The record-union., 1893-05-13


then you needn't plume yourself too
much on your constancy, because you
were in Borneo, it seems nearly all the
time, and | suppose the young ladies in
that Interesting island were not very
serious rivals to poor Adelaide. How
deed If you'll only go away and write
| your book in some other quiet village.
And then you can think of her as badly
as you like.''
They had reached the point where their
ways parted, and Miss Gray turned off
abruptly, not wishing to give him the
chance of replying. But she faced round
again to say quickly:
Remember, DR.. Wilson, Tve had my
troubles, and they have left me hopeless
old maid"
The Doctors first impulse was to be
angry with Miss Gray as a meddlesome
intruder, but her closing words touched
MN with compunctiop, and he only saw
In her evidently wellmeant interference
a fresh proof of Adelaide's weakness.
She hadn't even been able to keep his Sc
cret! he meditated much on the advice
ne had received, and tried to make up his
mind to leave Knagford forthwith. To
remain was torture-the heavy, dull pain
OF disappointment, goaded by constant
pin-pricks of mo'lentary irritation. That
eternal Mr.. Chessall. with his constant
! thirst for miscellaneous Information
| about your wonderful discoveries in
that interesting island" and his absurd
tone OF exaggerated deferehce. And then
| to feel obliged to watch him walking or
sitting with Adelaide, and to note his
proud air of proprietorship; Mrs. Lii
| burne, too, had hit him hard once or
twice. Her maternal pride over the ap-
preaching nuptials was hard to bear-she
| ielt so pleased that dear Adelaide would
not go away from Knagford-it was such
| q "a 10 tnh ,nl,
attached to each other, and she had seen
| 1t coming on for long time before they
were actually engaged, etc., etc.
DIR. Wilson's reflections drove him up
to Mrs. Lilburne's on the afternoon of the
next day. He was determined TO see
Adelaide once more alone, and then-to
be guided by circumstances. One pas
sionate appeal might win his caae, and if
not, then he would chose some Tyrolese
or Swiss mountain hight, where he could
work hard at his book, and where ma
lures grandness might help to make him
forget feminine tickleness. He was so
eager for prompt decision that he was
very disappointed when he reached the
| cottage to find that Adelaide and her
mother had gone to Plymouth for the
day. The reflection that this errand had
probably some relation to the approach
ing event was an additional evaporation.
He moved slowly away from the door,
| anu Ineu, leu Dy d SuuucH lIlp pulse, IurneU
toward the little harbor in the garden.
He wanted to look once more at the place
where he had taken his final farewell of
Adelaide, five years before. 1t had been
her tavorite haunt, and he sighed pro-
foundly as he thought of II. AS he
reached the entrance, he saw the place
was not untenanted. 4 tall girl was sit
ting with a book before her, intently
reading. 1t was Maud Lilburne, and DR..
! Wilson saw that she was not aware of his
presence. He stood quite still for few
! seconds watching her. Maud, with clear
cut features, seen in profile, her long
| lashes dropping d little, and her youthful,
rounded figure bending little forward,
made very pretty picture framed in the
green of the foliage. One ray of sun
| light, struggling through the leaves,
! lighted up the gold of her hair. DR.. Will
son gazed for few seconds, and then
| sigh betrayed him. Maud looked up and
! let her book fall in astonishment. But
| though surprised, she was not at all en-
| barrassed to see the unexpected intruder
on her solitude: there were no signs of
confusion discernible behind the frank
smile with which she greeted him.
~ see you haven't forgotten your way
to our arbor," she said. The creepers
| have grown, and it is much better hidden
than it used to be. Do you remember"
she continued, as they strolled back
! toward the garden, 'helping me with my
! German in there? You explained to me
| all about the separable verbs, and when l
used to write my exercises, and had to
remember the rules, 1 always thought of
you" .-.r.
"What dreadfully dull association %
DIR. Wilson said lightly.
perhaps il is" she said, "but it is bet
! ter than none. l notice that you have
completely forgotten me-"
| DIR. Wilson made an emphatic dis
/ n ot HI
searchingly.
"Tell me-" she said, lone single thing
you can remember about me-"
| DIR. Wilson hesitated for some time, and
| then said:
"You used to be fond of climbing trees
and sitting on the branches"
Maud blushed slightly, and then
laughed.
You might as well have forgotten that.
| But the last time l climbed a tree was on
my twelfth birthday. Let me have some
more of your "reminiscences"
You had a little strip of garden of
your own" the doctor continued, 'and L
| planted young plum-tree Tor you"
"Oh, you're beginning to remember
things" Maud said brightly. But you
are not exactly right; for there are pears
growing on your plum-tree. Come and
| see them"
The tour round the garden lasted only
| GSL VI dA AOuIy dIlu GHeil IT. w IL
! son walked back slowly to his inn,
thinking as he went of the young lady he
had just left. How beautiful she was, and
! how frank and unsophisticated. Smiles
| strayed over his face as he mentally
| catalogued her perfections. Then
he thought of Adelaide, and became
appropriately gloomy again. His
after all. Then he remembered that he
had promised Maud to play lawn-tennis
with her at forthcoming party, and so
would be obliged TO stay in Knagford for
nearly another week.
CHAPTER ".
Two days after her friendly counsel
and advice to DR.. Wilson Miss Gray left
knagford and was away about month.
| When she got back her first visit was to
Mrs. Lilburne's. She had good deal to
| talk about, for she had been to town and
| visited the academy, and noticed the toll
| cts at a great garden party, and Mrs.
| Lilburne was curious on many points,
| and for an hour or two after lunch was
| over the conversation continued Then
Miss Gray escaped with her friend to the
| seclusion of the garden arbor. They sat
| for little while in silence, and then Ad
| elaide said suddenly:
Laura, wish l could tell you how
miserable L am"
Miss Gray's glance expressed her sym
pathy.
HAS anything happened?" she asked
| oubtfully.
Nothing" Adelaide replied, ''but he
| is still in hnagford."
Has he spoken to you again?" Miss
| Gray demanded.
NO" Adelaide replied, 'he has not
! had the opportunity. 1 have avoided
till people are beginning to wonder what
! the matter can be- He OOes ayarvwhere