Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-09-20
A SUMNER SHOWER.

$50 you will not forgive me, CosyP'
George Wharton asked. as he stood in
the garden path below. looking up al
her as she leaned out OF the old library
window OF Ashley manor-house.
mo, ] will not"
"And we are TO part forevcr?"
IL have told you So
The unforgiving maiden, whose soft
clear voice was in Itself contradiction
Of the very words it gave utterance TO,
was looking away with her fearful blue
eyes to the distant hills which were
already envelopei in the evening mists,
and trying not to took where her lover
stood anxiousiy waiting and watchin.
for IA sign of forgiveness.
The window almost reached the
ground and was shrOudcl in blossoming
roses. Suddenly Cosy turned ana broke
OFT large spray, and directed all her
attention to the task of smoothing out
every leaf and peeping mysteriously
under every petal, IA warm flush gath
ering on her face.
mt. Al ItNtI NCh
you agnin-I swear it! And, Cosy,
was so awfully cut up, too"
The spray was thrown down at his
foet, the blue eyes regarded him with
scornful, flashing anger in their
troubled depths, and the rose-bloom
deepened into n passionate crimson.
You mean you sat for an hour and
half smoking, for Daisy saw you
smoking those hateful cigars, while |
was waiting for you and wondering
why you did not come, and fretting
myself to death about you. And you
were enjoying yourself all the time
and never thinking or caring what
had become of me; and you call that
being awfully cut up. !"
"Cosy-" with one hand laid upon
the ledge OF the window
Don't call me by that name again,
sir. | am no longer Cosy to you.
Our engagement is ut an end, and the
sooner that is known the better"
She drew herself away from the
caressing hand that sought to touch
her, and stood passive and silent by
the curtain.
George Wharton stepped back from
the window and threw away the end oil
cigar he had held concealed all this
time in his hand. He looked perplexed
and angry, although he lifted his
straw hat with a profound bow. and
said pleasantly and carclessly enough:
Il have the honor OF bidding YOU q
very good evening, Miss Middleton"
There was no answer; Cosy had
gone.
George walked away to the very
same spot where he had spent the
greater part of the evening-a little
summer-house called the Bower.
built under one OF the fine cedars that
spread their dark arms over the
grassy lawn. II was favorite spot OF
his, perhaps because he was free to
smoke there to his hearts content
"A summer shower-dear little girlr'
he thought TO himself with smile, re-
calling her sudden, girlish anger, and
remembering how very pretty she look
ed with her blue eyes flashing and her
cheeks glowing like damask roses How
strange that she could ever dream
of taking herself ont of his life for
ever!
The rustic of a white dress, the CLEAN
of an exquisite face shrouded in soft
satin and lace, laugh clear and must
cal as the notes OF bird and Cosy had
passed right through the cloud of OBJ
jectionable smoke, leaning on Percy
Vineyards arm, and apparently quite
unconscious of any need of anger or re-
gret.
81 will sing to you tomorrow. and
perhaps | will tell you them" the
sweet soft voice was saying.
Percy bent lower over the fair
speaker and whispered something that
George did not hear, but the reply to
those low, tender words came back to
HIM suddenly. painfully. like a knife
thrust into his heart. He sprang to
his feet and stood by the little green
bower trembling with exciteme mt
"Yes, / care for you little-only a
very, very little.
Was it really Cosy who was taken
into Percy's arms and kissed once,
twice. under the cedars. with the fra
GRANGE OF the Portugal laurcls around,
and the moonbeams shining through a
rift in the dark boughs overhead Cosy.
the dear little girl OF his hopes and
dreams, the sweet little love for whose
sake he had travelled many thousand
miles, and resigned willingly all the
advantages that might have accrued TO
him from "A longer stay in the land of
pagodss and pig-tails? Could it be
that the gay, trifling girl whose merry
laugh had aroused him from his revery
was his own sweet Cosy. who, despite
her hatred OF smoking and her passion
ate temper, had SO often timidly con-
fesse1 her love for him, and in whose
pure eyes he had read nothing but
truth and honesty? Oh, il was impos-
sible, simply impossible -he could new
err have been so deceived!
False and cruel as the medal she
wore" murmured George. "And
would have staked my life on her good
ness and faithfulness.'
He went into the little bower, and
and sitting down by the rickety wood