The Press., 1891-12-10


 never before looked so beautiful The pure country air and simple living had deepened her bloom. made her eye brighter, her hair more lustrous. slightly filled and rounded the exquisite lines of her form. Teddy Darcy was not in the habit of taking much trouble in love af-
 fairs, but he was so well convinced that
 Agnes would have aTtunning effect on
 coach, in an opera box or in ball
 room he was disposed to struggle for the
 prize. ..Confound that color slinger."
 he said to himself, "I can't contwive
 what women see in such poor devils to
 admire"
 Mra Bruce, one of Agnes married tion over the house. She now got up,
 with her coffee cup in her hand. and ap-
 preached Fallon, who was 4ounging about rather disconsolately with his
 hands in his pockets. Those sketches
 Of yours in the keeping room are perfect
 gems, said she; ''they turn the quaint
 old place into bower of beauty"
 ..Oh. by the way, Fallon." drawled
 Darcy, ..what would you take for the
 lot7 Isuppose you don't object to turn a penny?
 s.More than you could pay said Fai- lon, turning on his heel. Those sketches are not for sale.
 Fl should like to correct that chaps bad manners" said Darcy. turning to Mrs. Ransom.
 "Agnes. whispered the lady to her daughter. II am afraid Darcy means to pick quarrel with Percy Fallon." .sWell, let him." returned the incor- rigible Agnes. II haven't any doubt as to who would win.''
 Frank Haydock, seeing the situation was little strained. took his beloved violin out of it's case and began to tight | en and tune the strings. "Come, Fall lon," said he, II saw your banjo in there
 on the table; let us play few jigs for the girls to dance"
 The proposition was met with delight ed outcries on the part of the young women; and in trice the coffee cups
 and strawberry dishes were hurried
 away, and chairs moved back on the greensward Burns had cut the grass that morning. and the turf was smooth and elastic to the feet. "Come, mother, you must open the
 ball with me-" cried Will Ransom, and he led out the unwilling lady by main force. The others paired off as they
 could. Darcy taking Agnes. with look
 Percy Fallon.
 "Well, l never," said Mrs. Burns, peeping round the corner of the house; "l guess the folks that pass on the road will think we've opened an insane asy- lum."
 It was pretty sight. though. the mer- ry party led by Will and his unwilling mother, who had been forced into the fun, all jigging delightedly to the in spiring music. Phemy, determined not to be excluded from the good time, steps in one corner of the grass plat till
 her hair was blown wildly about and her blue gingham stood out like balloon. Darcy. meantime, had found occasion to draw Agnes aside under the button ball and to breath q few tender words into her ear.
 "You are not in love with me, MT. Darcy" said she, fixing her truthful, searching eyes on his face. You are in love with totally different person." "And whom may it be2' said Ransom. protesting against the imperious sus- picion.
 If had mirror. Mr. Darcy. could show you"
 You are unfeeling. Miss Ransom,
 outwageously unfeeling: and it's deuced
 hard to be accused of loving myself bet ter thanEhe dearest girl in the world" "But why" asked Agnes. with pecul- far little smile, ..'did you desert me at the moment when it was generally sup posed you were going to ask my hand in
 marriage-the very moment. too, as it happened when papa died bankrupt, and we were sorely in need of kind.
 helpful friendy
 "It wasn't my fault. Miss Ransom. swear it wasn't. It was my grand mother. She held the purse string then,
 and close enough, too, and she made a
 WOW about my attentions to you. Grand mothers may be troublesome old parties,
 but what are you going to do when they have the whip hand of fella2 It's deuc- edly unpleasant to have your supplies cut off, even if you are head and ears in
 love with ghnrl But now l am my own master. Uncle Jabez has, so to speak, Miss Ransom. passed in his checks."
 ''So am my own mistress" said Ag-
 nes proudly, tsand we stand on an exact equality" and with this enigmatical speech she walked away.