Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-07-31
one could possibly b. expecte | to

/
Howard. You know we MAY not
play when all the grown up people
are here, and We do so want a little
tiny g,ma." begged the children.
Miss Howard, mindful of her
best cream gown and the diff ;ul.
ties Of tennis when combined With
long gloves and plumed hat, yainly
endeavored to escape.
"Only-a little scraoof play. All!
you know you can't refu Sc" he.
said.
And Stella was forced to laugh
and yield to their entreatles.
So that the picture that met the
eyes OF the idle gentleman who
|,sanntered down the shrubhery path
among tile fragrant. Syringa, and
turned the corner rEtIe. terrace
steps-a girls figure q. cTea,nJ
gown, vivid in.thg lot sulagalirst..
the trees and shrub .lery; a shiLie
hat which tllrewsin5o sreliet the,
|sdc;riisspy, bronze 'Ilaiiraltl tile sofCsfuStf
on her cheek, araqnet poised aloft,
and a fiutter of white winged pig
cons toward the dark blue sky. He
stopped short as ifspell bound.
sob, Sir Richie, you're Just in
time! Come along anil have a game
with Miss Howard-lo, dol" cried
the children.
Stella turned with a violent
start; the racquet slipped from her
gloved hand and struck her left
wrist a violent blow. Tie pain
turned her faint and giddy, and sue
felt herself grow white to the very
lips.
mo, no, young woman" she
heard the voice that was so like,
vet so unlike the voice of other
days say. "Ml>s Howard won't
play with me-she never would"
Then he turned to her with IL
sudden change from th, laughing
tone:
s'Haye you hurt your arin7 am
afraid | startled YOU" and he ctme
forward. hastily.
But Stella drew away as he ap.
preached.
.sNotbing-it is nothing; pray do
not trouble" she said, almost cross.
~.
And as a stream of gayly dressed
people emerged from the conserva
tory, and began to spread them.
selves overthe teri celnd approach
the lawn, Stella turned and fled
into the shrubbery..
She had reached the fountain by
the statue OF the dancing tawn be.
fore she was ovcrtaken.
"Pardon me-" said her pursuer,
in a tone that was certainly not
Dick's-it was too commanding
81 donot want to contradict you,
but [ can't believe it is nothing"
And in another moment the little
bruised wrist, from which he had
al,
stripped the glove WIS in Sif'.@lcn y.
ards firm, light grasp, aud Stella
mcekly surrendered.
"Sft down here" was the order,
and she found herself placed on
the messy step of.the old fountain,
while with quick, dett fingers Sir
Richard dipped his handkerchief
in the cool, clear water, and bound
it round the slender wrist.
Could it be Dick! Was 1T not
all a mocking dreams Stella could
only hope with all her might that
the awakening might be long de-
layed.
The splash of The water in the
old stone basin and the mysterious
whisper of the pines overhead,
were the only sounds that broke
the summer stiffness. The tennis
was too far off for them to hear the
merry players; they were quite
alone.
Did Dick rememberthe last time
they had been alone together? He
came and sat down on the broken
step by her side.
''SteIla, do you shrink from me
stillY Alter all the years | have
been working and toiing to be
worthier of you, am ITO nearer
the goal than when we last partedi
Must I ask in vain as did then,
for the least little word" he said
slowly and grayelY.
Not movement, not a sound
from the shrinking figure at his
side. His face grew graver still,
and he bit his lip.
cam TO go away again, thens'
he asked after pause.
Still no answer.
With a sudden impulse, Sir
Richard stopped and pecred under
the broad hat that hid her eyes
from him.
What! crying Stella!" He was
on bis knees beside hel on the moss.
"Have / made you crya My darl-.
lug! my own"
lie was trying to take her in bis
arms, but sue struggled to free her
self.
"Ah. Dick, I told you once flat
our lives were two poles apart; it
was false then, but it has come
true" she murmured, brokenly.
"If it had, which l deny. the re-
latiye positions would be the same.
You are, as you have always have
been, a world above me in all
things. But love can bridge any
ny L. %