Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-28

IVY
lie had hung ct her side the euening
through.
siblc. The way was plain and easy
if Clcve's ardor did not frighten her
Mrs Townlcy was right, though it
would never 60 to leave him unintcr-
ruptedly in the girls presence Striding
across the room, Hawkins said, with af-
fectation OF ocular terror:
Mr.. Clovc, please don't shoot me for
saying tive really must be riding"
Clevo started little, but said, with a
light laugh:
"Oh, SO away, Hawkins! You talk
| like member Of parliament. I have
only had i've minutes with Miss Over
ton, and you speak of leaving at half
past s.
Half past 10, You mean, with 10
miles to ride, :" Hawkins said, showing
| his watch. The other frowned.
''You are AN unmitigatcd nuisance,
with your hours and distances But he
got up, looked lingeringly at Dare and
made his adieu with what grace he
might.
Dare rose, too, and went up to her
aunt The girls checks We're damask
roses, her eyes starry in their dark dila-
ton. She seemed to herself all one
| throbbing pulse of new sensation, not
wholly pleasurable, but wildly strange
Royal Cleve was unlike aught she had
ever seen or dreamed of. Her favorite
heroes even were quite put out of court
His voice was music itself. He had a
smile that glorified his face. Yet some
how the girl shranll little from the
memory of him, shivered at the thought
of those too persistent eyes.
He had hung at her side the evening
through, with eyes, ears, for naught
| else. Sho wondered vaguely if it were
not because she was anew species, some
thing wholly different from any he had
hitherto known. In all the story books
she knew grand gentlemen had habit
of amusing themselves with the country
girls they CHANGED to meet and then
riding away, leaving their victims to
death or desolateness. Mr.. Clevo should
not do that; she was too wise in the ways
of his kind Besides she went no further
even in her thought, though the quick
red flushing over neck and brow pro-
claimed some mighty postulate un-
spoken.
Mrs Townley saw the blush and mis-
read it to suit her own desires AS she
kissed her niece good night she said,
lightly touching the smooth check:
II think this face might charm even
cruel fate. Do be careful of it, child. III
fortune has lain in wait for us so long
that 1t really behooves you to try to
change the family luck.
Dare lifted her eyes and asked:
"Aunt Mel, am l really extraordi-
narily pretty?'
"Judge for yourself, my child" Mrs
Townley said, turning her to face the
long pier glass, that surely had never
reflected loneliness more winsome For
a minute both looked in silence at the
fair image Then Dare gave low cry,
the elder woman screamed aloud, for
there, family, from the half lit depths
behind her, n mans face showed, white
and set, in the mirror over her shoulder
Next minute it had vanished. Dare
rubbed her eyes. Mrs. Townley said,
tharp trcnor Ill her tone:
did you SEQ anybody? Whose face
was it?'
Dare did not answer at once. When
she dad speak, it was to say:
II thought l saw something. but no
doubt wo were both mistaken. We
must have been. There is 10 one here
but ourselves :"
Not SOUL" said Mrs. Townley,
ehivering violently. 1T must have been
the 'fiicEcrirg Of the light"
Dare said nothing. Instead she walk
ell away with tingling pulses. She had
no fear of, 10 belief in, ghosts or visions.
Her eye was too true and keen for optic
al illusions, She had seen face, face
she knew we'll 1t was Allen Fauntle-
roy who had hooked at her from that
clare obscure.
A little later Hawkins refined up from
their hand gallop to say to Royal Cleve:
mo need to ask if every prospect
pleases Pom my life, man, you came
near to making spectacle of yourself.
Cleve shook the others hand impa-
tiently from his sleeve, saying rather
coldly:
''Stop that, Hawkins. am immense
" obliged to you for the initial sugges-
ton, but please remember that while I
am always ready and willing to hear
you on business Iprefer to escape discus
sion of my personal affairs -
Ito be continued.)