Middletown transcript., 1893-09-09

admon1shed the maid TO take ner
once to her mamma, and thanked mi
with many bows and fiourishes.
We exchanged cards.
The next day l called to inquire fol
Mademoiselle, and was greeted al
though I were an old friend; in fact,
became an intimate at the cottage, ant
soon learned the history of its inmates
The old gentleman was Monsieur
Vernet, the second husband of the
young lady's mother. Both ladies were
country women. The younger bore the
name of Lefty Linnet.
I should have thought it someone's
rather affected nom de plume, had
not known its owner. But she, though
rather romantic, very delicate, and not
by any means what had hitherto be.
lieved to be my feminine ideal. was Sc
| pure and lovely, SO mysteriously charm
ing, that admired even her name.
l was attracted to her as never yet
had been to any girl, and it was not
long before | knew that must let her
know it. Many happy hour did l
spend in the little arbor under the
trees, or in the garden, rich with roses,
or the parlor, where Lefty sang to us
to the accompaniment of her stepfath-
er's guitar, before summoned courage
or found opportunity to speak to her;
but at last the chance came.
There was a fine old castle in the
neighborhood, with which historical
associations were connected.
cannot remember what they we're
but it had immense ground about it,
where the public were permitted to
ramble.
One afternoon, having had the good
fortune to lose the amiable Monsieur
and Madam Ve.net in the course Of our
walk, induced Lefty to seat herself
with me upon a bench beside an old
fountain, and there told her all l felt
and hoped.
She listened to me, leaving her hand
in mine; but when 1 had ceased to
speak she seemed to hesitate for awhile
and then spoke, gently, Before | an
swer you, Mr.. Deering, l ought to iell
you something. You say that you
have never loved before. have"
She sighed as she spoke, but when !
took her hand again in mine she did not
forbid me.
'.If that love is-a thing of the past.
I said, "why should it matter? Is
it?n
She once more hisitaled, lifted her
eyes to mind, cast them down again,
aud answered Il cannot say"
''Do you mean that you do not wish
to sayp" l asked.
No. she replied. Under the cir
cumstauces ought 10 be perfectly can
did with yuu. Ii depends on some-
thing shall never b5 sure ab int. II
duD't Know my duiy-or rather, ]
hli.k VII tea ,an The whole truth" !"
"Do,' said.
'.Six years ago, when l was seven
leen," id Lefty, mamma, Who had
been a widow long lime, married
Monsieur Veruel. To pass the honey
moon they went into the country and
stopped at an hotel, an old family MAN.
sion, very quaint and curious, with old
furniture in all tha rooms.
s'Well, we we're there" continued
Lefty, s'and my stepfather-dear old
gentlemanl-was wrapped up in his
own happiness and l was left to do
pretty much as I chose. used to
take book and sit on the bank of the
river under a green tree and feel a
little dull; and so, when one of the
boarders, who was very fond of fishing,
used to bring his rod very near that
bank, found it company"
mo doubt" l said. feeling rather
angry.
'.Ee used to fish and l used to read
at frst,' . resumed Lefty, ''but after a
while he began to"
"Began to make love to you," l said,
finishing the sentence she had begun.
"Yes," said Lefty, "and he was
charming"
"Ahl" 1 said.
mot young" replied Lefty; "about
forty"
I felt somewhat relieved.
"a little bald," she added'' bit it
was becoming; and he was such an
agreeable person to talk with. | fell
in those days sense Of loss in regard
to mamma. She had right to marry,
of course, but still"
Il understand, said l.
"And | felt glad To find someone
who always wanted me; ana when one
day he proposed-by letter. accepted
him."
l dropped her hand.
"Of course, as he wrote, l had to
write also," proceeded Lefty. 81 &C,
certed him, and when the note was
written, | called little waiter and told
him to take it to Mr.. Whitmore, and
saw the boy open the door of the room
that was his and go in; and, of course,
I expected that he would come to me
by the river, as usual, next morning,
but he did not. l did not see him that
day or The next; on the third he left the
hotel. After he was gone, looked at
my offer again, and found that had
| missed the DoSt ScriDt. which was on the