Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-08


verse was finished, the door of the room
onened and Owen Davies entered, bearing
hooks under his arm. Beatrice glanced
around and saw him, then, with quick
starnu of her foot, went on giving the time.
The children sung Justify, and in front OF
them stood Beatrice, dressed in simple white.
her graceful form swaying as she marked
the music's time Nearer and nearer drew
Owen Davies, till at length he stood quite
close. his lips slightly apart, his eyes fixed
upon her like the eyes of one who dreams,
and his slow. heavy face family lit with the
glow of strong emotion.
The song ended, the children at a word from
their mistress filed past her, headed by the
nnpil teachers, and then, with shout, seizing
their caps. ran forth this way and that, wei
coming the free air When they were all
gone. and not till them Beatrice turned sud
denly round.
..How do YOU do, Mr.. Daviesg she said.
He started visibly. 81 did not know that
YOU had seen me- lie answered.
nOh. YES. | saw you, Mr.. Davies, only
could not stop the song to say how do you do.
Nv the way. | have to thank you for coming
toinquire after me.
aNot at all, Miss Beatrice, not at all; 1t
was most dreadful accident. cannot tell
Won how thankful AMI can't, indeed. !"
SIT is very good of you to take SO much In
terest in me- said Beatrice
mot at all, Miss Beatrice, not at ALL Who
who could help taking interest in yous
have brought You some books-the Life OF
Darwin-it is in two volumes. | think
that have heard you say that Darwin inter-
ests your
eyes, thank you very much. Have you
read itf'
mo, but have cut it. Darwin doesn't
interest me. you know. think that he was
a rather misguided person May carry the
books home for youf
"Thank you but am not going straight
home; am going TO old Edwards shed 70
zee my canoe.
Asa matter OF fact this was true, but the
idea was only that moment born in her mind.
Beatrice had been going home, as she wanted
10 see that all things were duly prepared Tor
Geoffrey and his little daughter. But to get
TO the yicarage she must pass along the chn,
where there were few people, and TINS she
did not wish to do. To be frank, she feared
lest M. Davies should take the opportunity
10 make that offer of his hand and heart
which hung over her like nightmare. Now
the way to Edwards shed lay through the
village and down the cliff, and she knew that
he would never propose in the village. 1t
was very foolish Of her, no doubt, thus to
seek 10 postpone the evil day, but the strong
est minded women have their weak points,
and this was one of Beatrices. She hated
the idea of this scene. She knew that when
il did come there would be a scene. Not
that her resolution to refuse the man had
ever faltered. But it would be painful, and
in the end il must reach the ears OF her Ia
tber and Elizabeth that she had actually re-
iected Mr. Owen Davies, and then what
would her life be WORTH She had never sus-
pected, it had never entered into her mind
to suspect that though her father might be
yexed enough, nothing ON this earth would
more delight the heart OF Elizabeth.
Presently, having fetched her hat, Bea-
trice. accompanied by her admirer, bearing
the Life of Darwin under his arm, started TO
walk down to the beach. They went in ST.
lence, Beatrice just little ahead. She ven
tured some remark about the weather, but
Owen Davies made no reply; he was think
ing. he wanted TO say something, but he did
not know how to say it. They were at the
head of the cliff now, and If he wished to
speak he must do so quickly.
Miss Beatrice he said in a somewhat con-
strained voice
Eyes Mr. Davies-oh, look at that seagulli
it nearly knocked my hat of.
But be was not to be put of with the sea
gull. Miss Beatrice he said again, ARE
you going out walking next Sunday after.
noonF
"How can tell, Mr.. Daviesl 1t may
rain"
''But il il does not rain-please tell me
You generally do walk on the beach on Sun
day. Miss Beatrice, want to speak to you
hope YOU will allow me, do indeed.
Then suddenly she came to decision
This kind of thing was uncomfortable; 1t woule
be better to get it over. Turning round s.
suddenly that Owen started, she said:
"If you wish to speak to me, MIR. Davis,
shall be in the Amphitheatre, opposite thu
Red Rocks, at o'clock on Sunday afternoon
but had much rather that youdid not come
can say no more.
Il shall come he answered doggedly, an'
they went down the steps to the boat shed.
"Oh, loos daddy said Effie, here come
the lady who was drowned with you, aud I
gentleman. and to Beatrice's great relief tn
child ran forward and met them.
"Ahln thought Godfrey to himself, 'tha
II the man nOnOTla salu sue was ehBaSeu ~
Well, don't think very much of her taste.
In another minute they had arrived Geoi
frey shock hands with Beatrice and was intro
duced TO Owen Davies, who murmured some
thing in reply and promptly took his do
parture.
They examined the canoe together and the
walked slowly up to the vicarage, Beatric
holding Efie by the hand Opposite the rec
they halted for a minute.
There is the Table Rock on which we wer
thrown, Mr. Bingham" said Beatrice, IAN
here is where they carried US ashore. tn
sea does not look as though it would drow
any one tonight, does iti SeeF-and 81
threw a stone into 1.-THE ripples run {
evenly as they do on a pond"
She spoke idly and Godfrey answered hs
idly. for neither were thinking of their word
Rather were they thinking of the stranl
chance that had brought them together in a
hour of deadly peril and now left them Z
gether in an hour of peace. Perhaps, to
they were wondering to what end this ha
.srA- 4.