Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-12-29
WOODBURY.. n J. THURSDAY DECEMBI3R %. 1892.

would DO very well for Maud when
Geraldine was gone There she was
Maud, not Geraldine Oh tho
top step waiting for him as he almost
ran up the garden walk.
How do you do.H She said shyIv ag
she ushered him into She drawing room.
Il will go and tell Geraldine you are
here.
He was delighted. Could ANYTHING
have been more thoughtfglf But, oddly
enough, she did not 90. She Sat down,
on the contrary, and began lingering a
s'chair back neryously.
ut is fine day she said, and then
stopped
"Hang it!' he thought. = meant to
tell Geraldine the news first, but there's
no harm in beginning with her
50 he began, pulling out his official
letter TO show her
~ have come, Miss Oakley, to tell
you some news ana ask You To congrat-
ulate me.
WHAT She exclaimed, are YOU
engaged 10 be mar
"Oh, not he answered, mot exactly
that Is, not yet-in fact I mean not
exactly I.
And he got very red, and so, curiouslv
enough, Gid She. She looked very pretty
blushing, and with her lower lip culver
ing little. Geraldine was not SO prettv
as Maud, lie admitted to himself as he
looked at her; but 50 much the better
Geraldine would le all the less likely to
fiirt, if, that Is, there was any one at
Government House to fiirt with.
No, he said; its the appointment i
told you Eor was it your sisterg) my uncle
was trying to get for ane-the very thing
! have Been wanting.
And he proceeded to paint the charms
Of the new career opening before him iii
glowing colors. he said nothing about
the quinine. When he came to an end
Of all the details She was sitting. with
an expression Of deep interest, looking
at him, and he felt chat had she only
been Geraldine the very moment would
have arriTed--that precise opportunity.
not always easy to obtain, particularly
III small villa. And 81, lie said.
feeling he must bring his tale to a CON
clusion and give heran excuse for going
to fetch her sister ana 81, Miss Oak
ley, leave Bunborougn very soon, and
have come to say goodby.'
'.Good-good- boohcor
She did not hit the precise note which
had startled Hiss Graysons visitor, but
the effect on him was even more electri-
flying,
Ny GodE' he lnurmured.
"Boo-hco, boo-hoo-o" And she
buried her head i'll the sofa cushions.
For minute ho said nothing; lis first
inartieulate entreaty to her died on his
lips before her storm Of grief, 50 lie bit
his must@che iii silence. Then the front
door slammed. Miss Geraldine Oakley
was going out ior y walk, totally I'M
aware OF his arrival Could lie stop
herr He could hardly open the window
and shout. He moved toward the draw
ing room door, but he had to pass the
sofa, and as he Gid so the girl on it rose,
as ii she. too, half dazed, was seeking i
way Of escape, and as their hands mel
on the door handle she sank sobbing
into his arms.
Don't, don't. size Whispered, hardly
a1licufalng, Dat DO val doing nothing
from which he conld desist, FOR he
could scarcely let her drop on the floor.
Good Goa!' said Captain Jumpison
again; will no one Gomez But the
house was still, and ha reflected that
perhaps II was as wei that no oae
should come in at that precise juncture
at all events, not without warning
and SO there was another pause, broken
only by her sobs. He could see her SIS
ter through the muslin blinds; She was
looking over the garden gate talking to
some one. Would size change her mind
and bring whoever it was III to ted: Ii
she did Maud would surely hear them
entering the house and retreat. Bu5
( Geraldine stood talking lit the gatc.
Only the rector wore high hat at Bun
borough-by-the-Sea and DIR. Coverdale.
"Cliekr went tie garden gate az Ger
aldine passed into the sunny roadway.
s'BoohO9! 1t was a very gentle one
this time from somewhere near Iis
watch pocket.
Click went the garden gate as 1t
swung back on its hinges.
And Captain Jnmpison surrendered
at discretion. st. James Budget.