Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-02-21
Saint Maru's Beacon
CONTINUED from 4th Page.)

her niece told me, and did not care
to come down to dinner. Miss
Treleven had very heavy eyes her
self, and / noticed that she had not
a word to say to Nr. Houston, who
looked as black as thunder.
But the next morning saw Miss
Cynthia; she was sitting in the gar
den, upon the seat where we first
made acquaintance; and as | came
near her | was astonished at the
change in her appearance. She
wore a quiet gray dress. and the
youthful fringe was gone; her thin,
colorless hair was brushed smooth
" down, and she had bonnet on
instead of the wide, fowery hat she
had always worn in the garden.
But the change was more than this.
Something was gone that had been
there; | think it was hope.
Nearly all the people staying at
the hotel had gone upon a long ex-
cursion, and she was all alone in
the bright morning. As ! sat down
beside her ! saw that she held let
ter in her hands, and she began to
speak very quietly-not at all in
her usaal nervous, Hurried way.
Il want you'll want you, my
dear, to read this handing me the
letter; you will understand
took it silently and read it. 1t
was an offer of marriage signed
James Houston and l burst out
into an indignant exclamation. But
Miss Cynthia put her hand on nine
it felt very hot and dry.
'Please-please do not say any
thing. | want you to stay with me.
| wrote note to ask him to come
here. | think can do it better
with you by me-
As she spoke her hand began to
tremble, and spot of bright red
mounted to her cheek. | followed
her glance, and saw the tall figure
of Mr.. Houston coming up the gar
den. lie eyed me sulkily as he
came near.
Il am afraid / intsude,' said he,
lifting his hat. But UNDERSTOOD
Yes, certainly Mr.. Houston,
said Miss Cynthia. Il asked you
to come. But the presence of this
young lady need not interfere. |
Think think there has been lit
tie mistake.
She spoke in rather high voice,
and was holding my hand tight.
Men are very stupid; do not think
Mr.. Houston saw how she was trem-
bling.
Mistake p he said, flushing q
dark red all over his handsome face.
IL don't think
Il hope indeed that it has been a
mistake said Miss Cynthia, look
ing very straight at him; 'for |
should be sorry to think you could
suppose tina: | could really enter
tain such a ridiculous proposition.
You are young man, Mr.. Hous-
ton, and IL am getting an old wo-
man.
She was very brave, but at the
last sentence her voice began to wa
yer, AID she stopped suddenly and
clasped her hands firmly together
to steady them.
never saw any man look so con-
fused and thoroughly ashamed of
himself as that young fellow stand
ing before us. He looked at me
angrily;-I knew he would have
given anything to get me away.
lie opened his mouth to begin a
sentence, but only stammered and
mu:tered something about devotion
and his feelings. But Miss Gym
thia had steadied herself and inter-
rupted him.
Il am sure you must see yourself,
Mr.. Houston, how very absurd such
a thing would be. / cannet believe
You are serious-it would be so RI
diculous y
And Miss Cynthia began to laugh
Shelly. did not like to hear her;
it was dirffcrte fes- her to stop when
she had once begun.
Il have sometimes been a little
amused she said, with trembling
lips. And do You know | some
times thought that it was-that it
was Maud that you really admired
and that you were making inter-
est with her old aunt, as you were