Middletown transcript., 1893-01-28

sense. ne continued, as Hastings DIRE,
back. ''You must come. Well shoy
these people that we don't care a ra
what they say about US. They can de
ny the engagement, and at the sam
time say that you are spending you
time at the Lawrence threshold. Wha
better way could there be to stop tn
evil tongnes2 Come now, get in, ant
forthwith Hastings was hustled int,
the wagon. 1t was not an enviable po
sition-but yet, not so bad if she would
understand.
"You were going TO deny the report
eh?" asked Mr.. Lawrence, suddenly,
throwing a train of reflection off tht
track. ''How did you hear about it p
Exactly thirteen copies from thir.
teen considerate persons reached me-
yesterday morning." answered Frank,
$50 deemed it advisable to come out
and if necessary, lick the editor"
Mr.. Lawrence gave vent to hearty
laugh-then suddenly checked himself.
Frank" he said, s'go in and winl
I'll back you'll She's good girl but
obstinatel You're bashfull Try it
againl''
The young lady received him gra-
ciously. She was even glad to see him,
he imagined, and when her father told
of his blood-thirsty desire she laughed
right merrily. But she was the same
in her manner-evidently unchanged in
her mind-and not even the proverbial
straw came along. He sat opposite to
her at lunch and discussed life with all
the graphicness of an actual liver
whereas lie had really only existed
la ely He said lots about nothing. For
IA little while after lunch the proud
man conquered, and then lie grew 81
dull aud gloomy that Miss Lawrence
vas obliged Ia flee fr"m IA prospect i've
tetr-a-ietr and leave l,Inl la he tender
inrrcies of her fal her, v llo took him
out 1" lock al The rev chicken house.
They played tennis later un-wilh
two dragons walchful of each move
ment. Mamma had been taken into
confidence, and papa against his will
WAS forced into acting the part of
dlagon-but lie tried 10 sleep when
mamma wasn't looking. Then they
SET upon the piazza after tea with the
dragons in attendance-one as sleepy
as usual and the other vigilant. AS
they parted for the evening, Frank an
nounced his intention of returning
home on the morrow. The old gentle
mans objections had not the least ef
feet upon him, though he would gladly
have surrendered at a single word from
Dorothy. Mrs. Lawrence, however,
had something to say.
mo, Frank was her remark, ''it
would be better to stay. We we're go
ing to Mrs. Poindexter's to tennis
party tomorrow, and seeing you driv-
ing this morning she has sent word for
you to come. took the liberty Of ac-
cepting for you. You can laugh all
congratulations off and get ahead of
the paper. People won't talk so much
if you come with US instead of seeming
to run away. If you should go now
they might say something unpleasant. -
Mrs. Lawrence put it very nicely, for
there was not the least doubt but what
they would gossip great deal, and out
of courtesy for his friends Frank
thought be ought to stay.
''Thank you," whispered Dorothy.
That night lie slept very little-think-
ing of the whisper. He arose early the
next morning and sauntrred to the
edge of the lake just outside the
grounds-w where he met the person of
his thought. Dorothy was seated in
boat, and greeting her, Frank got iii
also and pushed out.
81 am an old fool ,'he said suddenly.
.In what particular way 2'she asked,
looking at him.
Hastings laughed. "Oh. in coming
to BrightvilIe to see Mr.. Harkins and
then not seeing him. l did 50 long to
get at him.
''Yes2' she answered, with a rising
information. Don't you think it just
as well you met papa2"
"Of course" he assented, "other-
wise l shonld not have been here,
but
.'Then you are mol glad to be here
you would rather have seen Mr.. Har-
kips?''
Frank looked at the girl, who was
bending over the side of the boat run
ming her hand through the water.
"What is the satisfaction of being
here?" he asked, bitterly. ut is
continual misery, but came for your
sake, at your fathers sugge: tiun, to
stop the tongues Of the people. Idon't
care what they say about me, but with
you-with you it is different.
'sIs itp" she replied, absently.
Frank was particularly astounded for
the moment-then he dropped the oars
and leaned over to the gill-
dorothy" lie said, dorothy, was
Halkins prophet?'
About II O'Clock that morning, Mr..
Matthew Harkins was astounded TO see
MIR. Hastings and Miss Lawrence drive
up the office. He didn't axaclly know
what to think, but he determined to
make the best Of it.
Good morning, Mr.. Hastings, was
tbe editors greeting, as the young man
INF arad