The Penn's Grove record., 1886-05-22
A GIRLS FOLLY.

A small, superior cottage of bright
red brick, sweet.Scented woodbine trail
ing over its rustic porch, a green lawn
before it surrounded by flowers, and a
charming country landscape spreading
out in the distance. Inside, in its small
but very pretty parlor, on the red label
cover, waited the tea-tray, with its
cups and saucers. The window stood
open to the still, warm autumn air,
and the French porcelain clock on the
msntle-piece was striking five.
A slender girl of some twenty years
came in. She was very lovely. But
her bright blue eyes bore a sort of
weary or disconnected look, and her
bright brown hair was somewhat ruff
fled. She wore a print washing-dress
of black and white, neither very smooth
nor very fresh, and . lace neck-collar
fastened with a bow of black ribbon.
She had made an appointment to
meet Reginald V~avasour, a rich young
gentleman who had made her acquaint-
ance down by the willow walk, and her
lover, Thomas Watkyn, had told her
he would call that evening. just before
he left, she said:
MAY 1 ask you to do me a little IA
yor, ThomasP"
s'What is it?" he repeated.
sIf you would not very much mind
going home by the hill and would leave
this note at Miss Ford's. particularly
wish her to have it this evening""
He paused for an instant, not reply
inc. She went on hurriedly,
II see that it is disagreeable to you,
l have offended you too much"
mot that" he answered, holding
out his hand for the note. "But I can
hardly spare the time for the long way
this evening, as l have to call at Kill
lick's for my father. However," he
said no more, but took the note.
"Good bye, Thomas"
"Good bye"
SPIN glad he took the motel L shall
be safe now"
: Miss Alison Reece was a clever young
lady. The direct and near way to Mr..
,Watkyn's home would lead HIM past
the willow walk. She had devised this
impromptu note to her dressmaker in
the afternoon to prevent his taking
that usual route. Had he seen young
,Vavasour cooling his heels within the
precincts Of the willow walk he would
inevitably suspect he was waiting to
keep a lovers trust.
Alison was busy in the kitchen next
morning when she heard her mother
open the front door and some n come
In. SIT is that chattering Mrs. Ben
nett" thought she, as she dried tie
teaspoons.
= 'sAlison, come here" called her
mother, In q quick voice.
y She went to the parlor just as she
washer sleeves turned back at the
wrist, a large, brown Holland apron on.
Very pretty she looked with it all. But
it was not Mrs. Bennett, who sat with
her mother; it was a venerable, white.
haired old gentleman-Mr. Watkyn,
the elder.
ST am come to ask about Thomas"
said he. 81 believe he came here last
night" Miss Alison; lat what time did
he leave your"
A provision struck her with a sort of
terror that something was wrong. SHE
left quite early" she faltered.
swell, he has never come home"
mot come homep'' she said, with a
Whitening face.
~ II sat I'D till / o'clock, and then l
thought the mist might have kept him;
that he had stayed at some friends
l knew not what to think, and
that he would be home the first thing
this morning. But we have not seen
him, and l cannot hear of him."
y Mrs. Reece was impressed with the
guilty look that Alison
could not keep out of her countenance,
and began to feel uneasy. "Cannot
you tell what time it was when he left
she demanded, sternly.
~ SIT was after dusk, 1t was just after
sunset-before the mist came on. 1t
must have been near Z o'clock"
(Which road did he takep" pursued
Mrs. Reece. And very reluctantly AL
ison answered, for she foresaw it would
bring OF further questioning.
"The long road-round by the hill.n
"Round by the hillp" echoed Mr..
Watkyn, in alarmed surprise. 'Why
did he take that road?"
Alison flushed and paled alternately;
her lips were trembling. The fear
creeping upon ner was that he and
young Vavasour had met and quarrel
ed. Perhaps fought and injured one
another fatally. In these dread mo-
ment's of suspense the mind is apt to
up far-fetched and unlikely
thoughts.
~ asked him to 60 around that
she replied, in a tlmid tone. 81,
wanted him to leave a note for me at
the dressmaker's.n
Old Mr.. Watkyn sank into a chair,
his hands before his troubled
face. 81 see 1t all" he breathed faint
". "He must have fallen down the
&
Alison uttered a scream of horror.
Deceived by the mist, he must have
walked too near the edge" continued
the old man. Heaven grant that its
may not be so, but 1 fear it. Was heI
mad, to attempt to cross the plateau on
such a night2"
Catching up his hat, Mr.. Watkyn
out swiftly. Mr.. Reece grabbed
her daughters hands. They were icy
,old.
ALLISON, what passed between you
md Thomas last night9"