Middletown transcript., 1892-03-10

bells, and the drowsy buzz of insects,
were all pleasantly suggestive. and
the merry talk and laughter at
the board, if rather loud and energetic
was something new and refreshing to
the slightly used-up Mr.. Vanceleigh.
He rather enjoyed leaning back in
his chair, idly putting the grape-like
clusters of red currents from their
stalks, watching the picturesque group
surrounding him, and joining in their
lively talk.
It was noticeable to one acquainted
with the nature of the man, that he
took very little notice of Margaret,
while his relations with the elder
girls we're frankly agreeable. It was
possible that, with the remembrance
of Fay Maybrooke still fresh upon
him, he was sufficiently magnanim GUS
to forbear exerting his fascination
upon this simple country girl. pleasant
pastime as would have been the win
ming and breaking of SO fresh and
tender heart.
Judith and Grace, he speedily
found, were rendered impervious to
bis tender glanoes, had he been mind
ed to bestow them on them, by the
simple fact that they were soon to
wed men whom they frankly and en-
tirely loved. and would have withered
him with the scorn in their wide,
black eyes, had they discovered him
trying to oust their bosoms' lords"
from their thrones.
As for Margaret herself. she was
shy child, and rarely lifted her hazel
eyes to the face of her fathers guest.
She was pretty creature, with the
delicate coloring of q sea-shell, form
scarcely yet rounded in the graceful
curves of early womanhood. and still
retaining the eyes and smile of q child.
Verify, Mr.. Vance Vanceleigh was
much to be commended for his gener-
Gus forbearance
Presently, the family meal being
ended, each Of the group separated to
his or her business, and Mr.. Vance-
leigh, being left to himself. strolled
round to a certain vine-screened corn
er in the garden, overlooking the sea,
where of late he had taken to smoking
his evening cigar. A little rustic
bench stood in the shadow of the
vines, and was at present occupied by
two very usual objects in country life
"a fat black kitten, between whose
mischievous paws lay ball Of blue,
homemade yarn, and partially fin-
ished sock, from which in its play il
had managed to extract one Of the
shining knitting-needles and which,
satisfied with its performance, now
lay blinking lazily at Mr.. Vanceleigh
who, putting at his cigar, came to the
rescue Of the sock, and had just sue
ceeded in detaching the yarn from the
tenacious claws of the kitten, when
the owner of the damaged work ap-
peared, and proved to be Margaret,
but no longer the silent, shy creature
of few minutes before.
Her brown eyes did not fall before
the welcoming glance of his, but res
turned the glance with one to the full
as tender.
The sock fell to the ground, and
taking her little hand in his. he drew
her down to the rustic seat.
Come at last. Margaret, he sale
tenderly stroking the short, child-likt
hair, and smiling one Of his danger
our smiles into her eyes.
The sun had by this time set, and
the thin crescent of the new moon
hung low in the sky, while the atmos-
phere and dimly flushed sea yet re-
tanned something of the glory of the
departed day.
A gently and melancholy wind
stirred the 1ine-leaves, and the Fate'
seemed indeed propitious for tht
favorable display Of Mr.. Vanceleigh''
fayorite accomplishment of Irritation
Well F! he had known this child fol
six short weeks, and in the
hollow of his cruel white hand he
held her heart. His nackeyed phrases
of tenderness, his honeyed words, had
done their work we'll. 1t would no,
have suited him that clear-eyed
Judith should, as Margaret proposed,
be admitted to their confidence, and
the progress of affairs had hitherto
been securely hidden from the family
Mr.. Vanceleigh did not possess any
considerable share Of courage, and he
held very just and well-grounded
idea that the Carne family would
probably fercely resent what he ment-
ally termed his pour passer le temps
intercourse with Margaret. Of course
it was nothing more. Before the
fields of grain yonder were ripe fol
the harvest, they would have parted.
assuredly, for ever and, while dim
visions of more than elysian happi-
ness were floating before the eyes Of
the happy girl, as she leaned silently
o.,;,,k hor lova,,a arro ~ ,,,..