Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-16

Owen accepted the suggestion OF Mr..
Blair that, before starting on their
homeward walk. they should smoke IA
pipe out on the green, where Lily's
white dress had been fitting to and
fro while the meal was in progress.
The fierce sun had gone down now,
and the garden was very cool, fra
grant, and shadowy. Two or three
rustic chairs were placed undor the
shade of n good-si7ed chestnut-tree at
one corner of the grassy slope, and in
one OF them Mr.. Blair took his seat
while filling the serviceable briar- pipe
which he had brought with him from
the sitting room. George, pulling out
his merschaum, followed his host
i examples; but Owen, having extracted
n fine cigar from dandy case and
lighted it, fingered little, and then
sauntered across to Lily. Toss in one
OF his reckless moments had broken
the dropping branch OF a rose-tree, and
the girl was kneeling down trying to
tie it up.
"Let me try, Miss Blair, won'tyouP"
said Owen.
"Oh, thank you-if you think you
can ~ In her light 1.-the way she was
erect in an instant. 1T is all that
tiresome Toss He breaks my flowers
dreadfully, the little roguer BY way
of Furnishing Toss, and duly Impress
ing upon him the general enormity OF
his conduct, she picked him up and
kissed him between his eyes, which
were as green as Q neralds in the dusk,
and then sat him down upon his feet
again.
Owen, looking up into her gray eyes
as he tied up the roses, felt an insane
desire to ask her if she would reat the
repairer OF the damage in the same
way as she had the cause of it. He
checked that impulse however, and
only said as audaciously as he dared
Il think that will do, Miss Blair.
Won't you give me rose by way OF
payment P"
''Oh, you may have more than one!"
She looked at him with most perfectly
unconscious innocence. Il have so
many, l hardly know what 10 do with
them. Take which you like best"
DuS III diIdL budll DISdh AHc
branch perhaps il l try" demurred
Owen artiully. I'm awfully clumsy,
rellly!'
perhaps you will" she agreed,
(Which do you like best 4? These lit
tie moss-rOses are my fa orites.
"lhen will have one of those, if l
may"
Go tho ,ooas ro,o ,,os soro,.od
picked, and placed carefully in the
gentleman's button hole-a pro ,ess
which was not satisfactory completed
for some minutes, and not until a
great many more OF less foolish re-
marks had passed upon each side,
more or less sentimen al too perhaps
But the two reached the chestnut tree
presently, and found that Alleyn had
gathered all the fishing tackle togeth-
err, and was just ready to say good
night to his host.
Farewell remarks were exchanged,
with some blunt good humor on the
one side and many hearty thanks on
the other; and then George bowed to
Lilly, and Owen held her little hand
for moment; and then the friends
went out the white gate, and star;e
at a brisk pace for Upper Catching.
''Do you like them father?n asked
Lily. She stood with her round arms
on he top bar OF the gate, look ,ng
thoughtfully after the two retroating
fgures-or perhaps at the taller one,
which was very natural. for Owen
was so much handsomer than his
friend.
Like them?" repeated Aaron
Blair. "Fail'ish, my dear-fairish!
they're both pleasant young fellows
enough. What do you think Of
them?"
1.-The oae that stayed with you-Mr.
Alleyn-is rather nicer than the
other. isn't he? Iwonder il we shall
see them againP"
mot very likely. They'll hardly
miss their way again"
But" faltered Lily. STOPPING to
pick up Toss, and rest her cheek
against his shining black back, "he
said he would Ike to come again, and
asked me il he might. The other one,
| mean Mr.. Ormiston.
"Who. child? Mr.. what-what did
you sayP"
Aaron Blair, turning thus upon his
daughter. frightened her; for his
brown face was pale. and his eyes
were fierce.
q" Mr. Oriston, father-that is his
name. He gave me his card for fear
l should forget. This is it-look."
She held out the little slip OF card
board Mr.. Blair took it; but he did
not look at il.
"All right, Lily. So that's his
name, is it? Run in and get me my
pouch. my dear, will you? I'll have
another pipe"
The pouch was in his pocket, but
Lily did not know that, and went at
once. Aaron Blair. holding out the
card on the palm OF his broad brown
hand, bent down TO look more closely
at the name inscribed thereon. He
read it aloud, and the accompanying
address
Owen Ormiston, The Cot, Upper
Catching Its the name, sure
npn,tob ~ h., Il. "a