The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-12
EBENsBURG, PA. FRIDAY.

ure the girl prevents her.
Il want to be alone, mamma" she
says entreatlngly, Just fora little while;
l shall be all right then. But there is
one thing you can do for me-" she cries,
breaking suddenly out of her terrible
quiet. er-never-mentlon his
name to me againt"
Poor Mrs Rivers is thoroughly cast
down. and Ronnie scarcely less so.
"IIow shall we receive him if he calls
tomorrow" asks her mother, when
poor Cecil has crept away from them
up to her own room to cry her heart
out on her bed.
Aust as if nothing had happened.
Cecil, of course. will not appear. | will
make her go for walk at that hour, so
that we can truly say she is not in.
Mamma, if only for Cecils sake, do not
let him see we care about this thing"
So the next day, when Craven calls at
his usual hour, Mrs. Rivers is as nearly
as possible the same to him that she
has been during the past month. Per
haps some subtle change in her manner
might be noticed by very acute OBJ
server, some vague irrepTessible shrink
ing from all more open cOrdlallty; but
beyond this her demeanOT is perfect.
As for ROnnie, she is degree more
sad than angry. She maintains an al
most utter silence; but every now and
then Craven, glanclng at her, wonders
vaguely why her eyes are so large and
mOurnful. her whole manner SO full of
an uncertain depression.
His wonder on this point, however,
is indeed vague, as his whole mind is
filled with longing to see a particular
lOunglng-chalr near the fire occupied
by little IssOme figure whose smile is
wont to beam at him, half rOguishly,
half with a tenderness not to be de-
scTibed. Where is she nOw-his little
sweetheart
"Where is Miss CeciIY' he asks at last,
unable to restrain his Impotence any
longer.
"She has gone for a walk, think"
replies Mrs. Rivers, stopping to poke
the fire.
Let me do that for you" says Crav-
en-, taking the poker from her. she
has gone to the garden, perhaps" He
is kneeling ON the heaTth-Tug, and is
looking very earnestly up into Mrs.
Rivers's face, with his pleasant honest
eyes.
Il think nOt-certainly not-she did
not say exactly where she was going"
returns Mrs. Rivers, evasively.
ROnnie at this sighs audibly, and
Craven, turning, looks at her sharply.
Something III her expression evidently
strikes him as being peculiar, but he
says nothing, and presently turns the
conversation into another channel.
81 have a friend coming to stay with
yours, too, l think. l met him in Lon
don, and he almost asked me TO invite
him down. He said he knew you all
very well"
Il dare say. We lived some years in
town." responds Mrs. Rivers, Indiffer-
emily. One gets to know 50 many peO-
pie there"
Ronnie evinces no curiosity either
about the new arrival at the Court; so
Mr.. Craven goes on
I'm rather sorry he is coming just
now, as | am bound to be in town in
the morning, and sha'n't be able to be
back for fortnight. am afraid there
fore he will have only a slow time of
it"
He rises to go; as he does so, Ronnie
rises too, and follows him into the hall.
Il think" she says, in a tone that
+ falteTS slightly-"I think C.ssy went in
| the direction of the beech-woOd."
Before he has time to thank her for
/ this hint or wonder at the stTangeneSs
/ OF her manner, she has disappeared;
J and, somewhat puzzled, Craven max es
his way toward the wood she has men
/ toned.
/ just as ne enters it, he encounters
Cecil coming toward him. her head
slightly bent, her face rather paler than
usual.
How dye do?" she says, quite calm
I ly, but without an accompanying smile.
I Clle lcLS u6I manu- llG III Ills uIlSJ
/ thetIcdlly, and then draws 1t away al
/ most before he has time to know il was
! there.
Il was unfortunate to-day. thought
I ] should have found YOU within"-WIth
an attempt at cOrdiality, though some
inward misgivIngs have cast shadow
on his usual lght-heaTtedneSs.
For the future. | think you must not
| expect always to find me in" she re-
plies, with faint smile.
Why" he asks, astonished at her
whole treatment of him.
Because winter is at an end. and the
fine weather tempts one to go out" she
says, coldly.
For that reason one loves the fine
i weather" he returns, striving against
his growing anxiety. May | not some
times accompany you in your ramblesp'
~No. [ think not When I go for q
walk in these quiet woods. | pEefeT my
/ own company to any ones. a strange
fancy, and rather egotistical, Is 1t notr
1T is very unlike "-gravely; then
unable to control his uneasiness any
longer, he saws, anXiously, What ha:
happened that you treat me like this
( What have | done to yOuT"
Done to me?"-haughtily. Moth
ing"
Cecil, l shall not be back until"
Cecil says the girl, quietly, and will
a certain amount of dignity. Il mus
always be Miss Rivers to gentlemen
acquaintance"
%Am only that? Only an acquaint
ance?"
There is world of reproach in hi
tone.
Yes. only hat"-remorselessly.
And yet Yesterday"
do not speak of Yesterday" she ex
claims. putting up her hand impulsive
ly, as though to ward off sOmethin
that is hurting her.
"As YOU will. of course" he returns
in a tone nearly as cold as her own. 9
have no claim. of course to be cOnsid
cred even a friend. May l say good
bye to you, and let you finish your wal
in peace? | am going away this ever
ing"
"Where are you going?"
ITO my aunt-Lady EtOn."
"Ah. to your cousin. Lady Maud"
yes, if you ike. Who was tellin
you of it? The Major"
Yes, the Major. He told me ever
thing"
Il don't know when shall be back
Soon enough no doubt. What al
You going fOr-the wedding?"
Yes, for the wedding" He speal
in very low, depressed tone, becaus
of her cruel coldness. To her his d.
preston means only shame at the di
coverv she has made
"When is it to be-" she asks, slowl
Next week"
$50 soon? 1t is sudden, is it notT"
: Not very; | have known of it Il
; some months"
You knew of it before we can
! here?"
aOh. yes; long before that. wis
you knew Maud-she is very NICE gl
and / am sure she would be gre
: friend of yours"
: Il am equally sure she would not,