Mower County transcript., 1890-08-06

her" and he walked on Ia silence till
they reached the rectory. The young
ladies were ct home, and In . few min.
I,utes they were MI talking away as NOR
rily as II there were no London cousin In
the place to spoil their fun; but II must
be confessed that Janet felt 4 little
nervous as she heard her brother maxi
ing plans with Maisie. They were to
come and practice glees that evening,
and to go down the river tomorrow,
and have good walk next week, etc,
etc., just as II Miss Colville would not
have to be considered, and rs II Mrs.
Clarke, who was rather q determined
woman In her way, had not made up her
mind that Sans intimacy at the rectory
should be broken off before his fancy
for Maisie grew to something more than
friendship.
The practice that evening was not
success. Miss Colville sneered at all
the music the Durnford girls suggested,
as old-fashioned and out Of date, and
tried to show them the charms OF some-
thing very new and extraordinary,
which Sam voted ''balderbash," while
| 4" 0AoA0 cNkS O0VCN VA0V " OVNu0u RCVPA0
liked their songs to have little tune
In them. At last some fine old madt-
grals were fixed on, and then it was
discovered that Miss Colville could not
| sing at sight, and that she would have
to study her part before she could begin
to practice with the others. Moreover,
her voice, though we'll trained, was
| weak, and did not show to advantage by
the clear, bird-like notes Of the country
girls; so that the practicing was quite as
good without her as ii she had taken
part
Mr.. Owen. the curate. sang bass, and
Sam was the owner of q sweet, mellow
tenor voice, which had few unexpect-
| edly pathetic notes in it-just the voice
no one would have credited happy, fort
unate Sam Clarke with. Constance
was struck with the young mans sing
ing, and said so many pretty things to
him about his voice, that (being a mod
est many he was fairly overpowered.
Maisie never paid him compliments, but
scolded him II he lost his place or sang
out of tune, and somehow he pr6s
ferred her "That was better. SAM" to
all Miss Colville's sugared words; and
as he walked home with the girls ho
devoted himself to making her prom
ise to sing MY Lady's Garden" at the
approaching party, and came home de-
jectedly because she only snubbed him.
Mrs. Clarke thought it would be just
as we'll to join the young people on the
| river next morning, as her son would
not show attention to Constance unless
| she were there to make him, and Maisie
| must be shown that Sam could not he
| thrown away on q country girl. The
Colvilles were we'll connected, and in
a good match for the young banker, but
he was using his eyes, and had already
decided that she was not the right per-
son for him. Even If he had liked her
(which he did not), there were several
things he did not like at all; her dresses
| we're very numerous and extremely
| smart, and Sam rather wondered who
paid for them.
Meanwhile, Miss Colville had decided
that Maisie must have hint, her for
! wardness and general behavior being
most unsuitable for q clergyman's
daughter, who ought not to expect at
tention from any manageable man but
/ the curate (atleast that was Constance's
opinion); so she made ready for the
boating party in good time, and waited
her opportunity. It came very soon, for
as she came downstairs she met Lillian
on her way to Janet's room, and found
Maisie alone in the drawing-room.
'How do yon do, Miss Durnford?'' said
Constance, sweetly. "Ah, you are ready
for row, I see."
Maisie colored as she glanced At her
plain skirt and flannel blouse.
II like old clothes on the river" she
answered. "It is no use wearing things
that may get spoiled"
"You are very wise," remarked Con-
stance, with that slight sneer that al
ways angered Maisie. "And after all,
| Mr.. Clarke never seems to notice what
any body wears"
Sam has rather good eyes for dress, "
said Maisie. "At least, he comes down
IN Us, If we are too much got up, as
he calls it"
l Nv 0AoV 40 WY JOU~ PAOAoA oAAAP paw
ity." said Constance, with smile.
Maisie blushed again.
81 don't know what you mean," she
cried. ''Sam is q very old friend of
ours and criticises US just as q bro ther
might" ..... ...1,'
"And you receive his criticisms more
kindly than you would a brothers." !"
proceeded Miss Colville. ''Forgive me!
do not mean to be rude. only your
preference is SO openly shown, you
know" H. zs z## gs:a qj.2 .@-}.sG
| ~ don't know what you mean," re-
peated Maisie, haughtily; and as Mrs.
Clarke made her appearance at the mo-
! ment, no moro was said; only Maisie
did know what Miss Colville meant, and
went to the boat-house in very unen-
viable frame of mind. ~. q. n
| "What's the matter with Maisie?" In
quired Sam, couple of hours later,
when they were all having tea on the
river bank. Is. 5.s=.~..s-s-
| Il don't know said Lillian; s.she was
! all right when we started" !"
"You don't think that blessed cousin
Of mine has been upsetting hcr, do
your went on the young man. 81 wish
she were my first cousin instead Of
Ifhfr6 and them T,1 tall hor What I