The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-03-13

u~y ne, ohu uToNc away ainlu shower
OF rice and slippers to spend their
honeymoon at Harlesden lodge, near
Pangbourne, on the banks of the river
Thames.
1t had been beautiful day-as fair
day as ever smiled ON bride and the
evening was delightful. Their luggage
had been taken upstairs, and they had
managed to get rid of all traces of the
ceremony. Indeed. as Frank said, no.
body would ever suspect them of only
just being married. They dreaded the
presence of the servants, and according
ly agreed that it would be pleasanter
to go in search of some inn where they
could dine comfortably without being
stared at. 1t sounded frightfully un.
conventional, and May was little afraid
1t would not be quite right, but they
had been accustomed to indulging in
harmless jokes together, and SO it was
arranged. Frank told the staid butler
that he and Mrs. Tremayne were going
out and that they would let themselves
III and no one was to wait up. May
came down in q blue SERGE and q de-
liciously fresh blouse and straw hat,
and Frank was soon punting her up the
river. They found an old-fashioned
inn, and the dinner he ordered was ex-
cellent. The consciousness of their
newly acquired state made them afraid
of attracting attention, 80 they dined
i'll the coffee-room and almost forgot
they were husband and wife in the
amusement they derived from the nov
city of the situation and the innocent
jokes they made about the other guests.
They had coffee in the garden, where
they sat till Frank, who was always at
tcntiye, where women were concerned.
suggested that it was getting chilly and
they should be starting for home. When
they got on the water the wind fell, and
the clear, round summer moon lit up the
blue night and the dark river, and
threw the shadows of the trees over
Them. 1t was an ideal scene for two
lovers. The water Tapped against the
side of the punt, the old weir rumbled
softly in the distance, and the corn
cralxe in the meadows sprung his rattle.
while their own voices awoke the birds
in the branches. Presently May said:
"Stopa moment; Ihear nightingale"
Frank drew in the pole and let the
punt drift.
Sure enough. the nightingale was
singing: jug. jug, Jug" came the low,
mellow notes, which were followed by
q sweet, sad melody in the minor. They
were spellbound, and before they re.
covered themselves the punt had shot
under the branches of the large chest
nut trees which hang over the river.
Frank began to push it out, when May
said pleadingly:
LET us stay here awhile and listen
to the nightingale" Frank, who.
though he did not love May, was not in
different to the presence of pretty
girl, pulled on his coat and lay down on
the cushions beside her. Neither spoke.
They were not thinking of one another.
Each took different personality in the
others mind, and when their thoughts
strayed to more lawful paths they both
dreamt the others silence was due to
reverence and alteration, and each was
sorry for the others infatuation. 1t
was Frank who spoke first.
"May," he said in his kind, gentle
way, what are you thinking OFF"
'Of the beauty of the night. Is it not
ideal?"
"It is, indeed-an ideal night for"
"For a woman TO be with the man she
loves!"
"And for the man to be with the girl
he adores."
"But how seldom that arranges itself
in this world"
"Yes, indeed"
They both sighed. There was a
silence only broken by the splnshing of
a small fish, and then Frank spoke:
'May," he said, "when did you first
come to love me?'
'.When did first come to love you,
Frank?" May repeated, slowly, to gain
time in which to think of an answer
''when--when-well, after heard you
were in love with me-"
She felt it was not a very satisfactory
answer, and SO she hurriedly went on:
"You know the song says: 4 love be-
cause my love loves me-"
"And from whom." said Frank, rather
surprised, did you hear loved you?'
"From my aunt"
II wonder who told her?" he said,
refiectively.
81 know. 1t was your uncle"
"Indced!" cried Frank.
"Yes! But tell me when did you
come to really love me well enough to
ask me to be your wife?"
.'When heard you were really in love
with me-"
sand who told you that?"
My uncle."
"Your uncle! Do you mean Martin
Kirwin?"