Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-25
CHAPTER II.

Bat she thought Of other things. too; shings
not quite 50 poetic and ethereal, her tennis,
for instance. and set to improve her game,
for be played and-in private again--in that
favorite outdoor retreat Of hers; in fact, she
read through the whole accumulation Of his
letters from the very beginning Of the engage
ment. This romantic task occupied her from
morning till night-the night Of his arrival. 1t
was long since she had looked at the earlier
letters, and they pleased her. They we're
not sensible as late ones by
any means, but they we're rather more
fattsring, and indeed they had come oftener
than twice . week in those days Caroline
fingered over these old letters, and though
those of the last year were wise and witty and
kind, the former appealed most strongly to
her present mood. The leaves whispered to
her as she read and dreamed, the birds sang
all around her, for this haunt of hers was
merely little clearing among the trees where
rottsd u worm eaten table and garden seat
And on the latter next morning Noel and she
sat together-at opposite ends of tin the
most sensible manner imaginable.
Their conversation also showed their sense.
1t is a charming spot. said the Rev. Noel
Pennynnan Certainly they bad been sitting
there some time); lit really isr'
~ am glad you like it. love it." Caroline
added. little sbyly: "and you know why"
Why asked Mr. Pennymsn, innocentiy.
"Because-becauss it was here that you
"Ahl remember. May one smoke in it Carl
That forget"
"Of course you may" said Caroline. hurt at
bis asking.
1t took him som. moments to fill his pipe and
some more artfully to light it. The perform
ance claimed his undivided attention. And
Caroline watched him from under her expan-
siys sun-hat- He was . handsome. soldierly
fellow. with fne features, dark eyes and a mus
tachs. Sitting here in flannels lighting his pipe
he suggested any type rather than that Of the
british CQrata which ba tod EaY he
was deeently grave and, in point of fact a suffi-
clently jealous and earnest young priest. He
was a. ardent and idealistic as ever about his
work, as Caroline had found out from the most
fluent talk they bad yet had, which had been
on this subject In other directions he was
less eloquent less enthusiastic, than of old; and
Caroline was hurt at more than his asking leave
TO smoke and pretending to forget that it was
here he had proposed to her.
II remember" added Caroline, after pause
that broke the point Of the remark, that you
used not to ask permission to smoke last time
you were here"
"Ah, last time was hsrer'
Its ages ego. isnt ia" She produced .
smile.
He mentioned tbs number Of months. which
We know His pipe was behaving beautifully.
II hope II will never be so long again - sx-
claimed Caroline impulsively.
He regarded her rehecuvely from the other
end OF the seat There was q look Of pain in
" - "AxASA - - ~ eAA toucQpcleO- 1ucu
they grew kind.
my dear girl" said Psnnyman, half in re-
buke, half in regrety. you know exactly how
1t has been The length of England is between
Us, and last year when took my holiday was
obliged to 60 TO my mothsr-we nearly lost her.
A. long a. am up there don't see how we
can meet oftener than once a year, but then
very likely / shan't be there another year.
Surely may begin now to hope for q living
And l shall get one, you'll see; snd-and it'll
ell come right IN the end ~
He said is kindly, though not perhaps, In Q
voice Of conviction, but Caroline was very
much moved. She cid 10 his side and caught
his hands.
wiz is'" n: cried. p''rins ssrsuuousy into
His face filed with pity and compassion.
God grant it may" he hOarsely whispered,
and be kissed her forehead once. 81 will give
my life to you. Caroline" She never forgot
how he said this.
very pleasantly, on the whole and on the sur
face. The interesting pair were q good deal
together-entirely together-yet not so much
as had been anticipated. Indeed they proveda
singulariy unobjectionabie pair in this and SIM
liar respects. They wers sensible to a degree
Noel moreover made himself extremely agree
able to tho younger girls. escorted them round
the country side, played hard sets with them
and sang eharmingly in the school room. If
they caught him sometimes looking worried
PcAPASAcb. az more rDan once one
or other OF them did-they put it down to the
shortness Of his holiday and the uncertainty of
his and Caroline future. The same applied to
Caroline, who was remarked Tin the school
room to be getting rather GUM. This was
odd, certainly. with Noel in the house. but ma
uraiiy she wished to be married, and now that
he was here today and OF practically tomorrow
most likely for another year. the engagement
might well seem interminable. That there
could be any other ground for unhappi-
ness never entered those pretty. frivolous heads
in the school room; that there was some
thing wrong neutrality-suspicious. delicate
and deep and vital-they were incapable of
suspecting. The two we're continually together;
that was enough for the girls. If they were not
happy 1t was their own fault: they ought to be-
The younger Misses league had no sympathy
with people who made themselves unhappy
But the younger Misses league were not Keen
observers, either; or toward the end of the week
they must have noticed in Caroline signs Of too
little sieepIwhlch even the rector observed,
though he held his tongue.
On the Sunday evening Pennyman had prom
lsed to preach; he was shut up for hours on
Saturday writing his sermon, and secretly glad
to be able so to seclude himself. While he was
busy Miss league took the opportunity of Wis.,
ting some Of her people, who, Of course, knew
periectlywell who was staying at the rectory She
does not seem to have struck her folk a. being
particularly jubilant, Considering" And to
those who asked her. as no doubt they all did,
"ASn IL was W Oo sue appears TO nave answered
In manner variously described.
II may never be married at air.
Certainly the engagement had dragged ON q
very long time.
On her return to the rectory, however, Caro-
line league sought Noel Pennyman, her
betrothed, and was with him when he finished
his sermon She rose and bent over his
shoulder. rs be flung down the pen, and asked,
wistfully enough, if she might look, but Penny,
man pushed his manuscript aside.
mo, Car, said he without turning his head:
I'D rather You didn't look, if you don't
mind"
Then won't you read 1t to me?" she could
not help pleading, though she had colored up
behind his back.
You will hear IL al tomorrow, my dear
girl
..Ah. am looking forward to that; only
only should have liked to hear little Of it
now"
Don't ask me, Car" he answered, never
looking at her. What's the good Of your hear
ing IL twice2 Besides, you wouldn't like it,
really you wouldn't"
You might leave me to be the Judge of
that" said Caroline, gently. ''As to the good
of II, don't say there would be any. Yet You
used to say should have little voice In all
your sermons one day"
DO let us be sensible :" exclaimed Penny
man, and that frzyed and chsfed her.
Hfa albOWa nm thu ~ritin0 tabl> 1T.