The McCook tribune., 1892-07-29
THE SECOND COURTSHIP.

The soft. hazy glow of early sum.
mer was in the air; the white lilies
of the big. old-fashioned garden at
Mordaunt Grange. tossed their royal
heads in the scented gale. and the
wild Strawberries were beginning to
crimson all the slopes. A square. an
tique old house, with red brick gables
and sheets of glistening green ivy.
draping every point and angle it
seemed capacious enough for host
George Medford.
The solitary squire of Mordaunt
Grange was walking on his lawn,
under the feathery shadow of the
dropping elms. his cigar leaving a
blue trail of scent and vapor where
ever he passed.
He was past thirty tall and we'll
moulded, with Il bronze brown hair.
hazel eyes. and square-cut kindly
face-not handsome-yet very pleas
ant to look upon.
At an early age he had been left
utterly dependent upon his own re-
sources. At twenty. he had commit
ted the usual folly of youth-in fall
ing madly in love with a dark eyed
girl. who had come to his native
village. brimful of New York airs
and graces. visiting some school
friend-and had been scornfully re-
jected; and at twenty-one he had
gone to India to hew out his own
fortunes.
Fortune however forestalled him;
and when old George Mordaunt of
Mordaunt Grange. died. and left all
his estates and wealth to his young
cousin, Medford found the labor of his
life completed, almost without an ef-
fort on his part.
He was musing over all these things
as he walked on the daisy-spangled
lawn at Mordaunt Grange rich man
and solitary man, and likewise a
man d aftlicted with dire visitation of
ennui.
Il suppose he thought. i must
marry and settle down. as other coun-
try gentlemen do and build up a
home and hopes and aspirations for
half-sad smile came over his face,
what has become of Sophy Knee
land-pretty Sophy. with the spark
ling gray eyes and pink. satin cheeks.
and hair that always would twist it.
self into curls! I was very much in
love with Sophy once. Well so runs
the world away! 1 was poor and
obscure then. and am rich now. with
the prestige OF Mordaunt Grange sur
rounding me; and Sophy is married to
some stock broker and wears her
diamonds and cashmere shawls.''
Yet there was an unwonted softness
in eye and face as he remembered the
light of those marvellous gray eyes.
which had been his beacon stars for
so long.
Il think" he pondered. ''Sophy
Kneeland did fancy me after certain
fashion; but she was a cOquette, both
by nature and education. She was a
city belle; was nothing but raw
country youth. We should meet on
more even grounds now, if"
And then Mr.. George Medford sud-
denly became aware that in the earn
estness of his reverie he had allowed
his cigar to go out
AS he stood there. leaning against
the moss covered trunk of huge
cedar tree older by half century
than himself. with the picturesque
gables of the porters lodge rising
out of miniature thicket of dense
growing evergreens just beyond
savage growl of Leo. the huge New
foundland dog. sounded ominously on
the air. and child's cry of appre-
hension echoed it. Medford stepped
forward.
down Leo.' he said. laying his
hand on the dogs collar. and per-
ceiving at the same instant an elfin-
like child, with great gray eyes and
hair blown all about her face, while
upon one arm she carried a covered
basket
'.Are you the gentleman OF this
place?" she asked still eyeing Leo
rather obviously. as if she was not
quite certain whether he might not
yet break away from his restraining
chain.
"Yes 1 am" Medford answered.
did you wish to see me?'
She came frankly and freely toward
him.
please buy some of my shells -
she said. My uncle brought them
from Madagascar. We bad them in
a cabinet before papa lost ali his
money and died; and people used to
say how pretty they were. Will lou
buy someP"
To Medford this was a novel way of
soliciting patronage. She sat down
on the sloping bank
LET me look at them" said he
YOU'RE sure the dog won't run at
me aga1n?' she asked. somewhat IT,
resolutely,
Not while l am here"
As If reassured by this she came to
him, and, kneeling on the soft green
at his feet began to seek out her I'D
tie stock in trade and arrange it 10 tne