Middletown transcript., 1895-03-16

All this had been three years De-
fore, and the meeting had not taken
place. After her fathers death Mary
had gone abroad with an invalid aunt
while Dick had stayed at home, and
though hard up. like many nice peo-
pie, he managed to enjoy himself very
well. Young women pitied him fol
being tied to an unknown cousin, but
be did not feel the chain.
As for Mary, she was rather a re-
served young woman, not prone to
show her feeling to anybody; but ]
thiuk her aunt knew that sometimes
the tie CALLED her indescribably. She
certainly did not want to marry any
of the men who had asked her to do SO
since her fathers death; but then, she
said, she did not want to marry any
one at all. 1t is easy to understand
how much more the position would be
to proud, independent, but some
what sensitive girl, than to an easy
going rather spoiled young man.
At the end Of three years Mary had
to experience another grief. Her poor
young aunt faded out of existence.
And Mary returned to England feeling
singularly lonely and sad, in spite OF
her money aid youth. About the end
of May she came across an old school
friend, and they renewed old times.
and determined to spend the summer
together.
Mabel Wilkins had a friend who had
offered to lend her for the month OF
June cottage on the river.
"a cottage on the river. not as you
understand the term," remarked the
proud owner-s'a modern, red brick
villa residence-but real cottage in
veritable primitive Berkshire village
where young guardsmen never pene-
trate, and in which the voice of Harry
is never heard. A thatched cottage,
having door with a latch, and one
low raftered room with two little al
tics under the roof"
t'Delightful!" exclaimed Mabel and
closed with the offer at once.
So to the cottage the two girls came,
and were enchanted with it.
A woman IN the village came in the
morning and made their beds, cooked
their breakfast and ibid for the them"
generally aud then departed till the
evening, when she came again to cook
their simple dinner.
Then she left them together alone,
W SIT beside the great open Fireplace,
where the kettle hung from the great
IRON hood in the chimney, and they
sosslped together costly till they
climbed up the ladder-like staircase to
bed, and fell asleep with the tune OF
The weir in their ears, till the clatter-
ing startling woke them to another
long, happy river day.
Que morning Mary Was sitting al
lie Cottage door, sewing a black rib
ION round her sailor hat. She made
i pretty picture, with the sunlight
slanclng in her blue eyes, which we've
oddly attractive features in her brown
lace. Presently Mabel came up the
long, struggling street and pushed
through the white gate, with haste
that betokened some little excitement.
"What do you think9" she cried.
Il have just met Lettie Fenwick.
They have brought their house-boat all
the way up here. She is raving about
the place, and they mean to stay a
month"
"Oh," said Mary, rather blankly, II
suppose you'll think Pm horrid. but,
although l have no doubt your friends
are very nice. can't help feeling
rather sorry; it will mean goodbye to
our delightful solitude"
swell, I'm not sorry," declared
Mabel. "You are too fond of solitude,
Mollie; it will do you good to min
gle with the common herd" Then she
added abruptly-for Mabel could
never keep anything to herself-"Do
you know whom they have got with
lhem?"
"No," said Mary, indifferently.
"Dick Hardinge," said Mabel.
The Indifference fled, and Mary
looked undisguisedly dismayed.
'Oh, Mab," she exclaimed, "what
an unlucky girl l am! For no fault Of
my own am to be always dogged by
Ibis horrible promise, and now just
when l am SO happy it is too hard. Of
course We shall have to meet and of
course he will fell it a capital opportu-
nifty to renew his proposal. Oh. Mabel;
don't you think he must be horrid to
want to.marry girl he has never
seen, simply for her money? | dare
say you will think / as bad for ever
having consented to such thing; but
had q strong reason where he had
none; he never knew my darling
father"
Mabel had never seen Mollie so ex-
cited. She looked positively pretty,
with her blue eyes flashing and flush
On her sunburned face; but she only
said,-
"Don't be prejudiced, Mollis; have
always heard that he is extremely nice.
[ think this is quite a providential
meeting and quite too booky and ro-
mantle. l should think you'd like
each other immensely. The river
always has marvellous effect on one
why, 1 quite fell in love with a Gu
rate last year down at Wargrave."
This encouraging information did