The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-28

II cannot tell you how relieved feel,
he said, with geuinely grateful ring 10
his voice, as he followed The girl into Il
chamber about nine feet square, the prim
horse hair furniture of which was DISCUS,
ed under its coat of dust
"That iss my father, said the girl,
pointing to the portrait of a broad-shoul-
dered man in black, with kindly expires
sion on his somewhat shaggy face and with
a roll of paper in his hand, as if it were a
truncheon. "And that, indicating sour
mouthed minister on the other side of the
room, ''iss my fathers brother, Uncle
Owen"
."What must call you?" asked Mark,
when his pretty deliverer brought him his
tea and sat down to see him cat it,
"My name? OH it iss Claudia Row
lands-I am generally called Claudia;
like it best-and Mrs. Grifiths here iss 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, too
every, | should think, Claudia. An
uncommon name, Claudia, and not so ill
sounding. either Oh good gracious,
what's up?"
The girl laughed as Mark righted him
self. His chair had broken through the
floor
at iss too shocking, thiss house, to ask
you into. Indeed, am sorry for you.
Mn
Darlington, Claudia-Mark Darlington.
And you mustn't say such things. am
we'll content"
They went to chapel togetherin the even
ing-Mr. Parlington, Mrs. Grifiths and
Claudia 1t was Marks suggestion, and it
seemed to raise him in the postmistress
regard. After the service, however, he
had compensation. The rain had set in
again. Mrs Grifiths locked the house
door. The three sat together until 10
O'Clock. The postmistress did not under
stand English; Mark thanked Heaven for
it. But she kept her eyes on him, and
even when, at Claudia's request, she sane
toned the cigar for which her guest was
pining, she watched the smoke of it with
an expression that was not exactly com
forting
"You must not mind aunt whispered
Claudia at one moment, when the elder
lady had left the room, and the girl was
kneeling to use the bellows to the reluctant
fire. Her pretty head touched Mark $
arm while she worked-it was snch very
small room. "She iss stricter than uss
younger ones. And, besides, l wass two
years with an English school, because my
father he wass resolved his children should
know the English and the Welsh-bpt |
speak it badly"
II don't know when have heard En-
glish spoken so sweetly," said Mark !;
and he meant it.
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 came in
her way, and doing it all with the most
winsome cheerfuness,
The shop was full of customers almost
from daybreak. 1t was odd where they
came from, and also how they got their
money. But, as the girl said, they mostly
had six months wages in their pockets,
and they meant to spend them quickly.
Every one wanted Claudia. 1t annoyed.
Mark very much to see how she was at
the disposal of little girls of l3 or IA who
wished for ostrich feathers and sulphur
colored bonnets foot high, and sat down
to make sure she did not forget their de
sires. And it annoyed him most of all to
perceive the cordial footing she was upon
with all the handsome young seafaring men
who dallied so long in the shop on the pre-.
text of letters, pipes or snuff.
He dined on timed salmon of an indiffer-
ent brand, but Claudia served it, and at
his request shared it with him. She was
not a bit it'troubled at being asked to dine.
with him, but there was just soupcon of
difference in her manners, which made her
all the more charming.
Then she again took up her bonnets and
continued to run between the shop aud
Mr.. Parlington's room till even Mark S OBJ
duraut nature yearned in pity for her.
"Will you not come out with me p he
asked She excused herself with smile
The bonnets and her aunt were her plea ;
but Mark saw it in her face that sense of
propriety also deferred her. Yet this same
sense of propriety did not prevent her sitting
with him for hour after hour in the even
ing, while she worked by the light of one
candle, and Mark smoked cigar after cigar
and studied her face. Mrs Griffiths came
periodically to peep at them. She did not
seem pleased by her niece's conduct, but as
there was no relaxation in the bonnet
making she uttered no audible protest
Somehow the talk took literary turn.
Claudia's father, who was tradesmau in
a town at some distance, was also preacher
The roll of paper in his hands on the wall
was one of his sermons. Claudia climbed
the stairs to fetch a manuscripts copy of the
sermon the old gentleman had preached in
Aberenllyn only the last Sunday. Marx
read little of it, praised its vigor (Which