The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-04-29
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clumsiness, or the wear and tear OF 90
winters, had made perilously ne2r a
grin. Yet. after all, perhaps he had
cause to smile, since he had seen the
third generation Of foolish lovers sit
ting on the marble rim of the idle foun-
tain, or whispering nonsense as they
walked, with arms entwined, along its
grassy borders.
This afternoon, when pretty Violet
Newman came tripping down the messy
path, in her new, white gown with its
favor Of pink roses. and her Saucy little
hat ha.f falling from her chestnut curls;
when she greeted him with a kiss Of the
hand from afar, and dropped him
hooking courtesy as she reached his
precircts-why, even a stone monster
was bound to smile. Indeed, when she
tiptocd to reach down his capacious
throat with her small white hand,
casual observer would have sworn that
he winked-though really it was an
affection Of the eyes for which boy Of
two generations back (nCw a pOrtly
Gean) was responsible. The dragon was,
in truth, of very hard material, and his
command Of countenarce was limited.
But he looked at Violet as sweetly as he
could, and no one who knew her would
blame him.
When she drew paper from between
his threatening jaws and glanced at it,
she gave harmless little frown, and
contorted her red lips into a pout.
'Bo1her!" she said. You nasty old
dragon!" But he laughed all the same,
and swallowed the paper without a
murmur, when she replaced it. Then
she seated herself daintiiy upon the
marble rim, leaning against an old urn
full of scarlet flowers, and opened a
book; but something seemed to distract
her. 81 WONDER" she said, absently,
resting her round chin upon one hand
and looking inquiringly at the dragon.
But he only smiled. and winked with
his injured eye. Il wonder" she repeat
ed few minutes later, listening intent
ly. 1t looked as though she might be at
tending to the PAGAN of the lark who
was swimming up towards the sun, or
the bleating of the young lambs in the
meadow beyond the trees. But the
dragon, who had seen the three genera
tons of lovers, knew better than that.
He wouldI have chuckled, if his struc-
tural limitations had been less string
ent, when a well-built young fellow
vaulted the fence, just by the warning
to tresspassers, and came lightly
towards the fountain; and Violet's alb
sorption in her book became profound.
AS he reached the monster he paused,
and she looked up. Their eyes met and
changed together from expectation,
through doubt and disappointment, to
mutual approval; as though each had
expected some one else, but had found
Il tolerable substitute.
Il beg your pardon. / am tresspass-
ing, fear?" he apologized, raising his
hat.
"Well-yes; unless you are going to
Mr.. Newman's I'm afraid you are" 1t
was dull at Ducksw orth, and she wasn't
quite sure that she didn't know him.
That was how she came to smile upon
him-ever such little smile So he
stopped, with his hat in his hand, lean
ing against the pedestal of the old vel
low dragon.
Il don't know Mr.. Newman very WELL"
he explained, studying her very care
fully, but his niece. Violet Newman,
and L were playmates when we were i
youngsters"
Indeed" said she. with a start and :
bright flash of her eyes. "Do you :
mean very long ago."
why, yes. 1t is over seven years."
He sighed; which was absurd, because
they had been very good years to him.
"She has altered very much since |
them" she observed, thoughtfully.
you know her?"
"Of course. You see l am niece of
Mr.. Newman, too. He has about 40
all different"
You are certainly very different |
from my little friend Violet, as remem-
Der her. said he, looking admiringly at
her pretty face and slim figure. Man is
an inconsistent animal. Though for
a moment l thought perhaps you were
She"
All" said she, with laugh, "you
would find her quite hanged-almost |
as different from what she was as am
YES" he observed, thoughtfully,
that's the worst of it." She bit her lip
angrily.
Are you so much attached to her
memory?"
WE'LL was" He looked very pleas
ant as he laughed.
''Flattery is nearly as bad as incon-
stancy," she remarked sternly. but
| suppose you want to get me to talk
about her?"
Yes" assented he; "or anything"
You are Mr.. Mostyn, then, I sup
pose?"
Richard Mostyn, at your service"
wi told me about you once
Did she, by Jove: What did she
say?'
We'll, scarcely remember; it's such
long time ago. think she took your
ooy-and-girl affair rather seriously, you
know"
Ihere was far-away look in her big
dark eyes, and she laid her book on
the grass beside her.
o. said he, eagerly, $50 did I. We
used to meet here nearly every morning
till [ sent away. We made this old
Dragons mouth"-he patted its head
familiarly-"a post Office when one of
us couldn't turn up. Did she tell you
that?'
Yes. she told me-a long time ago"
Probably she has forgotten now"
NN1ncf IL