Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-09-26

ocfuputOuoly utc1>cV ~uo cofc1ut
groomed. thought him . good-lookiny
man In his way; but did not admire the
saintliness Of aspect into which he had
trained his face, nor his confidential defer
ence of manner when he addressed the
ladies. He was gentleman, however,
which always goes for something n
pleasant enough fellow to talk to. ! can
imagine that he was quite q godsend In
that benighted neighborhood, where gen.
tlemen of any sort were rare, and cultured
gentlemen almost unknown.
He took an early opportunity Of coming
over to Miss Darby's side. She seemed
pleased 70 see him, and was soon in ami
mated conversation with him. thought
her face less beautiful when animated. l
joined her young brothers and made
friends with them. They were nice young
sters and well hammered. Two hailed
from Winchester and one from Wellington.
But, of course, he must have more money
than thought, to be able to send his sons
to such good schools. / talked and
chaffed with the lads for half an hour.
Then the youngest of them noticed that my
eyes were constantly seeking the corner
where MillIngton and Miss Darby were
still conversing.
"Ah!" volunteered the school boy with
grin, Its regular case between the
curate and Bee."
could have struck the lad. His re-
mark was in such atrocious taste. But !
looked at the father and then excused the
son. Even Winchester cannot 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 good
deal of the Darbys. One day we took
them for a picnic; another we met them
at garden party; another we dropped in
at the vicarage to tea and so forth. On
all these occasions found myself con-
slant attendant at Miss Darby's side.
AS she came to know me better she laid
aside her shyness, and talked with less
reserve. Without doubt she was charm
ing girl When her face was lighted up
in conversation it disclosed fresh beauties
passed unnoticed from distance. That
is how came to make my mistake about
her face being less beautiful in animation.
At close quarters the mistake is impossi-
BILE. Certainly that youngest brother OF
hers was full of vulgarity under his educa-
tional veneer. / heard him whisper to
grinning friend that "Millington's nose
was getting out of JOINT" / had, how
ever, grown accustomed by this time to
the urchn's lack of breeding, so it Jared
upon me less than before.
Our last picnic was memorable. 1t took
place at spot called Heavens Gate, which
IL one of the show sights of that district.
have only the faintest recollection of
what Heavens Gate Is like. rdimly re-
member being called upon by the vicar to
a superb view-by some one else to guess
the dimensions of certain mammoth trees
which stood near the crown of the emf
nence. An antiquarian gentleman RECALLED
me with the history of Longleat House
from the time of its first construction. He
pointed out to me in detail its architcctu-
raj splendors, indicating them by pokes
with his stick toward where that majestic
pile lay in the hollow below. / nodded
and looked intelligent. The good gentle
man was satisfied; but / neither heard nor
saw. My eyes and ears were already be-
spoke. 1t was useless for the vicar to lie
scant to me upon the glorious effect of the
sunlight upon these sylvan glades. / my
self was in sombre shadow. My sun had
gone behind cloud.
II say" whispered Miss Darby's young
that beggar Millington boring Bee, just
He's quoting Tennyson 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 schoolboys. / sup
pose / must have talked the same jargon
once myself. When one realizes that one
has done fellow creature an injustice.
ones heart naturally reacts towards him.
My heart reacted towards this urchin
now.
We sat down to eat round cloth spread
upon the ground, all among the ants and
beetles. A literary young lady with in
tense eyes fastened upon me and endeav-
ored to draw me into discussion about
the English poets. talked to her at ran
dom. l said things which made her open
her intense eyes. believe | ended by as
serting that hated all the English poets
Tennyson.
''Oh, DEAR" she sighed. II am afraid
you are dreadful Goth, Mr.. Vivian"
YES" assented cheerfully; "a regu-
lar Vandal. It's constitutional, don't you
know? A fellow can't help it. Pmlnot
one of the intellectual sort, Pm sorry to
say. Now Millington over there, who is
awfully cultured, you know, and stepped
in poetry to his finger tips. He can quote
Tennyson by the yard"
'Oh, how delightful" she exclaimed.
"Do you know Mr.. Millington? Will you
introduce him to me after luncheon 2"
''With pleasure" / said cordially.
didn't forget. Immediately luncheon
was over buttonholed the curate.
V'Nfy dear fellow" I told him, 'lherc is
an awfully nice girl here who is dying TO
make your acquaintance. She has heard
so much about you, dou't you know, and
your preaching, and all that. Nothing
will satisfy her but an immediate intro
ductiop. Come along"
Millington was Very vain. knew my
message flattered him. lie left Miss
Darbys side with some reluctance but he
left it. / introduced him to the intense
eyes, which fastened upon him instantly.
1t was clear that he was booked for the
present. Then l repaired to Miss Darby's
side. The company was breaking up into
twos aud threes.