about the delicate bunch of
dewy wildwood blossoms which, every
morning for many sweet spring day,
had been unfailingly delivered, without
note or name to reveal the identity of
the sender.
What delicious fancies had been
evoked by the exquisite offerings only
her own fair self knew. The flowers
rested upon her heart by day and upon
her pillow by night; the fresh petals
seemed imprinted with invisible mes
sages of tenderness; the soft leaves
seemed like the touch of kisses; the
fragrance seemed to signify the love
which would remain imperishable when
all else would have become dust and
decay.
And ever, waking or dreaming, an
unseen form seemed beside her; an
earnest face seemed bending toward her
own; a thrilling voice seemed pleading
as soul pleads to soul.
And the face, the voice, the form,
were those of Conrad Mortemar-the
reticent, difIident, scholarly Conrad
whom worldly Mrs. Newbold deemed
in every particular less eligible than his
gay snd dashing elder cousin.
'But poor or rich, so lie loves me
truly, l shall some time be his own,"
Aggie thought, as she bent her warm
lips TO the exquisite flowers she wore on
her bosom.
Mrs. Newbold perceived the move
ment and frowned.
81 wouldn't be sentimental over a bit
of crowfoot and 'johnnv-jump-up,' if l
were you, especially when there is a
possibility of their being sent by some
body besides Burt" she remarked, with
contemptuous severity.
my dear Della, if that same possibil-
ity did not exist l should not have
shocked your sensibilities," Aggie re-
torted with coolest composure, although
her cheeks had flushed hot and crimson
"Iere comes Mr.. Burt; so you two
had just better stop your quarrelling,"
Master Rollv interposed, with a mature
air of being friendly to both parties at
variance, and of having a judicious de-
sire for them to maintain a becoming
semblance of peace in the presence of
outsiders at least.
And just then Mr.. Burt Mortemar
altghted from stylish village cart
which had stopped at the door, and a
moment later he presented himself be-
fore them.
lie was certainly very handsome
and attractive parsonage.
He had a straight and sol lierly figure
his features were of classic contour and
Interestingly pale: his hair and beard
were black; but his eyes were of nom
descript and expressonless gray, and
his ready smile was meaningless.
81 shouldn't wear those flowers if /
were you!-those anemones and yiolets
are too fragile for the sun and wind" +"
lie said to Aggie.
''She hasn't time TO stop and change
her tiXings; her hat is big enough to
shade them, anyhow; and she Can get
plenty more crowfoot where we are 60
ing" was the volley of objections made
by Master Rolly, who was already
bounding down the steps where the
jaunty cart and pretty horse were wait
ing in the pleasant sunshine.
And so in another moment they were
away, bowling down the long, stony
streets, leaving the wilderness behind
them, and nearing the green suburban
hills and hollows.
"Onc need not go far to enjoy a bit OF
the country" Aggie commented, as
they finally left their equipagc beneath
sheltering wayside maple, and started
for little stroll along the low margin
OF narrow stream--a sheet OF amber
embossed with emerald lily pads and
fringed with lush mosses. showing here
and there the gold and azure CLEANS OF
wild iris bloom.
And yonder is man with a big
book, and he is digging something
I'm going to see what he is doing, any
how" exclaimed Master Rolly, bound.
ing preciDitously away toward a solitary
individual, whom he had espied behind
clump of low trees further down the
shrubby lank.
You had better stay where you are
the man may not want your Burt said
with look of annoyance, and with q
motion as if he would prefer to turn
back.
why, isn't it Conrad?-you cousin
himself?' Aggie said, with pleased sur
prise, and with some wonder too at the
badly suppressed vexatation of her com
panion,
ut resembles him-that's factr he
responded, with an effort to appear in
different, and as surprised as herself,
"Master Rolly will be likely to bring
him over to MS, suppose. And hero
are some brilliant meadow-lilies to re-
place your wilted voilets," he added, as
he indicated little rise of ground whe. G
once had been some primitive dwelling,
and where now were piles of moldering
timbers, heaps of fraglnentary bricks,
and oyer all warped and messy well
sweep swaying and creaking in the
sweet spring breeze,
But Aggie did not heed the lilies,
which glowed like specks of flame amid
the short, rich grass of what had once
been simple garden, and where even
yet gaunt and gnarly lilac bush was