Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-07-12
Impaired itself TO all her smiles and

ter and the wears wife. Politencss
constrained me TO address much of my
conversation 20 the elder lady, in
whom | soon became Interested. She
talked well, and in "A very pleasant
voice. Her manner was gentle and re-
fined. Her face was lined and care
worn. but there were still traces of
beauty visible. | should say that many
years ago She resembled what her
daughter was now.
At about three o'clock the Wears
curate, fellow named Millington was
announced. lie had charge of dis
trict church some miles away, | was in
formed, but he generally came over to
join Rayner's gathering in the after
noon. He differed greatly in appear
ance from his vicar, for he was scrup-
ulously dressed and carefully groomed.
! thought him "A gOod-lOoking man in
his way; but | did not admire the
saintliness of aspect into which he had
trained his face, nor his confidential
Difference of manner when he adj
dressed the ladies. lie was a gentle
man however-which always goes for
something-and pleasant enough fell
low 20 talk 10. ! can imagine that he
was quite godsend in that benighted
neighborhood. where gentlemen OF
any sort were rare and cultured gen
tlemen almost unknown.
He took an early opportunity of com
ing over TO Miss Darby's side. She
seemed pleased 10 see him, and was
soon in animated conversation with
him thought her face less beautiful
when animated. ! joined her young
/ brothers and made friends with them.
They were nice youngsters and we'll
Wannered. Two hailed from Winchcs-
ter and one from Wellington. had
supposed that the vicar was a poor
man. But, of course, he must have
more money than thought, to be able
10 send his sons 10 such good schools
talked and chaffed with the lads for
half an hour Then the youngest OF
them noticed that my eyes were con-
stantly seeking the corner where Mil
lington and Miss Darby were still con-
i versing.
All volunteered the schoolboy,
with grim its a regular case be-
tween the curatc and Bee"
could have struck the lad His re-
mark was in such atrocious taste. But
. looked at the father, and then ex-
cused the son. Even Winchester can
! not obliterate innate vulgarity. Miss
( Darby was still particularly animated
was sure now that, when animated,
her face looked almost plain
During the next fortnight | saw a
good deal of the Darbys; one day we
took them for picnic; another we met
them at a garden party; another we
dropped in at the vicarage TO tea. and
so forth. On all these occasions found
myself constant attendant at Miss
, rrbys side,
As She came 10 know me better she
laid aside her shyness, and talked with
less reserve. without doubt she was a
charming girl When her face was
lighted up in conversation il disclosed
fresh beauties which more than ever
dazzled me. These beauties passed
unnotioed from a distance That is
how came to make my mistake about
her face being less beautiful in ANNA
ton. At close quarters the mistake
was impossible. Certainly that young
est brother of hers was full of vulgar
ity under his educational veneer
heard MIN whisper 20 a grinning
friend that "Millington's nose was get
ting out of joint" had, however,
grown accustomed by this time 10 the
urchin's lack of breeding, SO it Jared
upon me less than before.
Our last picnic was memora BILE II
took place at a spot called Heavens
Gate, which is one of the show sights
OF that district. have only the faint
est recollection of what Heavens Gate
is like. dimly remember being called
upon by the vicar 10 admire a superb
view-by some one else To- guess the
dimensions OF certain mammoth trees
which stood near the crown of the
eminence. An antiquarian gentleman
RECALLED me with the history of Long
Leaf house from the time Of its first
construction lie pointed out to me in
detail its architectural splendors, in
dicating them by po<es with his stick
toward where that jestic pile lay in
the hollow below. ! nodded and looked
intelligent. The good gentleman was
satisfied; but neither heard nor saw.
My eyes and ears were already be-
spoke. 1t was useless for the vicar 70
descant to me upon the glorious effect
of the sunlight upon these sylvan
glades. myself was in somber shadow.
My sun had gone behind a cloud.
Il say, whispered Miss Darbys
youngest brother, giving me a nudge,
''ain't that beggar Millington boring
Bee, just? He's been quoting Tenny-
son TO her by the yard. overheard
him. What Tommy-rot the chap did
write to be sure
II occurred TO me that had been
rather severe upon this lad. After all,
his slang was the slang OF all school
boys | suppose must have talked the
same jargon once myself. When one
realizes that one has done a fellow
creature an injustice, ones heart nat
urally reacts toward him. My heart
reacted toward this urchin now.
We sat down 20 eat round a cloth
spread upon the ground, all among the
ants and beetles. A literary young
lady with intense ewes fastened upon