The record-union., 1891-09-19
HARRY'S FILTRATION.

that climbed the trellis Several guests
were expected to arrive among them an
neiress, SO rumor had it, and as usual no
small amount of interest was awakened.
There was murmur among the guests
as a slender girl. becomingly attired,
made her way up the broad steps.
She was fair example of that rare and
curious blending of blonde and brunette
which we sometimes meet Her face
was fair, her hair brown, with rich
golden hue, and her eyes were large and
dark.
| She was woman capable of intense
love or hate. AS Harry Marsh gazed
upon her he grew suddenly pale. Then
it passed away, giving place to deepen
ing flush of embarrassment. His COM
! panion, Frank Hale, handsome, fun
loving fellow, observed Harry's embar-
rassment and with a merry twinkle in
| his black eyes, said;
II declare, Hal, you blush as if the
| heiress' was an old flame of yours"
| And he laughed in low, musical way.
Il know my face showed seeming agi-
tatlon just now, but there's really moth
! ing the matter with me-"
Now, Harry, old fellow, you need not
apologize"
'I'm not going to. But, Frank, weren't
you ever surprised into biushing when
! somebody resurrected a half-forgotten
/ sentimental memory of the past? Letme
! see. I'll venture to say that can make
you blush. How about that Elsie May
! dew affair of yours?"
| Frank Hale's checks did brighten a
! little. But he well knew that a stronger
/ feeling than mere embarrassment had
! agitated his friend.
"Pshaw!' exclaimed Frank Hale, with
penetrating look into the half averted
face of Harry Marsh. "You are agitated
you have met this young lady before.
somewhere Now own up-or is it Sc
| cret?''
Harry Marsh was a fair, curly-haired
young man of five and twenty, of a SEN
sitiye, romantic disposition Frank Hale
and he were old college chums. Harry
/ stroked his blonde mustache for a mo-
ment in silence; cutting the tip Off of his
cigar, he placed it between his lips, for
| getting to light it.
How much of a secret?" he answered
/ indifferently. Then turning suddenly
toward his friend, said:
"What do you know about her; you
| seem very much concerned about herr"
''Oh, nothing" replied Frank, lex
cept what rumor says"
"And what is that?''
''It is to this effect: That she has re-
Gently risen from poverty to affluence;
that she is engaged TO poor young pro-
fessor, geologist, who was formerly a
! school-fellow of hers. Il poor young
professional man is sure to catch such q
prize, isn't he?"
"Yes. l suppose it is on account of
their romantic and poetic attributes. Did
rumor include the name OF the-the gen
| tleman?''
Harry felt not a little anxiety as he
asked this question.
1 1t + -
replied Frank: and, by the way / un-
! detstand he is to come here also in search
of fossils.''
Harry, with a sort of nervous eagerness
of movement, lighted his cigar.
Now, Harry, for your secret. When
and where did yot first make the ac-
quaintance of this young lady, and what
| is her name?"
! Harry sat in silence moment as if to
collect his ideas. lie tilted his chair
| back, removed his hat, wiped the perspi-
ration from his brow and said:
Her name is Viola Craig. l met her
| in rustic village in Maine about two
years ago"
And there was bit of romance be-
tween you, eh?'
VERY little on her part-a mere fiirta-
tion on mine. / can tell you one thing,
she has not gained all her beauty in two
years. She struck me as unusually
! beautiful for a rustic when l first met
her"
"Why don't you tell me the romance
that lies back OF that statement of yours?"
! said Frank.
Harry, with some reluctance. said:
About two years ago the summer was
exceedingly hot, and / was badly in need
! of rest, so l resolved to go on a hunting
and fishing expedition. Having heard
of the facilities Huntsville afforded for
! hunting and fishing and picturesque
! scenery, | packed up my grip, took my
rifle and fishing rod and stared. I ar
rived one fine summer morning at
! Huntsville, and obtained board with the
| Craigs. They We're poor, and added to
their income by taking summer board
ers. Viola was an only daughter, still
in her teens. / could not help admiring
! her artless beauty and grace and l soon
began paying marked attention to her.
I'm those fragrant summer twilights,
| followed as they were by evenings OF sill
| very moonlight, we Sauntered down the
pleasant country road and stood upon
the bridge gazing upon the sheet of wa
/ ter, calm and deep, which stretched out
| before US. The days sped rapidly into
weeks; our hearts seemed gay and hap
! by, everything was enjoyed with a zest
which the utmost confidence and free
dom from restraint can insure. But,
alasl one day Viola's father called me to
| him and sternly asked:
"'Do you wish to marry Viola?'
81 was SO thoroughly surprised that
answered decisively,
'''No,'
$50 1 thought replied Mr.. Craig, Il
! did not believe that rich, handsome
/ young fellow like you would wish to
marry a poor country girl, and l desire
! you to direct your attentions elsewhere
! for she is engaged to worthy young man
of this place. That day I left Hunts
vile, and no adieus We're spoken. So
! ended my little Irritation"
well, Harry, you have given me quite
a poetic recital, but you ought not to
make such an ado over mere Irritation,
Let us go up the lake and back before
sunset"
Ten minutes later Harry Marsh saunt-
cred along the shore of the lake realizing
that he was not quite whole-hearted.
=
A year had passed since Harry Marshs
visit to the quiet little village of Hunts
vile. Many changes had taken place.
Viola Craig is an orphan-alone in the
world-friendless. What was she to do?
She fell into brief reverie.
/ She had an aunt, rich in this world S
goods; she had written to her and re-
ceived letter bidding her to come and
make her home with her. Break up
/ the old home and come and live with
me-" These were the words she read.
Break up the old home, How romance
clings around it" She stood by the win
dow and gazed up the country road, bor-
dered on one eside by dark pine woods, on
tho other by irregular rolls of cultivated
ground. How dear the form of every
| tree! How oft had she walked there with
/ the one she loved; had he not cut his
name and hers upon those very trees; but
he had gone-left without one word of
| parting. a crimson flush, deep, swift
and unmistakable, swept over the girls
| fair and sen nsitiva tacn.