The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-11-21
VOL. XIII. RISING sun, CECIL COUNTY, Md, FRIDAY,

the least lonely" answered Elizabeth,
'tand, as you say, the honeymoon is over. .
But her heart sank within her at the
ominous words. Was this what Henry's
manner that morning meant?
my DEAR" said the elder lady, closing
| the book which had been lying open on
her lap and putting it on wicker chair
that stood, close by, II was only joking;
hope and pray that Henry's and your
honeymoon will never be over. Aslong
as you love each other you have q
glimpse of Paradise"
There was silence for IL few moments.
Elizabeth seated herself in q rocking
chair, took off her hat, which she had
forgotten in her preeccupation, and be-
gan talking about Indifferent matters.
| At last, in obedience to her mother-in-
laws suggestion and thankful to be re-
leased, young Mrs. Clifton started out
| for walk. 1t would be better than
staying in tho house. trying to sew OF
read, and there was a shady wood near
by where she could be undisturbed. II
opened on the high road, but o fence
kept out all intruders. AS Elizabeth
neared her destination she noticed that
a tall tree outside the wood was bent
and nearly uprooted, while the branches
were almost denuded Of the leaves which
only two days before had glowed in all
the red and gold glory of autumn. Then
she remembered that it had stormed the
| previous day-one Of those violent
storms which sometimes como early and
rob the forests of their foliage. With a
shiver Elizabeth wondered if i: chill had
come over every one-was the winter
indeed come?
Left alone in her quiet room the elder
Mrs. Clifton leaned back in her arm
chair looking grave.
| '.Poor childi wonder if they have
had their first quarrel? w ell, | suppose
it must come some time. They will be
all right by evening. am sorry Henry
was obliged to be gone all day; wish
could help them," and she ended her so
liloquy with sorrowful shake Of the
head.
| In the meantime Elizabeth did not get
a chance to enter the wood; for, as she
stopped by the bent tree, she glanced up
the road and saw in the distance party
of ladies and gentlemen whom she fancied
she recognized. They evidently knew
her, for they waved their handkerchiefs,
shouting and gesticulating frantically.
As they came nearer she saw that they
were the young people belonging to sew
eral families in the neighborhood, all of
whom had called on her and at whose
houses she had visited.
Elizabeth stood her ground.
"There is no use in retreat,ng into the
WOOD" she told herself; .'they would
only follow and hunt me up. l must
submit" I"
| She did SO very unwillingly, however,
| for she did not feel in the least like see
ing strangers; she consoled herself by
thinking that they probably had some
object in view and would soon go on their
way. She was disappointed in this, for
no sooner had greetings been exchanged
than the foremost of the party-Miss
Enrle, q young lady to whom Elizabeth
had taken quito fancy and who was a
fayorite of Mrs. Clifton's-cricd out:
How lucky! We were just coming
to the house after you. We had planned
a picnic for today, but yesterdays storm
has made the woods too damp, SO we haye
decided to take straw ride instead. You
must come-it is great fun-and your
husband, too; isn't he at homer
s'Mr. Clifton was called away today on
business" answered Elizabeth, sand I'm
afraid | can't leave mother for any length
of time"
But the party would not accept this
excuse. Mrs. Clifton the elder was used
to being alone-they knew that, and she
young Mrs. Clifton must be lonely,
with her husband away.
Protestations were useless; SO finally,
seeing there was no way of escape, Eliza
beth yielded gracefully, only stipulating
that she must tell her mother-in- law
where she was going. Two or three of
the party wanted to go In her stead. but
this she positively refused to allow.
There was a farm short distance up
the road. where their conveyance awaited
them, and Mrs. Clifton agreed to meet
them there. Some of the people would
have insisted on accompanying her; but,
being possessed of quick intuition, and
divining that the young bride was in no
mood for company. Miss Earle dragged
the whole party toward the meeting
| place, leaving Elizabeth to hurry home
| alone.
'If they have had tiff she had better
forget her misery in company, after she
has had time to recover herself" was
! Miss Earle's wise reflection,
Young Mrs. Clifton informed her
mother-in-law of the invitation, which
she was of course urged to accept, said
good-by, and went to her own room to
make some changes in her toilet. She
fingered over the process as long as
possible, putting off the moment of join=
ing the merry makers until she felt she
must go. Then shestarted out at very
laggard pace.
Hardly had Elizabeth entered her
room when her husband knocked at his
mothers door.
'Why, Henryl you have got back very
early" cried the invalid in surprise,
when her SON appeared in answer to her
"Come in"
"4es, 0rmsby was awayi couldn't
do anything. I shall have to 60 to-
morrow" Mr.. Clifton answered. as he
stopped to Kiss the face upturned to his.
"If ] hadn't known you expected me
home this evening would have re-
manned all night"
This total ignoring of his wife star
tIad Mrs Clifton and ono loolr info har