Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-01-16

ceed to business.
A week went by and Daniel worked
hard and with heavy heart. In all
that time he had not caught even so
much as a glimpse of Miss Darlington.
For all chance of seeing her he might
as well have been at the antipodes.
He began to fear that he had made a
bad move. For as Horace Bedford he
| could intlict himself upon her as an
occasional visitor, but as Daniel Brown,
gardener, he could think of no excuse
for intruding on the society of his en-
ployer.
At last, Just rs Daniel was on the
point of ..laying down the shovel and
hoe" like distinguished individual of
whom most of you have doubtless
heard, Miss Darlington came into the
garden to see if the carnations were
budding. She was smiling and gracious.
She praised Daniel for the improve
ment he had made in the dahlia beds,
and suggested some important altera-
tions in various details, which he was
only to happy too carry out
After that she came to the garden
every morning regularly-sometimes
at the close of day and she and the
gardener got very we'll acquainted,
and to understand each others tastes
and opinions thoroughly.
Never did a gardener work more
diligently than Daniel, and, to do him
justice, he had no small degree of
ability in the science. Everything
throve finely under his care, and Miss
Carrington's garden was the most
ilourishing garden in the vicinity.
1t was passing strange to Augusta
Darlington the interest she felt in this
Daniel Brown. More than once she
had made herself the promise that she
would stay away from the garden and
let the gladiolus aud lilies blossom at
theirleisure, butin spite of these resolu-
tions, she was constantly drawn to
Daniels domain, and once there it
was astonishing how much they found
to talk about. From flowers the
transition to poetry and art was easy,
and here Daniel was quite as much at
home as his mistress, and the two soon
discovered kindred tastes and sympa-
thies.
By and by Mr.. Brown was invited
occasionally into the parlors, and Miss
Darlington played for him, and the
irrepressible Daniel sung one or two
touching ballads in very mellow
tenor.
The lady of the house began to ask
his judgment upon pictures and statu.
ary, and then they read poems to
gether. and played chess, and did
many other things equally improper,
considering that one was mistress and
the other servant.
Matters went on in this strain until
Miss Carrington's friends laughed
about her penchant for the gardener
among themselves. and one young lady
bolder and more gushing than the
others, joked Miss Darlington in re-
gard to "her Daniel" saying at the
same time something disrespectful OF
him.
Augustus cheek grew crimson, and
she turned upon the young lady in such
a way that Miss Morse shrank back
and got the table between them as soon
as possible.
"A man is man whether he wears
broadcloth or the drilling! and heaven
be thanked have sense enough to see
and acknowledge it! Mr.. Brown may
not be what you fashionable people
call a gentleman, but he is a noble
mani"
Aud Daniel Brown, passing beneath
the open window, heard this spirited
defense and was at no loss to CUES:
that the Mr.. Brown referred to wal
himself.
Was he happyP
: AS well ask if the sun gives light.
The next day Miss Darlington wen
: out on the lake sailing. She was quite
in the habit of going alone, and there
fore no one thought of observing hel
movements. But Daniel had taken il
upon himself to watch her continually,
and whenever she went down to the
boat-house, and unfastened the Fairy
Queen, he was sure to be seen near al
hand, though keeping himself out OF
sight.
This evening the sky was very dark,
and threatening, and Daniel was al
most persuaded to step forth and ask
Miss Darlington not to venture out
but he was not qnite sure that SHE
would be pleased with his interference
So he permitted her to pass by.
She got into the boat. shook out the
light sail and drifted with the wind
Not three rods from the shore sudder
flaw struck the sail, and in an instau
the boat capsized, for Miss Darlington
was too much off her guard to be il
time to prevent the accident.
Daniel plunged into the water, ant
swan to The spot where Augusta haG
disappeared. He caught her, bore hei
to the shore, and there, while he still
held her in his arms, she said:
"Oh, Mr. Brown, wnat shall | evei
do to repay you?"
And he replied upon the spur of the
moment:
"You shall love me. You shall give
me the life | have saved"
"WhyP she asked, in whisper,
very low, but he heard her.
because love you. Because you
are the only woman in the wide worlt
that can fill my heart Because, mex
to God, | hold you sacredr'
She put her arm around his neck,
and pressed her cold cheek against his
"lf | am worthy, take mel"
You know just how lovers generally
ratify their vows, so | need moi
chronicle what followed. l suppose
my hero and heroine were as silly a.
young people usually are on such oc
casions.
A day or two afterward, while Mis-!
Darlington was in the garden ant
Daniel was reading "Evangeline" tt
her, she stopped him suddenly.
at is very strange" she said, "bui
it seems to me that | have known yol
in some other stage of existence.
"WhVP" he asked smilipU curiouslv