The St. Johns herald., 1889-04-25
A GIRLS FOLLY.
It Nearly Wrecks the Happiness
 of Two Lives.

Poor John Harding! How his big, honest heart throbbed and beat as he watched pretty Alice Williams with his great brown eyes strained and longing.
 She was seemingly unconscious of his gaze as she laughed and talked with the tall, handsome fellow at her side, whose blonde head bent so low to catch her every tone; but she knew, nevertheless, just how eagerly, with what jealous long ing John was watching the picture, and the knowledge only gave an added zest to her hours enjoyment. After all, it was not the pleasure of an hour.
 John and she had been plavmates ever since she could remember She well knew the dearest ambition of his life was to buy the little farm. with it's well-stockcd acres, which lay next the old homestead; that he was only waiting to say the word which should make her his promised wife until he held the deeds in his possession, and could offer her homo as cheery and bright as that she left behind.
 Many an hour in her own sunny bedroom had she spent in sweet dreams of this fut- ure wh;Ih she knew was to be hers; m ny a night listened for the well known step which ever paused at the old kitchen threshold, when his cheery greeting seemed to bring life and warmth into the old brick house, where she was the only nesting who had come to cheer the life of Farmer Will jams and his good wife. No wonder that they spoiled the child, who in her young, fresh glrlhood was to them like a breath from the mountain tops. SEc was very wIllful, but even her willfulness had a charm; and the old people bent before it, and would say, with a smile: 'Let the child have her way" So now when Squire Arden's son, inst returned from college and charmed with this sweet wild flower sprlnging in his path, stopped to breathe its perfume, she knew no reason why she should not accept the subtle in- cense of his flattering words, or show the pleasure that they gave her, even though John chose to look frowningly upon her, Were not her smiles her own!
 Butas they walked home alone through tho meadows after the chestnut gathering, pnd young Arden had left them at the road which led to his house, she slipped her little hand through Johns arm, and looking up into his face with her old merry smile, said:
 ''You remind me, John, of that great bear in the museum you once took me to sec when was 8 little child. Do you remem- bert You did not come near me once this afternoon, and I am quite indignant, espe- cially as my chestnut bag is hopelessly empty"
 'Almost as empty as the head of the snOb who was so expressing you, should imag- lne," was the angry rctort.
 A quick flush mounted to the girls cheek; her hand dropped from hIs arm.
 ''I think you forget yourself, MT. Hard ing, when you dare speak thus of my friends. An empty-headed snob, indeedl 1t is only those who lack all culture who can not appreciate gentleman when they meet hIm. One must make all due allow auce, however, for ignorance"
 "Excuse me, Alice. I did not know you had admitted him into so close bond of friendship; but you know we'll enough why did not come near you. You knew you had only to becllon once, to five me one look of encouragement, and 1 would have been by your side. But your eyes had other work to do than look toward me-"
 "And if they had, what thenl May not do with them as hkel Your presumption is remar's .ble, and as you choose to air 1t for my especial benefit, wish you would allow me the privilege of continuing my was alone. My thoughts are pleasanter company"
 Your thoughts! Yes, thoughts of him who has learned so well to talk by rote; to teach his lips to say the things at which his heart sneers. Alicel Darling! What would I care if I did not love you! had meant to have told you a little later what you already know so well; but 1t needed no telling. Forgive my quick words, my jealous anger, knowing that it all sprang out of my great love for you. Soon the farm will be my own; soon shall have home for you, Win you come, Alice, to be its sunshine!"
 A few hours before and these words would have met with joyous assent-wo&d have filled the listeners heart with fulfill ment of its deares5 wish. But quick anger now held sway, and so the scathing words m reply came almost without her conscious utterance:
 "You ask me to be the sunshine of home where base jealousy and suspicion form the cornerstone, to enter into the life of man whose excuse for injustice and wrong is lOuc! No, neveri Thank Godl Life is not yet so barren that l need to en- ter such purgatory, and call it home"
 As she finished, he stood shll. For one moment she looked into his face, then walked on alone, but never, never to forget Its white, awful look, as she uttered the words which were to separate them tcr ever.
 Weeks ripened into months, and the old people waited in anxious wonderment for the step which came no more. Sometimes they thought the child's face a shade paler, her voice had lost its merry ring, her laugh ter ended in a sighi but she would brook no questioning, and, as ever, they yielded to aer wish and wondered silently. But the old kitchen was rarely empty, and none ever crossed its threshold so often as young Arden. AS they grew to know him better, his bright, boyish face became very pleas ant to their eyes, but tn y, none the less, missed that of him whom they had learned 10 look upon almost as a son. None could quite i'll his place in .hctr hearts