The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-11-12
foot, who seemed to him so unapprecia

unlike III appearance UnaG klnSn1p WOulu
have never been suspected. While Mona
was rather below the average height
Aileen was above it; Mona's curly tresses
were black as midnight and Aileen's
bronze gold.
1t had been a proud moment to them
all when my Lady Lindores sent for
Aileen to come to the "big house, +" as the
tenantry all termed the great stone man.
sion, and prouder still when my lady
made known her wishes that Aileen
should accompany her as maid.
Not throb of jealousy quickened Mo-
mas pulses at Aileen's good fortune She
rejoiced with her cousin, and was I'M
feignedly glad. And now my Lord and
Lady Lindores were home for short
while after year of absence, and Aileen
was back once more in the home of her
childhood. With tears of delight her
mother and Mona greeted the traveller,
her father surveyed her with complacent
pride and approval; to them she was
more beautiful than ever.
The month drew to close. The "big
house" would soon be empty again and
silent. The days had been busy ones;
new cottages had been erected, new
barns and buildings; the wide estates
had been refenced and improved. And
now all would be quiet till winter, when
it was expected that the mansion would
be filed with a merry crowd of guests
and the logs would blaze ON the hearths,
making Christmas cheer.
My lord and lady, alike beloved by
their people, had been planning some
amusement for them as an appropriate
and welcome wind up of the work. The
wide new barn seemed particularly
adapted for the purpose, and Lord Lin
dores announced that here he would give
dance and bountiful supper.
Mona slipped down to the river, in
glee at the good news Aileen had just
brought to her. She swung herself up
to limb that reached half way over the
water, and scrambled recklessly out
upon it till the bough swayed.
"Geraldl" she called, looking eagerly
down the river. Hi, Geraldp
He was not in sight, but she thought
he would probably be just around the
bend, fishing. In one moment the fa-
miliar faded red boat came swinging
around.
"Come here, Gerald, jist as quick as
We canl' she calls quivering with excite
ment and splashing the water below
with impatient heels.
Comm" he answers. "Shure, Mona,
what is itP Is the COW after dyin'P Or
the pigs stole? Tell it, colleen"
"The cowp she says, her eyes dancing;
"oh, Gerald, it's me feet 1 can't kape
sthill long enough to spake wild me
tongue. The dance we're goin' to have
in the new barn tomorrow night; We
didn't know that now? have come jist
10 tell we NV it."
"And is that all?" says Gerald, as he
rests his oars and looks at her surprised.
can thought, Mona, we had thing to
tell and afeard the news. A big bite l
lost, too, for whin We called SO fast 1
didn't bide to finish"
"Well, amt ye glad now, Gerald, for
me TO tell your"
"Faith an knew that same already.
1t was no news to me, Mona"
Mona's red lip pouted.
"Go back thin, Gerald, to your fishin';
It's not for me to bother ye."
Gerald surveyed her with an odd ex-
preston on his face.
"Look, Mona" he said, drawing lit
tie bundle from the pocket Of his cordu-
| roy tousers. 'See what l am goin' to
ask the purtiest gurrl in Kilgarnock to
wear tomorrow night" And he care
fully unrolled wide pink silk handker-
chief and held it up for Mona's inspec-
ton. The little maid clasped her hands
in admiration. She had nothing like it
and never doubted that it was intended
for her.
"Tis beautiful, shure, Gerald"
He craned his neck around to one side
to behold the kerchief from her point of
view.
"Yes," he said calmly, and then folded
it up very carefully in its tissue wrap
pings and put the bundle back into his
pocket
"Good-by, Mona" he called, bending
over his oars again.
She did not answer, but stared rather
blankly at the little boat till it disap-
peared.
"Indade, thin, don't care if it's not
for me. | wouldn't have it," shaking
her head and speaking emphatically, ~
wouldn't have it at all, at all"
She climbed off her perch little more
slowly than she had mounted it, and be-
gan to sing gay little carol. A bird
in the tree caught the notes and burst
into responsive song Mona ceased sud
denly.
"Oh, hush, ye birdp' she cried, i'm
patience in her voice, and then as she
turned to go deliberately pushed help
less little frog into the water.
When the next evening came the barn
was full of life and laughter. As Mona
with her uncle and aunt entered the lit
tie yard gate the plank-phnkety- plank
Of the violins came floating out to them,
mingled with the shutting of many feet.
"Oh, make hastel" she whispered to
the sober pace that suited her aunt's
calm step. The lanterns hung down
from the doorway and windows, wide
flags foated from the roof and streamers
and fields or bunting swept across the
walls and ceiling inside.
Mona had spent an hour about the
adornment of her small person, but she
need not have fingered. There were
many feet be- besides her own, many
other dresses cd besides hers. Around
her neck was string Of yellow beads,
and yellow sash of Aileen's around her
waist.
They pushed their way to seat, and
Aunt Mollie famed herself vigorously.
Mona gazed around with interest. There
was Mollie Stewart, and there was Mag
gle Tully and Annie Kavanagh. All
these girls, as well as the lads. were ON
hand, but where was Aileeni She had
said she was coming. Mona looked in
one direction and then another, and at
last there sat Aileen close to window,
and near by stood Gerald, gazing at her.
Mona turned little pale. She did not
see Patsy and Barney and Farron edg-
ing up to her; she never even thought Of
any of them. In her eagerness to make
49, Il. 4 4