The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-01-09

| Il don't see, ma'am, how he can make 1t
seem right" she said, turning away, with dis
approval written on every feature, and from
that day it was very evident that John had
fallen from the high place that he had hither-
to held in the estimation of this honest soul.
During the summer cousin from the city
came to visit US. She was a dainty little
lady, and her soft voice and pleasant ways
soon won AIMS heart. She was just re.
covering from a severe illness, and for several
days after her arrival she wore close fitting
nrincesse wrapper of some soft gray wooden
goods, with no trimmings except double
row of smoked pearl buttons down the front.
The perfect plainness of the garment attract
ed Ann at once, and it was good to see the
admiration with which she watched the slight
trim figure.
But on Sunday Helen came down wearing
a white muslin. For the style of dress then
| in vogue nothing could have been more sim
pie but the deep ruffle that bordered the
skirts made Anne look at her askance.
| lis Miss Helen a professor, ma'am-9" she
asked that afternoon, as Helen, under the
shade of blue parasol, took Johns arm for
stroll on the beach.
eyes," lsaid; "she is a member of DR..
| -s church, and teaches in the Sun
day school,"
"And yet" said Ann, slowly, "she wears
founces!"
ut was very seldom that Ann asked for "a
day out" Her father and mother were dead,
and she had few acquaintance that she cared
| to visit; but she never seemed to feel the lack
of companionship. If she CHANGED to have a
| few spare moments in the morning she was
usually to be found seated on the wood pile,
engaged either with her knitting or in read
ing her Bible, choosing that prosaic spot evil
IDENTIFY for the sake of being near the kitchen;
but her favorite resort in fair weather, when
| work was over for the afternoon, was Owl
Rock, an isolated bowlder just outside the
garden fence, the garden sloping almost to
the waters edge
| And was so plain and practical that we won
dered at her fondness for this romantic out
| look, but neighbor one day gave US posi-
| BILE clew to the mystery.
"a good girl, but little queer" he said,
tapping his forehead. "Her young man went
off to sea two or three years ago, an amt
never been heard FROM"
ITO think of Ann Dorner's having loved
and lost !" said to John.
at only proves" replied John, "that the
humblest lives may have their romances and
their tragedies"
Whatever the motive was that took Ann
80 often to Owl Rock, whether she went to
watch for the return of her lover or merely
| to read and mediate, promptly, as rule, at
o'clock she came back to the kitchen to
prepare supper. But one afternoon, for the
first time, che was little late and was on
the point of starting out TO call her when !
saw her coming through the garden, attended
by broad shouldered, sturdy looking young
fellow, whose rolling gait at once revealed
the fact that he was sailor.
It was easy to see that Ann was happy,
and suddenly made the discovery that she
was something more than pretty. In place
OF her sun bonnet she wore three cornered
handkerchief tied under her chin. The
wind had roughtened the hair about her fore
head and her cheeks seemed to have caught
their color from the red glow in the vest
She carried her Bible in her hand, and with
her shining face she looked at the moment, in
her plim dark gown, like sort OF trans
| figured nun.
When they reached the door step the young
man said good night and hurried back to the
| beach.
"It's Jason, ma am" Ann explained, as she
came into the house. II hadn't seen him for
most three years, an that's what made me
late. We used 10 be friends" she added,
shyly.
| Nearly every afternoon for the next fort
night Jason Joined her at Owl Rock.
Ann during these days went about her
work with preoccupied air.
one morning, as she was busting the dining
room, "That you'd like to be Missionary
confessed to have had in my younger
days a vague aspiration in that direction.
"Oh, l think it would be beautiful said
the girl Jason has been tellin' me about
an island he's been to; they were ship
wrecked there; that's why he was gone so
long, an the people are all heather: told
Jason it was shame somebody didn't 60 out
there an teach 'em. Do you 'spose sailors
wife would have any chance to do that sort
of work, ma'am? You know sometimes the
ships stop there for water"
Before could answer her John called to
ne from his sanctum, and the subject did not
come up again, but guessing the trend OF
AIMS thoughts began to school myself to
the thoughts of losing her.
A day or two later, however, the girl came
back from Owl Rock alone.
"He's gone, ma'am," she announced grave
ly.
"Gone r I cried. "Why, Ann, thought
you were going to marry him."
Ann shook her head.
"No, I'M can't. He's too worldly mind
ed. He smokes, an always when he's ashore
he wants to wear-starched buzsoms."
"But what of that. Ann, if you love him :"
said
ALI GILL Utgdu W QulfCl. IL Wo5 o piCt-
ty, sensitive chin. "That's Just it, ma'am
love him too WE'LL" she said brokenly. 81
don't dare I'm afraid he'd be stumblin'
block TO me-"
There was nothing more to be said. Jason
had sailed that afternoon, and there the mat
ter rested.
We had expected to go back to town in
the town in the fall, but John became so in
fatuated with this, calm retreat that we de.
cided to take the house for another year, and
to our supreme satisfaction Ann agreed to
remain with US.
Meanwhile Cousin Helen had made su
another visit and Ann, though she still griev.
ed that any one so good and lovable as Miss
Helen should be guilty of wearing founces,
became again her ardent admirer. In fact,
so:great was Helen's influence over her that
that she eventually prevailed upon her to wear
u white apron and linen collar. The i'm
provement made in her appearance by these
simple adjuncts was delight to the eye, and
though at first she wore them evidently under
protest, regarding them still as 'vanities of
the world" her love for Helen finally con-
quered all scruples, and the apron and collar
came to be regarded as an indispensable part
of her toilet.
Jason had gone on ten months cruise,
and as the time drew near for the ships re-
turn Ann grew restless and absent minded.
She went oftener to Owl Rock, and more than
once she became so absorbed in watching the
far off sails as to forget when o'clock came.
This went on for several weeks and then
one morning she blushingly informed me
that Jason was home again.
"But you ought not to let him keep on |
coming to see you, Ann" 1 said, "ifyou are
not going to marry him."
"But perhaps I can do him some good
ma'am," said the girl, gravely. HE hasn't
any folks of his own, you know, to help
him." |
Poor deluded Ann A week or two later, |
with much hesitation and embarrassment, she |
succeeded in telling me that she had renewed |
her promise TO Jason.
"And you are really going to marry him,
Amir" I exclaimed, sorry chiefly on my |
own account.
"Well, you see. a'am, he's agreed TO give |
up smokin' an'-an'-"
Sand starched bossms," l ventured to add,
hoping to help her out.
"Well, no m" said Ann, in wavering |
voice "Maybe I've been too yiedin' but |
SEEM I've taken to wearin' starched collars |