The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-20

SWeeJledTl, ohpCohO"AS' ~
replied, suddenly taken aback at the
question, and scarcely knowing how to
reply. THAT is, l believe not. Why
do you ask2"
II don't know-only because the
word came to the tip of my tongue, l
suppose" .
To this made no reply. 1 felt as if
a little cloud had suddenly arisen on
our horizon. A somewhat similar feel
ing must have come to Darcy, for he
too kept silence.
We had descended from the upland
and lad reached the front OF the house
before either of us spoke again.
'Ah, see," / cried, as | caught sight
of the dutter of a dress on the lawn,
there comes Lucy herself I'I bet a
sovereign some Of the folks from the
village have been here this morning
already and told her or our arrival"
True for you, me boyl' said the
voice of nv uncle, as he turned a bend
in the patti and stood before us. "An'
what in the world made ye put up at
O'Kelly's, instead of comm on here at
onCe2"
sit was too late when we reached
Lisnaree, uncle. But allow me; this is
my friend Mr.. Darcy. Darcy, this IS
my uncle" -.
Delighted to meet you, me boyp
he cried, as he grasped Darcy's hand
and shook it warmly. Zone of the
Darcys Of Ga!way7"
1.-The Galway Darcy5 are relatives of
mine,n replied my friend. L was born
in Dublin, SO cannot claim'the City of
the Tribes as my birthplace.
"AIore's the pityl" said my uncle,
with a laugh. "But Dublin's not at all
a bad place to belong to. Next to Lis
naree, l like it as well as any place l
know"
Flows cousin LucyP" [ asked sud-
denly interrupting him. "I thought 1
saw her on the lawn, coming this way,
a minute ago"
"An' so ye did, Garrett" he replied
'Look-here she is, to spake for her
self"
The next moment Lucy bounded for
ward and caught my hand.
"Oh, you bad boyl" she cried. "Why
did you 60 and stay at that nasty pub
lie house, instead of coming down
here? I've half a mind TO-"
"To shake hands with my friend MI.
Darcy here, Ell? Darcy, this is cousin
Lucy, who has frightened you away
from Lisnaree for so long,"
AS Lucy bowed, a slight blush cover
ed her face; then she held out her hand
with a smile to Darcy.
~ don't believe a word that Garrett
says" she said, as she glanced at me
with mock sternness. "You are not
so easily frightened, 1 am sure"
"ne-he has spoken half the truth,
| confess, Miss Fitzgerald" Darcy
muttered somewhat co~nfusedly. while
his face flushed IN instant, then grew
suddenly pale. "But-"
"But you are not SO much frighten-
ed now you arep" she exclaimed, with
a laugh. Come now, Mr.. Darcy, tell
me how he described me SC as to frigh-
ten you? Height, six feet, hair like a
bunch Of carrots, one eye squirting?
Or wa it as the lonely lady of the rock
a combing her yellow hair?"
more of the second than the first,
l assure you," Darcy replied, his con-
fusion increasing at Lucy's bantering
tone. But perhaps Mr.. Fitzgerald
will speak for HIMSELF"
Not L, l assure you'll" l replied.
There is little use talking when cousin
Lucy makes herself judge, jury, accu-
sor, and executioner all in one. You
have only to stiffen your sinews and
bear your punishment with as much
Spartan fortitude as you possess"
Come, boys, talkin's dry work."
said my uncle. "An' If We try to find
an answer for everything Lucy says,
it's yourselves that'l have your work
cut out for you. Darcy, me boy, give
your arm to Lucy. Garrett and me-
self'll bring up the rear"
Blushing at first, and then turning
pale. as before, Darcy gave his arm to
Lucy and led her towards the front
door; while Uncle Fitx put his arm in
mine; and. laughing with as much de-
light rs a boy let loose from school,
brought up the rear"
1.-THE fortnight that followed was
one of mingled pleasure and vague dis
appointment. Lucy seemed to me
~lovelier and more lovable than ever,
yet somehow not the Lucy Of old. She
kept me more at a distance than she
used 10 do, possibly because ofthe pres
eace of a stranger. Once too when |
caught her alone she grew suddenly
silent and constrained; and 1 could see
that it was with the utmost pleasure
she beheld Darcy walking towards us
to put an end to the one-sided tete. a.
tete.
"Oh, how vexed I am that l ever
brought him hereI" | muttered to my
self. But the fortnight will be up to.
morrow, and then things will be as of
old"
Looking at Darcy as he drew near, 1
saw that the visit to Lisnaree had
worked a wonderful change in HIM.
His figure seemed to have grown taller
aud more erect, his face brighter and
more Joyous, his whole manner very
different from that of the slow-going
half-cynieal misanthrope Of Sackville
street.
"By Jove," thought /, ''what a
changed | used to think myself the
better looking fellow of the two; but
where am L now2 Well''--trying to
uecelNc ugoo4L mlO pSluR ReubIOuo-
"well, l am glad the fresh air has done
him so much goodl He'll need it all
when he goes back to town tomorrow"
"Ah, Mr.. Darcy" cried Lucy, as he
Joined, ''surely it isn't true what Gar
rett has been telling me just now? He
a y you go up to town tomorrow"
Lucy's speech was kind of a small
thunderbolt to Darcy. His face grew
pale as a sheet, and for a moment or
two he could not speak a word. Then
he glanced sharply almost Gercely at
me.
IL had arranged at first to stay a
fortnight, " he muttered in a strange
voice; ''but -"
you've changed your mlndp' she
cried, with a smile, while she laid one
hand upon his arm. 81 know you may
stay for quite another fortnight yet.
Garrett Is not going away till them"
darcy Is preparing for an examlna-
ton, which l am not !" said /. "And
[ promised not to let him stay beyond
the fortnight"
"Yes-yes. Garrett promised not to
force me TO stay," put in Darcy, with
strong emphasis on the word ''force. .