Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-03-14

her agitation. he oxchongvQ INT
commonplace compliments of thu
occasion with her and then took ,
seat by Mrs. Seacourt, who had beer
one Of his old friends. Mary fell
the neglect; she saw he did not love
her. That night she wept bitter
tears OF anguish.
"And yet cannot blame him. Oh
no ~ she exclaimed, +" 1T is all my
own fault. He once loved me, and
have heartlessly flung that affection
from me which / would give worlds
now to win. But / must dry these
tears; / must not betray myself
We shall meet daily, for he cannot
help coming here, and to shorten my
visit would lead to suspicious.
must, therefore, school myself to dis.
guise the secret of my heart"
And Ashton did come daily, and
although his conversation was chiefly
devoted to Mrs. Seacourt, he seemed
neither to seek nor avoid his cousin.
Now and then he found himself in 0
conversation with her, and he thought
of old times. But the memory oil
their last interview came across him
at such moments like q blight.
"How wonderfully Ashton has i'm
proved since his travels" said Mrs
Seacourt one morning as she and
Mary sat tete-a-tete, sewing; land,
do you know" continued she, look
ing archly at her companion, "that
/ deem myself indebted to you for
his charming visits?"
Mary felt the blood mounting to
her brow and she stopped to pick up
a stitch.
"Oh, you are always testing, Annie ;
you know it is not So"
1--WE shall see. prophesy that
this afternoon, when we go to the ex-
hibition, he will escort you and
leave Miss Thornbury to Seacourt's
Mary's heart beat so she could
scarcely answer, but she managed to
reply:
Don't, my dear Mrs. Seacourt,
don't tease one this way. You know,
indeed you know, Ashton cares
n othing for me-" and she felt how
great relief would have been a
flood OF tears could she have INDUCED
in them.
Mrs. Seacourt smiled archly and
said no more.
The afternoon came. The little
were assembled in the draw
ing room. Ashton entered Just as the
last moment had come and when the
ladies were rising to go. Mary was
almost hidden in one corner, so fear
full was she of attracting the raillery
Of Mrs. Seacourt by placing herself
near the entrance and in Ashton's
way. Her very sensitiveness pro-
duced the effect she wished to avoid.
The gentlemen naturally sought
partners nearest them, and for mo-
ment she was left alone. She
thought she would have tainted when
she saw her cousin cross the room
and offer to be her escort.
They proceeded to the exhibition.
For the first time for years Ashton's
arm upheld that of Mary. At first
both were embarrassed; but each
made an effort, and they soon gIided
into conversation on different SUBJ
jects. What a relief it was to Mary
that night to think she had been
alone, as it were, with her cousin
being treated with neglect
From that day the visits Of Ashton
to Mrs. Seacourt's increased in fire.
luency, yet there was nothing
marked in his attentions to Mary.
Indeed, he still continued to con-
verse chiefly with his friends WIFE,
though he did not openly avoid her
guest. Mary grew more and more
5remblingly alive to his presence.
and at times, when she would detect
MS eye bent on her, half sadly, half
lbstractedly, her heart would futter
wildly and delicious hope would
nomentarily shoot across her mind,
but soon to fade as quickly.
One morning Ashton entered the
drawing room and found her alone.
She was untangling skeip of silk.
She arose and said. with some en-
Mrs. Seacourt is upstairs. will
ling for her.
mot for the world, if she is in any
way engaged. / can await her
pleasure.
There was silence OF some min
ltes. Mary could scarcely breathe
Ind knew not what to say. Her
fingers refused to perform their duty,
and the skein of her silk became
more and more entangled.
Shall l help your" said Ashton,
approaching her. my patience used
TO be Droverb with you"
Mary could not trust herself to
answer, for her fingers were actually
trembling with agitation. She felt
she could have sunk into the floor.
She proffered the silk without look
ing up. Ashton took hold of one end
while she retained the other. Neither
spoke; but Mary's bosom heaved tu-
while Ashton felt his
heart in his throat At length, in
untangling the skcin, their
hands met. The touch thrilled them
ike lightning. Ashton almost uncon-
retained the hand of his
cousin in his own. She trembled
Mary" he said.
She looked, half doubtingly, half
up.
Mary, we love each other do we
,otY' There was NO answar INIT os