The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-21

a boidness and daring that atoned for Its
lack Of techniCa! skill. Just background
Of rugged rocks with glimpse of sunlit
sen in the distance; and in the foreground
a girls slender figure and upturned face.
Such face A pure, delicats oval.
framed daintily in fiuf OF golden curls !;
a fair creamy skin. tinted like the petals
of "A wild rose; soft. sensitive lips. fresh
and smiling as a child's; innocoSt, tender
eyes Of heavens own blue.
Underneath were written three lines OF
poetry
Standing with reluctant feet
Where tho brook and river meet.
Womanhood and Childhood fleet.
Godfrey Derlng looked at his work and
saw that IL was good; then he held IL out
To the girl by his side.
Look. Griseld8, "hs said.
She looked ana 6lushed diyinely.
"Oh!" she cried. 'a:i like thatY'
Yes, he answered. you are just like
that"
The warm flush deepened softly in her
cheeks, and she drew "A long breath of / l.
tense delight. he clio 'ed the o, * ana
put il in his pocket, smiling as he did 20;
What child you are, he SAID. L
worder-I wonier-" and then lao Lroko
oil suddenly. and frown chased the
smile from his face
She pressed little closer looking up at
him with clear unconscious eyes.
What do you woi.derY' she asked.
He paused for moment, half hssitat-
ing then
IT you will ever be anything but q
chilu," he answered, smiling again.
But no answering smile lightoneu Gri-
selda's face. She looked hurt and re-
proachful AS she drew bacS quickly, with
\ suspicious little quiver at the corners OF
her mouth.
He watched her intently for moment,
but he did not pursue tho subject
do you know. - he asked, irrt lsvantiy,
- how long L have been here, Griseiday
Have you kept count."
She tIrned TO him quickly, and "a wist
ful look shadowed the cloar depths OF her
eyes.
"A MONTH" she answered. "A month
today"
He nodded.
"A month today" he repeated slowly.
land such pleasant month should
not be sorry il IL were just beginning
instead Of just ending"
And as he spoke he sighed.
Until month ago no woman had ever
come into his life. ana until "a month ago
he had believed tnat no woman ever
would come iEto his life But that was
before he met Griseda. n month ago
no had met her, and even at their first
meeting he had realized, after some
what vague and misty fashion, that be
was confronted by new and unexpected
.Orce that would one day have TO be
reckoned within new and unexpected
way.
She was a niece OF his friend, the rector
of Ashdale, thrown suddenly on that good
mans care by the death of her
father and mother. The rector and
he had been at Eton ard Christ Churcn
together. and for years he had made IA
haDit of running down TO see his ola
Nbnm whannVar hp eOnll N dav
two from his busy London life. He
enjoyed those flying visits TO the
country. The quiet and peace OF it all
rested him and made a different man of
him. The Geoffrey Dering. who loungei
about the quaint li.tle village sharing
the rector's simple interests and pursuits,
and lazing the long summer days away,
was not tho Godfrey Dering who toiled
and moiied in tho whirl Of tho worlds
vreat city, pressing onward and ever on
ward 10 one fixed goal, and spiring
neither himself nor others in the race that
he had elected to run.
he had not intended to pay long visit
this time. but somehow the contemplated
week had heightened into four. Perhaps
ii might have heightened into five, il
circumstances had not interviewed. There
Is no accounting for these things.
But circumstances did intervene. They
called upon him imperativey to return
to his workadny life. and he unhesitating
ly oheyod their call True, he felt a dis
tinct and novel reluctance to obey, but
that only made him the more determined.
He shrank from the thought OF saying
bye to Griselda: it would be like
tearing his heart out. But love and mar
riage, ho always said, were not for him.
He had no time for such things. They
who would win the crown for which he
strove must not loiter by the way to pluck
the flowers that bloom in loves sunshine
'Snch plouSAnt month W (ianfFrav
said again. Hasn't 1t Teen pleasant
uriseldaY'
Yes" answered Griselda. with sigh
that sounded like the far-away echo OF
his own.
For moment he looked at hor in ST.
lence, then suddenly "a mocking, cynical
smile crossed his face-a smile that be
longed Of right 10 the Godfrey Dering
whom she did not know.
What n siRh!' no said. "You must
te hungry. Griselda. We had better 90
home TO luncheon,
Dinner was over at the Rectory. and
Griselda had wandered out into tho
garden in the cool. scented dusk.
'Ah said Godfrey sauntering out In
course CT time To spend last hour with
her, II thought should find you here,
Griselda-l hoped / should"
lie sat down Dv her side. and his strong
keen face looked grave. The glamour OF
tho twilight hour was upon him.
IL thought | should find you nero " hs
said again. What arc you doing-think-
inaY'
Yes,' answered Griselda
He turned anu looked at her.
What arc you thinking about?" he
asked, half laughing. ME. bv chance 80
Yes, answered Griselda again, quite
seriously.
You quaint child. ne said. "Oh you
quaint child. y
she turned to him with tho same re-
proaGhfui look that had darkenod ner face
earlier in the day.
- am not child, "shc said, as she had
said theu.
mo- he said, laughing again. $50
You have told mo before II you nra not
a child, what arc you, Grissda."
She looked away from him with visit
ful dreamy eyes.
"A woman, she answered, in o low
tone.
He started and bit his lip.
Heaven forbid. " he muttered, undsr
his breath. Heaven forbid 80
N,g. -. al