The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21

having met her at Santa Clara. It's Just
as well not to begin with that here, for.
you see with large maternal manner)
you were both so young them"
Clarence drew quick breath. 1t was
the first check to his vision of independ-
ence and equal footing. Then his invita-
ton was not the outcome Of a continuous
friendship revived by Susy as he had
hoped; the Peytons had known nothing
of his meeting with her--or perhaps they
would not have invited him. He was
here as an impOstOr-and all because Susy
had chosen to make a mystery OF harm
less encounter, which might have been ex-
planned and which they might have even
counfenanced. He thought bitterly. of his
old playmate-fOr a brief mOment--as
brief as Mary's antagOnism. The young
girl noticed the change in his face, but
misinterpreted it.
"Oh, there's no danger of its coming out
If you don't say anything" she said
quickly. ride on to the house and don't
wait for me. You'll find them in the patio
on the veranda."
Clarence moved on, but not as spiritedly
dash enough about him and the animal he
bestrode to stir into admiration the few
lounging vaqueros of a country which was
apt to Judge the status of a rider by the
quality of his horse. Nor was the favor
able impression confined to them alone.
Peyton's qualification rang out cheerily in
his greeting: bravo, Clarence! YOU are
here in true caballero style! Thanks for
the compliment to the rancho" For a
moment the young man was transported
back again to his boyhood, and once more
felt Peyton's approving hand pushing
back the worn straw hat from his childish
forehead. A slight color rose to his cheeks,
highest art could have done no
more! The slight aggressivencss of his
youthful fnery and picturesque good looks
was condoned at once; his modesty con-
quered where self-assertion might have
provoked resistance, and even Mrs Pey-
ton felt impelled to come forward with an
outstretched hand scarcely less frank than
her husbands. Then Clarence lifted his
eyes. He saw before him the woman to
whom his childish heart had gone out
with the instrutabless longing and admira-
ton of a motherleSs, homeless. compan-
ionless boy; the woman who had absorbed
the love of his playmate without sharing
it with him; who had showered her pro-
tecting and maternal caresseS on Susy-a
waif like himself-yet had not only left
his heart lonely and desolate. but had ad-
ded To his own childish distrust of him.
self the thought that he had excited her
aversion. He saw her more beautiful than
ever in her restored health, freshness of
coloring and matured roundness OF outline:
admiration for her, without losing his
boyish yearnings and half filial affection:
in her new materialistic womanhood his
youthful Imagination had lifted her to a
queen and goddess. There was all this ap-
peal in his still boyish eyes-eyes that had
never yet known shame or fear in the ex-
preston of their emotions; there was all
this in the gesture with which he lifted
Mrs. Peyton's fingers to his lips. The lit
tie group saw in this act only a Spanish
courtesy in keeping with his accepted role
But thrill of surprise, of embarrassment,
of intense qualification passed over her.
He had not even looked at Susy.
Her relenting was graceful. She well
coined him with winning smile. Then
she motioned pleasantly toward Susy.
But here is an older friend, Mr.. Brant,
whom you do not seem TO recognize Susy
whom you have not seen since she was a
child"
A quick flush rose to Ciarence's cheek.
The little group smiled at this evident
youthful confession of some boyish attach
ment. Only Clarence knew that his honest
blood was resenting the deceit that his
| lips were sealed from divulging. He did
| not dare to glance at Susy; it added to the
| general amusement that the young girl
was Obliged to present herself. But in
this interval she had exchanged glances
| with Mary Rogers. who had rejoined the
| group. and she knew she was safe. She
| smiled with gracious condescens,on at
| Clarence, observed with the paSronizing
superiority of age and established position
that he had grown, but had not greatly
changed. and 1t is needless 10 cay again
| filled her mothers heart with Joy. Clsr-
ence. still intoxicated with Mrs. Peyton's
kindiiness. and perhaps still embarrassed
by remorse, had not time to remark
the girls studied attitude. He shook
hands with her cordially. and then.
in the quick reaction of youth. &C.
cepted with humorous gravity the elabor-
ated introduction TO Mary Rogers by
Susie which completed this little comedy.
And if with woman's quickness Mrs.
Peyton detected a certain lingering glance
which passed between Mary Rogers and
Clarence, and misinterpreted il. il WAS
only part of that mystitcation into
which these youthful actors are apt TO
throw their mature audiences.
Confess, Ally" said feyton cheeriuliy,
as the three young people suddenly found