The Press., 1891-12-10

that % well beca1ne his Handsome per son. or set up his easel and white um- brella on the green h front of the house and worked away fo1 time at clever little sketches of the queer old dwelling, the big buttonball tree and bits of sur rounding scenery. Soon these trifles be- gan to adorn Mother Rollins keeping room, being pinned against the wall paper. He had brought over all the new magazines, and they lay strewed about the table where his hat and rneerschaum pipe and walking stick and banjo often lay. and these additions to the old rustic room seemed to make 1t quite perfect from an artistic point of view.
 There had been no explanation be- tween Percy and Agnes. He had never asked question about her fathers fail- ure or the rupture with .Lord" Darcy, if such had taken place. She had never once alluded to his European travels and the quarrel that preceded them since their first meeting They seemed like two happy children. forgetful of the past and regardless of the future. content with the sunshine and delicious summer of the present. Agnes. in her brief visits to her mother in town on market days. had forgotten to mention Percy's pres ence in the country. and Mrs. Ransom as yet had not found her way to Scrabble Hill There was now g prospect of sav- ing a remnant of her husbands s fortune. and her hands were full of business.
 One day in early June. when the roses were coming out in the garden, and the strawberries reddening in rich profusion on the sunny slope, and the roadsides were white with elder and blackberry bloom, Agnes with her sewing, in a light summer gown and large shade hat, was seated in low ehair under the great buttonball, while Percy Fallon, near by, with his easel set up in the shade of the house, was calmly dabbing away at little sketch of some men load ing hay wagon in neighboring field. Phemy, who had been picking berries for market, was seen running up the hill, her hands and face stained with the ruddy juice. and her hair streaming be- hind her like red sunset cloud.
 '.Oh, miss," she gasped quite breath- less, "there's succus sure's you live comin up the road; may go an put on my new dress?'
 ! At that moment the tootings of a coach horn were heard. On the rise of the hill few rods from the house appeared four horses attached to a chocolate col ored coach. with yellow wheels and underbody. The horses were beautiful bays, perfectly matched, and trotting together with a musical rythm. The guard behind was in green and yellow livery of the correct English cut. "Lord" Darcy sat on the box seat hand- ling the ribbons, and beside him Mrs.. Ransom, draped in heavy widows weeds. Behind them were the sisters of Agnes and her sister-in-law, in fresh his fiddle case, and her two brothers. Charley and Will.
 As the coach drew up before the grass plot Agnes put down her work without embarrassment and stepped forward calmly to greet her guests. Her mother, who was by no means an agile person, took some instants to descend the ladder, and was received in the arms of Agnes. who kissed her affectionately; but Mrs. Ransom's lynx eye had flashed on Percy Fallon, where he sat with his back to the crowd, and continued tranquilly to daub away at the canvas before him.
 ''You sly, wicked girl" she whispered in her daughters ear, .'to think of your keeping this from me; and here is Teddy Darcy more in love with you than eyer., He has recently inherited an immense fortune from his Uncle Bingham, g crusty, miserly old bachelor, and has come to lay it at your feet along with his heart and hand"
 Agnes lifted her lovely eyebrowss>but turned at once to greet MT. Darc5 Aas he stood mopping his red face and surveying the scene.
 "It's what call deuced pretty. Miss Agnes, a wegular pawadise. and, as usual, the serpent is present. and he cast a look at Percy Fallon's back s'Tt was awfully eccentwic in you to come up here, but love eccentwicity. am ee- icentwic myself.
 Perhaps you are the angel with the sword, come to drive the invader out of the garden" said the sister-in-law, who was both firtatious and pert.
 "Deuced' hard job, murmured Darcy, surveying the artist through his single eyeglass; clocks as if he had wegularly camped down for life"
 Frank Haydock, meantime, tenderly carrying his fiddle case, had gone over to Fallon and given him friendly re- sounding slap on the back. The two men were old cronies united by the ar tistic sentiment.
 Awful glad to see you here on the in side track" whispered Frank. You know I was always your friend at court. hope you have made your winnings be- fore that saphead of Darcy could get a chance"
 "No," said Percy, with melancholy smile, as he put by his brushes, Eve talk of nothing here but incubating chickens, the price of butter per pound, live geese feathers, the best way to fatten turkeys, whether it pays to keep pigs on the soil in spite of the olfactory disgust. and how to tell good milk COW when you see her. No love making. assure you. should ruin my chances if ventured on that"
 Frank burst into great laugh.
 "Agnes is splendid girl" said he, ''and worth waiting for. if she is little high headed and self willed. She re- quires most delicate and careful angling, but I'll bet you. Percy, twenty to one that you'll land her yet.
 "No," said Percy, shaking his head, Il won't bet. for to tell you the honest truth think Darcy's chances at this mo ment are better than mine" ~
 .'Too modest by half. said Frank, as he strolled away humming a little love ballad.
 Fallon came forward now and greeted the ladies and bowed to Darcy, who had attached himself to Agnes side, evident ly with the design of staying there.
 Heavens. said Mrs. Ransom. whis- pering in her daughters disengaged ear.