The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-06

Wuen captain STdWlOlu dppcdIous
However, he was equal to the occasion
If she was not. He looked as cool and
nonchalent as ever, said GOOD morn
ing" to her as if they had been on the
easiest terms possible, looked after her
during breakfast, and even occasionally
addressed his conversation to her. He
was so precisely the same as usual that
poor little Ethel's nervous changes
of color ard her utter inability to swal-
low a morsal passed unnoticed.
The whole party rode or drove to the
meet in the neighborhood. Even Cap
tain Crawford, who was going to leave
by an afternoon train, went in for half
a days hunting. Alice and Ethel were
left at home-the former because her
pony was lame, the latter because she
professed to be unwilling to leave her
friend alone all day, as everybody was
going to lunch at the house where the
meet was. In spite, however, of her
anxiety concerning her friend, Ethel
did not take much pains to make her
society agreeable to her. She was
moody, not to say sulky, scowled if
Alice ventured to mention Captain
Crawford, and yet declined to talk of
any n else, and was, in TACT, so I'M
pleasant that Alice resolved in her own
mind the ACCESSIBILITY Of leaving her to
herself and going out for a walk on
her own account. Rejecting however
that this might be uncivil, she sugges-
ted that Ethel should accompany her.
That young lady according to the pro-
posal with a dismal resignation that
wa by no means encouraging, they
started in solemn silence soon after the
luncheon.
The exquisite peace that lay upon
everything could not fail to exercise a
soothing effect even on the most ruflled
temper, so Ethel became more amiable
if scarcely more cheerful. Presently
they spied on the top of a high bank
that ran along the road they were walk
ing on, a quantity of snowdrops, the
first of the year. With an exclamation
of delight, Alice climbed up the bank,
whittier Ethel followed her, and both
set to work to pick the flowers, While
they were thus occupied, the stiffness
I0ftbe ar "a suddenly broken hv the
sound of horses IGJGa cnmiIng Iapidly
along.
Tour party must be returning; they
are very early" Alice remarked.
There is only one,n Ethel said; and
then, her tone suddenly changIng-"'Et
is Captain Crawford"
The next moment he had refined up
his horse on the road close to them.
81 am afraid 1 shall miss my %train,'
he said. "Do you know what O'Clock
it ISL My watch has stopped"
While Alice was taking out her
watch to reply to his question, he look
ed for the first time at Ethel, and, as
his glance rested on her, all the anger
and bitterness he had been cherishing
against her died out Of his heart in spite
of himself. She made an exquisite pic
ture standing there on the green bank,
with n slight background of brambles
and Ieafess hazel-busheS, her hands
full OF snowdrops; her golden hair and
fair face now set off to the best advan-
tage by her little black fur cap and tip
pet. Her eyes were hidden by their
long lashes, for she had not courage TO
raise them. For a moment he looked,
and then turned resolutely away.
GA quarter-past three, do you say?
l shall only just do it, Let me see,
My shortest way will be to jump into
that field, and so across to the farm"
"Wait a minutel' cried Alice. 1.-THE
bank is rotten Just here on this side."
1t was too late. The top Of the bank
was reached in safety; but, in leaving
it, the horses hind feet caused the earth
to give way, and, before the frightened
girls quite knew what had happened,
Captain Crawford was lying motionless
at the edge Of the ditch, and the horse
having struggled to hisfeet, vas career
ing wildly over the field. 1t was the
work of a moment to scramble down,
and Ethel flung herself down upon her
knees beside him, crying wildly
"He is dead-oh, he is deadl"
Alice, though hardly less terrified,
was more collected.
81 W II Tun for help; and you, Ethel,
unite his cravat-I know that is the
right thing to do-and then dip your
handkerchief in LneF ritter that is IN re
ditch. and battle his face"
With these directions, Alice hurried
away in search of assistance, while
Ethel, with trembling fingers, endeav-
Ored to carry them out. Having done
so without any result, she abandoned
herself to grief, and wept bitterly for
some minutes. Suddenly Captain Craw-
ford opened his eyes and regarded her
c~uriously.
"Pray don't distress yourself on my
account, Miss Raine," he said a little
family. 81 am not hurt; 1 was only
stunned"
Bot Ethel, who in her excited state
of mind hardly knew what she was say
ing, cried out passionately-
"Ol, Captain Crawford, forgive me,
for the way 1 treated you yesterday |
am so sorry, and-and-it wasn't true"
1t was a rather incoherent speech;
but Captain Crawford seemed to I'M
derstand it; for he took her hands in
his. looked for a moment into her little
tear-stained face, and then leaned for
ward and kissed it.
In the capacity of bridesmaid Alice
Layton assisted at the wedding, but
even then could not help expressing in
most untlatterlng terms, her private
opinion of the bridegroom to her fel-
low-bridesmaids, and regretted to the
end of her life that Ethel had so speed
lily atoned for having'taken him down."
Africa's New State.
or those who speculate on the future