The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-05-04
beautiful. but he felt instinctively that

she had Il humane heart under her
bodice. In reply, therefore, to her
charmingly lisped Can we offer YOU
shelter, sirT' he poured out his plaint
There was an elderly, dark-eyed and
hard-faccd woman in the gloom Of n
passage behind. and the night cap on
her bead at once made Mark regard
her as an enemy. But as he sat on a
chair in the little room, numbered with
millinery into which he had been lnvlt
ed. and watched the play of the girls
face. Mark knew that he had gained
an ally.
He sat in patience while the girl
opened and carried on II lengthy con
versatlon with the night-cappcd lady
MY aunt says, sir" observed the
girl at length. that IL you will excuse
the confusion she shall give You IL
room"
Another look into the gray eyes
and all Marks sciuples fled.
Il cannot tell you how relieved
feel, he said, with genuinely CRATE
full ring to his voice. as he followed
the girl into chamber nine feet
square. The prlm nOrse-haired furniture
of which was disguised under its coat
of dust.
pointing to the portrait of broad
shouldered man in black, with kind
" expression on his somewhat shaggy
face, and with roll of paper in his
hand. as IL 1t were n truncheon. And
that" indicating sour-mouthcd min
lister on the other side of the room.
"iss my fathers brother Uncle Owen"
What must l call YOU" asked Mark,
when his pretty deliverer brought him
his tea and sat down to see him eat 1t.
"Mv name? oh, It ISIS Claudia Row
lands-I am generally called Claudia :
! like it bcst-and Mrs. Gritfiths here
is my aunt. You see it iss the hiring
time. and she iss so busy then that
one of uss. my sister or me, comes to
help her with the shop-it iss amusing.
toor
His second day in Aberenllyn did
but confirm his earlier impressions
about this Welsh girl. He saw her
now in her role of busy worker, doing
everything that came in her way. and
doing 1t all with the most winsome
cheerfulness.
He dincd on tinred Salmon of an
Indifferent brand; but Claudia served
it. and at his request shared 1t with
him. She was not bit troubled at
being asked to dine with him, but
there was just coupcon of Difference
in her manner. which made her all
the more charming.
Then she again took up her bonnctS
and continued to run between the shop
and Mr.. Parlington's room till even
Marks obdurate nature yearned In
pity for her.
"Will you not come out with me?'
he asked.
She excused herself with smile
The bonnets and her aunt We're her
plea: but Mark saw it in her face that
a sense of propriety also deferred her
Yet this same sense of propriety did
not prevent her sitting with him foI
hour after hour In the evening while
she worked by the light of one candle
and Mark studied her face. Mrs
Grifiiths came periodically to peep al
them. She did not seem pleased al
her niecc's conduct, but as there was
no relaxation in the bonnet-makins
she uttered no audible protest.
Somehow the talk took literary
turn. Claudia's father, who was q
tradesman in a town at some distance
was also a preacher. The roll of paper
in his hands on the wall was one OF
his sermons.
Il suppose, Claudia, you don't read
many novelsy' he asked.
mo, Mr.. Darlington, and 1t iss
strange yet that | should not-thougl
/ cannot tell you altogether why. Bu
when l wass Il very little girl my
Uncle Owen there took me upon hiss
two knees and said l wass never tC
read those books, and l said l woult
not. They are wicked things, novels
Mr.. Darlington, and put idle and vair
thoughts into girls minds"
81 myself am n writer of novels
Claudia" said Mark, stopping to Sc,
what effect his words would have upol
the girls face.
But they seemed to have hardly any
She colored slightly and her eyes tool
an earnest expression.
Indeed; l am sorry l said that,
she whispered, "They may not be 81
bad ass Uncle Owen thinks, and l sup
pose some people must write them
ass there are people who read them.
"She puts me down as a sort o
scavengerr thought Mark, with mucl
mental disaffection.
"Claudia Claudia!' called the aunt
and laying aside her work. the CIR
excused herself and left the room
When an hour later had passed, an'
she had not returned, Mark went t,
! bed. He shuddered to think wha
Aberenllyn would be for him IL sh
| were not in it.
The next morning she said to him
~ have letter from father this day
and l am TO return to him the ia.
/ after tomorrow. They miss me s.
! much at home
"The day after tomorrow echoe,
! Mark. 1t was as if veil had beel
suddenly drawn between him and tn
sunlight
"Yess. / shall be sorry and l shal
be glad. too. l am happy at home an,
! / am happy here; but l do not sleel
so well at Aberenllyn. 1t iss the sal
| In the air. the doctor tells father. NJ.
head lss always so hot in Aberenllyn
though l do not tell aunty."