Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-12-18
Was she

Craig looked at Lucy. Was she
laughing at him? His face grew warm
with the sudden, wretched suspicion
that she was.
After all he was not fool to think
for moment that she could care for
him! Of sudden he saw matters in
new and painful light.
If she had cared for him, would she
not have managed now and then that
they might see each other alone.
How rarely had that occurred-how
continually had that little nuisance OF
a nephew logged them! Had she con-
trived it? Had she made Reginald a
defense, guard against unwelcome
advances? He was all at once misera-
bly, certain of it.
He was warm with modification,
and cold at heart with keen unhappi-
NESTLE had been stupidity slow of
perception, that was all. But that
was thing which could be remedied.
He rose from the grass, and looked
down at Lucy Winslow with set smile.
"Well, I don't believe I know my
self what am trying to say, Regi-
nald,n he answered. ct needn't say
goodbye to you just now, Miss Wins
low, for I'll be off about Thursday, l
guess. and after month or SO at home
I expect to go out West on business
that will keep me there indefinitely,
imagine. I shall think of this summer
often, and with pleasure, I assure YOU"
He bowed and turned away.
He took himself and his bitterness
to his room. He felt that every hour
until Thursday would be period of
anguish; and he began to put things
into his trunk in heller SHELTER fashion.
He had half filed it when Reginald
walked IN, without knocking. He sat
down in the largest chair.
"Hon' he remarked, scoffingly, 'is
that the kind of trunk you got, with
cloth all over it? Mines got wooden
Stats on, and tin and brass nails. WHAT'S
that thing? Opry- glasses, amt it?-
Say, I'll you give 'em to me?"
eyes, take them," said Craig, YEARLY.
Reginald spent several minutes in
examining objects in the room through
the glasses, for which he saw fit to
return no thanks.
"Say," he observed, presently turn
ing upon Craig, "she's crying. That
is what I come to tell you. I thought
mebbe you'd like to know"
"Who's crying?" demanded Craig.
His heart stood still.
"Aunt Lucy's crying" said Reginald.
"She began to cry soon's you turned
round, most. I told her some one
would see her, but she didn't stop, and
I wasn't going to stay there and her
blubbering, an I thought I'd come up
and tell YOU" Reginald looked up with
his angelic blue eyes and his cherubic
smile. "Say, Pm going to see what's
in that plush box, Arthur. You care?
Craig strobe from the room. Then
got down the stairs two at time, and
rushed around to the red and-blue
hammock between the two shady oak
trees.
''you are not-you cannot be crying
because Pm going away.
There was hot flush in the fearful
face she raised to him.
"Oh, Lucy" he implored, don't be
ashamed Of it! If you are crying about
me, don't you know I am the happiest
man on earth? was so certain you
didn't care for me, and had tried to
ward me off with-with Reginald, you
know, because he was forever around.
But If you can cry because am going
away, Lucy, then [ can finish what I
was trying to say to you. You know
what it was"
Lucy caught sobbing breath.
sBut you are going out West!" she
faltered.
eyes, and you with mel" he retorted.
Nobody was near them, and he sat
down beside her, his hand warmly
clasping hers.
CHOW did you know was crying?"
Lucy inquired, suddenly, after ten
minutes of glowing happiness.
"Reginald came and told me. Regi
maid is trump" said Craig ga jewell"
''There he comes,o said Lucy. ooh,
Arthur, he's your smoking jacket on!"
e'It's my bath robe" Craig respond
ed, with the composure of a perfect,
allsatisfying beatitude. 81 don't mind
it in the least.'