The Penn's Grove record., 1886-01-09

said Miss Merivatle, taking no notice O
the implied compliment. ibid she no
brighten your"
"Almost, l must confess. Isn't /
rather dreadful when she Is at home
| suppose she is at work all day long
and looks daggers at any one who make
the least noisep"
"Of course she doesn't like to be dis
turbed when she is busy-no one. doer
But we get IN very well together.n
"Ah, that is the advantage Of oppo
site fastest l suppose your sister never
interferes in household affairs?"
"Well, she is a good deal engaged il
other ways" laughed LUCE; "and max,
ing buildings does not quite go will
making speeches"
"My own opinion, Miss Merivaile
But does not having seen you fourteen
times at least justify me in calling you
'Lucie'?"
Certainly not"
"Well, then, Miss M~erivaile, max
say how charmed | am that you do mo-
go i'll for the 'amelioration of the work.
ing-classes'-I believe that is the PHRASE
like your sister,"
"Oh, / would not be too sure about
thatl Rhoda; you know, might persuade
me to become a guardian like herself
which, by-the-way, reminds mt that
must say goodbye to you"
"Good-byel" he repeated with a puz.
zled expression.
Eyes; Rhoda is coming home, and
am going to Paris for three months u
Three monthsl 1t was an eternity.
81 hope the time will be sufficient for
Rhoda to convince you of the correctness
of her views on the woman's rights
question, )" she added demurely.
But, Miss Merivaile-"
"There-I must go to aunt now. /
have much to do, as 1 start to morrow. -
But he detained her hand and she
was forced to stay.
Miss Meriyaile said he hurriedIy,
Zone word. l have something to say
which, now that you are going away, l
can no longer keep to myself. l love
you. Will you be my wife?"
She started and turned away her
head. When she looked at him again
her face was white.
"No, nol' she exclaimed family.
You must not ask me to be that, Cap
tain Trevor"
"Why not3 Am l too late?" His
suppressed feelings gave almost a fierce
ness to his tone, and. as though he were
conscious of 1t, he added, in a gentle
voice, 81 have been too p~recipitate and
frightened you. Forgive mel"
II have nothing to forgive. / should
rather ask you to forgive me. l never
suspected"
Sle paused and turned away her
head.
you never suspected L loved your"
he said quickly. But, now that l
swear that L do, what IS your answer?"
81 cannot give any answer but 'no,'n
she replied; and then she turned and
ran into the house.
"Dick stood m%otionless for a moment
gulped down something which would
stick in his throat, and walked slowly
to the garden gate,
Dick Trevor was terribly detected.
Like most impuisive men. be was as
easily depressed al exhilarsted; and for
the next three days after his repulse
life was In his eyes a miserable mistake.
Nor was there any consolation when
Rhoda Merlyaiie arrived. While walk
Ing to Clevesdon. he saw her in the dis.
coming towards him. He knew
her directly, in spite of her smoke-col-
ored glasses and shortcut hair, and
would have avoided her If he could;
but there was no possibility of so do.
without appearing rude.
How do you do, Captain Trevorp"
said she, when they got within speaking
distance.
He started. The voice was so like
Lucie's that, had he had his eyes closed
he would certainly have said it was
THANK you, I am quite WE'LL"
81 have just come from a relief com.
at the workhouse," said she, in
matter-of-fact tone. 81 trust that
shall see you on the board next
81 think not" he returned. "Con-
'ound the boardi" he muttered to him.
elf. "It's a perfect nuisance
II should be very pleased to lend you
he reports of the Local Government
3oard fer the last ten years. You'd
ind no difficulty in making yourself ac-
With the subject"
ssf'm much obliged he began.
Don't mention 1t. I'll send them
o you this evening. l have an
appointment at home with the School
Board visitor, so I'm sure you'll excuse
ny running away. Good afternoon"
'Good Heavenl' calculated the I'M
ortunate captain, gazing in blank as.
enlistment at the energetic little lady's
etreating figure. 1.-THE woman's de.
ermined to make a guardian Of me.
whether I will or not. If this goes
farther, | shall have to fly to
own. And to think that she is sister
o tie most lovable, the most unaffec-
ed, the most Ga, hang It'll"
Miss Merivaile was as good as her
word, for about seven O'Clock that
vening a servant arrived with a pile of
looks bound in stiff paper covers of a
epellent blue. Dick gave a sigh of
when he saw them.
shall l take them to your room,
lr?' asked his man.
put them anywhere, Simmons-in
hs was going to add-"yes,
AXE them upstairs"
And upstairs they were accordingly
During the next two days he kept
within doors, for fear of meeting his
disappointed tutor. But this only
made matters worse. There was a hor-
ible fascination about Rhoda Merivaile
Vhich made him long to see her again.
BESIDES, he had another reason. After
is first burst of despair consequent up.
Lucie's refusal came a reaction.
'erhaps he had been too sudden. Lucie
.ad not said she loved anybody else.
1t any rate, If he Intercepted Rhoda
autiously, he might find out the true
tate of the case. And so be took care
D be out about the time when he thought
e should be likely to meet her.
His judgment was not at fault, for,
fter smoking a couple Of cigars, he
wv the lady-guardian tripping along
t a most business-like pace.
He raised his hat when she approach
and she bowed in acknowledgment
ut did not seem inclined to stop.
Miss Meriyailel'' said be, fastening
fter her,
I'm afraid l haven't time to speak