The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-04-17

- d. NNto~N-@NNs
She sat there in the old pear tree, |
prettier than any hamadryad that
ever might have haunted the messy
o.d veteran of the garden, her
cheeks touched with sunshine and
carmine, her dimpled lips apart,
now reading a line or two from the
book in her lap, now looking up,
rapt in girlish reverie, into the blue
sky, as it sparkled down through
ever moving leaves, and now break
ing into a soft little warble of song,
to which the very robins themselves
put their heads one side to listen.
The carriage had driven away
long since. She had watched it be-
yond the curve of the winding road;
the dark mantle of shadow was
slowly following the creeping sun
glow across the velvet lawn below,
and the clock in the old church
spire among the far-off woods had
chimed out eleven.
And still Mary Thorne sat there
in the forked branches of the old
pear tree.
Suddenly there floated into her
leafy sanctum pungent odor which
made her lean curiously forward,
shading her eyes with one hand, the
better to penetrate the green foliage
below.
Not the late monthly roses, nor
the amethyst border of helietrope,
nor the spicy geraniums-none of
these blossoms distilled that pecu-
liar smell.
"My patience said little Mary !;
dit is a cigar"
A cigar it was, and the owner
thereof-she could see white linen
coat and tall head covered with
black, wavy curls-stood on the
porch steps quietly smoking and in
dulging in IA heightened view of the
view of the garden slopes.
"That's Tom Bradley |" said Mary
to herself. 'Now, if he thinks I'm
coming down out of this delicious
cool place to sit straight in the hot
parlors, he's mistaken, Tom !" she
called out in silver accent of i'm
perative summons, and then burst
into merry laughter at the evident
amazement with which the stranger
gazed around him, vainly trying to
conjecture whence the call had pro-
ceeded. "You dear, stupid Cousin
Tom |" she calculated. Don't stare
off toward the cabbage beds. Look
straight up here. You may come
up, if you please; there's plenty ol
room for both. You are Cousin
Tom, aren't you p she continued,
as sudden misgivings crossed heI
mind.
"Of course I am; and you are
Mary, suppose?"
"Mary herself. Up with you
Tom Catch hold of this branch
there. Now shake hands-you
saucy fellow l did not say you
might kiss me-"
, "Well, couldn't help it; and
besides, aren't we cousins?" sale
Mr.. Tom, swinging himself comfort
: ably into branch just above Mary
"Why Tom, how yor we changedl'
calculated the young lady, pushing
back the curls with one hand, tina
she might better view the playmat'
of her childhood days. "Your hal
| never curled so before; and what
nice moustache you have got
Q Shouldn't have known you, Tom.
: "No?" said Tom, roguishly.
"And you've grown SO tall de
8 clare, Tom, you're splendid.
} II could return the compliment
if dared. But where are all tn
rest of the family2 The house be
: low is as empty as haunted hall.
D "All gone to welcome that horrid
Q pokey old Prof La Place, who ha
graciously indicated his willingness
, to pass a few weeks with us. Tom
3 1 do hate that professor"
"Hate himl What forl"
4 "Oh, I don't know, Pm sure. He
t snuff-dried, conceited old wretch
l and I'll wager box of gloves tina
Y he wears spectacles."
S "Nonsense, Mary. Why he is onl
twenty-six."
4 81 don't care I know he is rheu
t matte and wears spectacles for thai
: And, Tom-now if you'll nevel
}, never breathe word of this"
: 81 won't upon my word and hon
or" said Tom.
0 "Well, then, papa has actual
4 got the idea into his dear old hea,
Y that wonld make nice wife fo
. the professor, and"
p Mary turned away with crimso
indignation flashing in her cheeks.
:, at is too bad of you 10 laugl
IN Ton, I navar pa,,ar mill ,,,or,