Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-18

wolSan Is sl po,s.ssIbIe 81 butaon,ne nv
clcxk, fastening = garden-hat round my
head like poke bonnet. and attaching
my veil 90 it Then she tied up nv um-
breila like q market-woman's, and let
me out. giggling little at my appear
ance. but promising faithfully not to
leave Haidee till my return, and to
..stand up Sally" if she intcrfered.
felt rather frightened as heard the
hall door close upon me and realized
that three and half miles lay be-
tween me and Beaconsburgh. 1t was
cloudy night and the moon gave but
little light had got past the Geld
ham cottages and on to a piece of road
where there were no houses in sight
when l heard the sounds of a vehicle
coming along at a good pace behind
me. 1t slackcned to come up the hill,
and /. to keep up my character, bent
over my umbrella and walked more
slowly. But this subterfuge had an I'M
desired effect.
"Hallo: my good woman! Would
you like a lift up the hill?" cried the
driver; and my heart leaped up, for it
was Laurence's voice.
woman; my blood seemed dancing for
joy. my pulses beat more quickly, and
the spirit of mischief came into me so
that wanted to laugh aloud.
cay. ay!" l grunted out slowly; and,
waiting until the cart came up to me.
climbed with his help and with seeming
difficulty.
IAN rightP" said he; and again 1
grunted, Jay, ayr and on he went.
Oh, how happy felt to be again by
his side! But it was rather hard not to
be able to take the hand that was near
est to me, and nestle up to his shoulder,
and tell him how miserable I had been
since last night, when he had rushed
away with the dreadful threat of not
seeing me again. Well, now he should
see me again; he could not help him
self. l felt rather nervous as to what
he would say when did discover my
self. Was he still angry? Would he
insist upon my getting down and go
ing the rest of the way on foot?
l began to get impatient for him to
know me. But he looked very grave
and thoughtful; and, presently, to my
exceeding comfort, he pulled down
over his wrists two little uncomfortable
wooden cuffs that had made, and that
he had bought of me at the sale. 1t
seemed to me that he handled them
lovingly. Upon this encouragement ]
spoke.
aren't you going to talk?' said I,
in my natural voice.
We had passed the hill, and were go
ing along at good pace; but he gave
the reins such a jerk that the horse
stopped.
"You won't be cross with me again,
will you?" said l, anxious to pledge him
to good temper while he was IN the first
flush of his Joy at meeting me; for it
was joy.
He slipped the reins into his right
hand and put his other arm round me
and kissed me, Shetland veil and all.
And SO we made it up without a word
of explanation.
told him my errand, and he told me
his. His father had gone up to town
that day to arrange to purchase a farm
for Laurence few miles of, which
was to be stocked, according to his
promise, while his son was away. He
was to return by a train which reached
Beaconsburgh about ten O'Clock. and
Laurence was on the way to meet him.
'We will call at DIR. loves first, and
then you shall go on with me to the
station and see my father said he.
Iprotested a little that ought to 60
back with the doctor; but of course he
carried his point.
what do you want a farm for, Lau-
renceP" 1 asked, as we waited outside
the station.
ssWhat do 1 want farm forP Why,
to have home for you and something
to live on, of course! l know some
thing about farming. and it doesn't
matter if do lose a little just at first. ="
"But why did you want to go on pre-
pairing a home for an accomplished
coquette,' whom you said last night
you were never going to see again?"
Zone isn't answcrable for all one
says to a tormenting little witch like
YOU" said Laurence, laughing. ''You
didn't suppose was really never go
ing to see you again. now, did your"
II shouldn't have cared" said I.
''Ah, was right about the coquetry!
Well tomorrow evening ! shall call at
the Alders and ask boldly for Miss
, Christie. So mind you are not out, and
we shall have a good long talk together,
since, thank Heaven, Mr.. Rayner is
away; and will give you an address
where letter will reach me-"
i, We were so intent upon our CONVEX
sation that / did not notice that there
was a man standing very near to us
= during the last part Of it. AS Laurence
+ finished speaking, he turned his head,
! and suddenly became aware that the
: train had come in while we were talk.
. ing.
= s'By Jove! Wait for me, darling"
= he cried, hastily, and then dashed off SC
: quickly that he ran against the man,
who was dressed like a navy, anG
knocked his hat off.
When he returned with his father
who greeted me kindly, he looked pale
and anxious.
!, "Do you know who that man was
ran against?" he whispered.
That navvyP''
4 "lt was no navy. 1t was Mr.. Ray
ner."
"Laurencer' said I, incredulously.
Il tell you it was-I swear it! Wha
: was he doing. skulking about in tina
get-up? He came down by this train
y He must have overheard what we were