Middletown transcript., 1895-12-28

| Muriel leaned her chin in her hand
and thought Of I.r. Clifton.
/ What would her mother say If sht
knew 1t all-that Paul Clifton loved hel
THAT he was coming to ask for her al
the maternal hands the very next day.
'It will be Of no use, she thought
sadly. Mother will say no. She de-
sires me to marry Squire Sedley, who
is bald and deaf and twice my age, and
who only wants me because his house
keeper has struck for higher wages and
he thinks wife would be better econo-
my. But we can wait, Paul and !. / We We
will wait. ~
And then they ran mp alongside the
tall, spectral cylinder Of the lighthouse,
for the tide was high and landing was
comparatively easy, and Muriel sprang
lightly out Of the boat, looking up at
the fiery eye in the lantern above.
"Give me the bag and the basket,
Tommy, said she. STEADY with the
boat now I'll be back in one minute. !"
So the orange glow had burned down
Into deep red radiance, and the dusk
shadows off the New Years eve were
creeping over all the CLASSY surface Of
the sea.
Aunt Dora was at home. In fact,
Aunt Dora never was anywhere else.
Her own society, little as other people
cared for it, was all sufficient for her.
self.
"Oh, it's You, is it?'' said Aunt Dora,
as unconcerned as II she lived on dry
land and was in the habit of seeing
company every hour in the day. She
was darning stockings by her own espe-
cial little lamp and the teapot already
simmered on the hob for her tea. "Any-
thing the matter? Because I couldn't
leave the light if it was ever so"-
'No, nothing is the matter" said
Muriel .'I have brought You note
from my mother. Something about the
pattern Of bedquilt, I believe. And
some chickens and apples and a bag Of
fresh hickory nuts. -
Aunt Dora read the note once, twice,
three times over. Then she regarded
Muriel in sinister fashion from under
her thick, black brows, while the girl
played unconsciously with the cat.
"Humphi' said she. eyes, I'll 60
and get the patternp'
She was gone some time-half an
hour, at least, as it seemed to Muriel,
and when she came back, the girl start
ed up.
"It is nearly dark" she said. "I |
must make haste home"
"Well you needn't be in such fur
ry" said Aunt Dora, with grim |
chuckle. "I've sent the pattern by Tom
my Jenkins, He's half way to shore by |
this time y
Muriel uttered little shrek.
And how am to get homer" she
cried.
"You amt % get home at all" said
Aunt Dora. lyon re to stay and spend
the New Year with me. That's what
your mother said in her note. I"
'But shall notp' exclaimed Muriel,
her foot vehemently. 81 must
90 home! Iexpect company tomorrow.
sit down and be easy-doP' said
Aunt Dora. "Must is for the king I'd
Like to know how on earth you re to get
home, with only one boat at the steps,
and that padlocked tight, with the key
mug at the bottom Of my pocket l''
And Aunt Dora laughed hard, dis
'onant laugh that was like the croak Of
/ raven.
For moment Muriel gazed wildly
around like newly Gagged bird, then
ihe burst into tears and sobs.
It Is all q stratagem Of mother'si"
he cried, wringing her hands. "I
night have known It'll I might have
Inown itp'
And that night at the White Reefs
lighthouse, with the melancholy sea
apping the foot of the tower and the
Wind whistling around the steady glow
4 the beacon, was the dreariest that
duriel ever spent In her life.
"You amt good company tonight,
aid Aunt Dora, glancing at her niece
yer and anon between the stitches Of
Ter darning.
Because you have deceived mel"
ried Muriel. "You and mother"
"Humphl'' said Aunt Dora. "It's all !
or your own good. You'll thank Us one
these days. Girls oughtn't to have !
heir own way"
But Muriel only wept on and refused J
} be comforted.
She went down to the foot Of the a
,wer, the next day, and sat there, her J
loak wrapped about her shoulders, list !
.ssly gazing out ON the sparkling floor !
the deep. :
lis that boat coming?'' she asked !;
erseH. with one man In it? Is It ]
,ming here, wonder2''
Nearer and nearer came the boat, r
,cking lightly on the surface Of the :
aves, and presently Muriel started up, :
18th cry Of Joy. 4
For 1t was Paul Clifton waving his !,
and to her, as he came ever nearer and :
carer. :,
"A happy New Year, sweet Murielp' q
. called out, as the boat touched the 4
one steps. II am the enchanted knight :
'me to rescue you from the prison tow 4
.P'
How did you know was here?" g
i'd Muriel, with sparkling eyes and !,
slvety cheeks dyed with crimson. :
"Your mother was entirely noncom- :,
ittal." said Clifton gayly. 'I could :
arm nothing whatsoever from her ex-
pit that You were well and were not
ceiving company. But Twas fortunate
lough to meet Tommy Jenkins, who,
Z the consideration Of silver quarter, :,
nominiously turned states evidences. =
nd here I am, my sweetheartl win '.
u come with me?'' Z
"Of course / will" said Muriel,
ringing lightly into the boat. "But a
here?,' ce
ITO be married, said Mr.. Paul Gift st
q. ''It is high time that this system 10
tyranny was broken up My little %
uriel must be mine and mine alone
nceforward. Do you not agree with
s?''
And Muriel answered. yo
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