The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-15

who was, indeed, very agreeable and
interesting specimen of humanity.
Richard Nugent had been at college
with Gus, but had been far more sue
cessful in the schools, and less in the
cricket grounds, than his friend. Now
he was hard working London curate,
while Gus was enjoying the less labor
ious position of a wealthy country gen.
tleman, but their friendship was as great
as ever.
"Mrs. Oldham, will you come up to
the Grange tomorrow said Gus one
afternoon, as he lay on the grass at her
feet. "Nugent and want to have some
tennis with the girls, and you can look
on and chaperon."
Every well, viii come with pleasure,
but you must send the pony carriage Tor
me, you know"
"Of course; send for you and send you
back. You will stay to dinner, won't
you?"
"You must consult the girls about
that" said Mrs. Oldham, "for have an
idea that they may be busy; they are
reading together a good deal, you know"
'sMiss Marsh went in to write letters,
didn't she? l don't know where Agnes
has gone" remarked the young man,
rising from his lazy attitude and looking
| about him. "Oh, there she is, with Nu-
gent, rightat the end of the field. How
can people be so energetic this weather!"
| Agnes and Mr.. Nugent did not seem to
find the heat oppressive; they are stroll
ing quietly along the shady side of the
field, talking, and were SO much inter-
ested in their conversation that it was
quite long time before they returned to
the lawn. Agnes was hearing of world
that was new and strange to her, but
which seemed the exact thing she had
desired for years.
| In the quiet village there was but lit
tie for an energetic woman to do; but
the life Mr.. Nugent spoke of had oppor-
tunities for every one. Real hard self
denying labor among the poor, depress-
ing at times, but cheered and lightened
by the fellow feeling of many workers,
all struggling towards noble and
worthy aim, was the very work she
would have chosen had the choice been
given her. Now she heard of it from
one of the workers, and her face glowed
with enthusiasm as she listened, while
Mr.. Nugent could not help longing to
have such ready sympathy and apprecia-
ton near him to soothe and cheer him IN
the troubles and disappointments which
were a necessary accompaniment of the
work.
"Why don't you come to London ano
work with us, Miss Oldham?" he asked
"You have strength and energy. Why
waste them on trihes when you Nigh
be doing real good with them!''
, 81 don't think my mother could liy'
J in London" said the girl, slowly, "an'
we could not afford it, either. But
shall work some day, and meanwhile,
, dare say, it is good to have to exercis
8 patience. And l am young enough
vet" she added, with smile, as they re
7 turned to the lawn to join the others.
The afternoon at the Grange was
Q success. Mrs Oldham sat in low chat
under a great cedar tree, and enJoye
j herself quietly; indeed, the view and tn
r sight of the four merry young peopl
: was pleasure enough for her. The TENN
a court was a very good one, and Gus an
l. Florrie played Mr.. Nugent and Agne
b with great effect. When they wer
n | tired Florrie insisted on being taken a
over the JAteese-a and gave the master
it intense pleasure by the interest 81
took in his old pictures, china, furniture
and curios generally.
"You can't think what pleasure this
is to mey' she said, when they were ex-
aiming some exquisite wood carving in
the library. 1--WE London people live in
stucco houses, and buy our artistic prop
critics in Regent street, but here they are
I piled Gus. There is nothing modern,
and everything has history. My peo-
pie have lived here since Queen Eliza
beths time, and though we aren't either
rich or clever, at any rate we are not
mushrooms"
"Why should you be rich?" asked
rorrie. "1f you were millionaire this
house would not be grand enough for
you, and you would spoil it by altering
it. whereas now it is perfect"
Gus was pleased. He loved his home
and all his ancestral treasures heartily.
He loved all the old associations which
had grown up in the 800 years since the
Grange was built, and he was well aware
that there were few families in England
who could boast of such line of worthy
| gentlemen as those from whom he was
descended. Agnes did not care for any
of these things, and was at that moment
having long conversation with Mr.. Nu-
gent about the evil results of foreign
immigration in the east of London, a
subject which interested her, but which
Gus simply did not understand. He was
satisfied if his tenants and laborers were
well housed and fairly prosperous (and it
must be owned thathe was an admirable
landlord), but the distress he did not see
had no pathos for him; it was no bust
ness of his, and he lacked the imagina-
ton which brought it all wildly before
the energetic couple under the cedar
tree.
That evening Agnes stood at her win
dow and looked out on the peaceful
moonlit fields, and longed to be in the
busy human hive she had been hearing
about Then her face dimpled into a
merry smile.
"Dear old Gust" she said, ''he has
1 AohSAi iutO VIC tidp, duN tncy Will DS
thoroughly happy. don't think know
any one SO fitted to be his wife as Flo."
Meanwhile Mr.. Bartlett was thinking
what very successful day it had been,
and how nice it was to get Agnes up to
the Grange; and it never dawned on his
innocent mind tlAt he had not exchanged
dozen words with her the whole after
noon.
$50 you really go Tomorrow" said
Gus, as he and his friend sat smoking,
the last evening of Mr.. Nugent's holiday.
1--WE shall miss you very much, old fell
low, but you must come again"
"I should like it above everything"
was Mr.. Nugent's answer. eff can get
away for few days in the winter, will
you have me?'
"Shall be delighted; come as soon as
you can, and stay as long as you can.
One thing you must come for, and hope
it is not very far distant now" proceeded
Mr.. Bartlett, with something very like
blush
What is that?"
"My wedding!"
MY dear boy, I'm delighted to hear
it, but / did not know that you had got
to that point yet" cried the clergyman,
who had watched his friends inter-
course with Miss Marsh with strong ap-