The Penn's Grove record., 1889-09-07
NUMBER s.

for passengers. A literary ferrymani"
sneeged Edna Carson.
Miss Barbara made no verbal come
ment, but walked rssolutely down the
landing and aroused the absorbed boat
man from his studies with the poiut Of
her paTasol.
bring your boat around" she said,
sharply, I'VE want to cross the river,
Be quick"
The boatman pushed back his broad
brimmed straw hat with a look half
puzzled, half amused, that made Bar
bara Lynn turn towards her companion
with the petulant words:
81 believe he's an idiotl''
Where do you wish to go, ladies?"
asked the man, when they had safely
bestowed their multlfarlous founces
upon the seats, not without many COM
plants at the smallest of the accommo-
dations.
ITO Stapleton Park landing"
As the oars flashed through the
bright, tideless water Edna Carson
drew a deep sigh of relief.
"Well, we shall be there soon, I
hope. If you had only written, Bar
bara, Miss Stapleton would have sent
some n to meet us-perhaps that as
tonishing brother of hers.n
"Yes," said Barbara, curling her
lip; land q nice first appearance we
should have made, tired and dusty,
with our dresses all crumpled and our
hair uncurled! No-I choose to meet
Harry Stapleton en- grdnde toilette,
when / do meet him. Everything de-
ponds on first impressions, you know"
Edna put up her little hand to hide a
yawn.
"And you really mean to captivate
him?"
II mean to try"
"How do you know that he will make
a good h%usband2"
what difference does that make?
He's richln
The boatman stepped ashore, and,
dofing his hat, pointed to a superb
gray stone mansion whose gables aud
mullions CLEANED through the groups of
trees just beyond, saying:
"There is Stapleton, l~adies-you will
have no difficulty in finding It,"
Barbara tossed a piece Of silver to
him.
"See that our trunks are sent up As
soon as they arrive" she said, lofty.
"And now, girls, get ready for DIM
ner as soon as you CAMP said Miss
Stapleton, as she ushered her visitors
into a dainty little d~ressing-room all
panelled in oak and goldgreen, with
curtains of pale green silk, aud mir
rors that reached from ceiling to floor.
81 have a delightful party of guests
staying here, and l want you both to
look as lovely al possible. Remember
our old school compact, Barbara-you
are to captivate Harryl"
Barbara dad look lovely as shs en-
tered the drawing-room, where lights,
and flowers, and delicious perfumes
made a sort of fairy land. She was
dressed in rose-colored tulle, caught up
with bouquets of moss rosebuds, and u
branch of trailing roses and buds fast
ened IN her glossy brown curls as care
lessly as if it had fallen from the vine.
Edna was pretty, too, in her white
muslin aud lilies but Edna's beauty
vas to Barbara's as twilight to SUM-
shine-pearl to the imperial diamond.
Anna Stapleton's eyes frightened with
a sort of admlring pride as she came
forward. leaning on a gentleman's arm,
to greet her guest.
Miss Lynn-my brother, Nj. Sta
pletonl"
And Barbara's cheeks blazed into
scarlet fire, as in the calm glance Of the
gentleman bowling besore her she rec
ognized the dark blue eyes that had
beamed SO quizzically beneoth the
shadow of the ferryman's straw hat.
She was literally struck dumb-she
could not have spoken to save her life,
but Harry Stapleton was less embar-
raised.
1--WE have met BEFORE" he said, with
a half smile. sit was my first appear
auce in the role Of ferryman. ! hope it
gave satisfaction. Everything depends
on first appearances, you know. Par
don me for not disclosing my name,
Miss Lynn, but your orders were too
imperat.vely given for me to d~isobsy!'
He stopped abruptly, for Barbara.
overcome with shame and modification,
had tainted away In his sisters arms.
And then and there ended all her
hopes of ever becoming the lady OF
Stapleton Park. Alas! what radiant
visions "a little mistake" will some
times overthrow