The Lambertville record., 1899-03-08
A WAYSIDE ROMANCE
by c. X. BCRROW.

BY C. IL. BCRROW.
was travelling southwark in no par
ticularly contented mood at least, 1t
pleased me to think that ! was going
against my will. and solely out of re-
spect to my fathers brother. who had
summoned me to his house on matter
which might have stirred my blood a
little had | chosen to give my fancy
range.
had recently, by the death OF my
father, come into a moderate fortune
| was the only child, and my mother
had died long before, SO that, apart
from a few legacies | was sole heir.
You may be sure that life shone before
me- 1t seemed to me field for high
adventure. thing stuffed with ro-
nance. From the empty pockets of a
boy had suddenly risen to the full
purse OF a man OF substance; and. to be
honest, | think It was somewhat to my
honor that | made no evil use of my
new power | had many faults then,
pride being the chief but since those
days | have learned wisdom
Well then, some three-fourths OF the
way between Worcester. from which |
started, and Dorking, in Surrey, to
which | was journeying | stopped to
change horses, and for my own and
my servants refreshment. During
the last hour had been thinking a
good deal of what awaited me at my
uncles, and my pulse began to have
the better OF my VIII. In word. |
IL I
destined to marry.
My father and his brother had not
been on the best OF terms for many
years; but that had not prevented from
arranging that their children should
wed-an arrangement in which had
never been consulted. or so far as |
knew, the lady either. To add to the
uncertainty of the whole affair, had
never seen her; | did not even know
whether she were ugly or beautiful,
short or tall. | might be going to as
sumo a bondage Of roses or OF steel
However, was determined that If
the damsel did not please me, or | her
that there should be no marriage
had no taste for martyrdom. and had
too delicate stomach To take Il wife
without love
told the landlord to have fresh
horses ready in an hour, and to attend
To my servants appetites, and also
bade him send me a meal as quickly as
he could. | intended To end my tourney
before sunset, and sleep that night in
my uucle's house. He took my orders
nlocidIv and conducted mo In the nar-
lor II was emntv and | sot down hv
an omen window IN look out unon the
village street heynn to md in my
chair
And with this nodding came a pleas
ant dream. and. OF course. it was about
her whom was on my way to meet.
It seemed that | saw her standing in
sunny orchard, with ripening apples
over her head and her face and dress
were heeked with the moving shadows
OF leaves. The grass was high about
her feet. reaching. indeed almost to
her knees: her brown hair noated free
about her shoulders; and there was a
sweet smile ON her lips. and so iuvit-
ing glance In her eyes. that | made
forward as though to clasp her
Nay. Cousin Nigel a. she said, wait
Cousin Nigel ,' and stepped back All
my thought at once became how to
win this fair creature of the orchard.
but with that awoke. and found NV
self in the parlor OF the George and
Dragon. and there was a maid setting
ont NV meal
As turned 10 the table there was a
great noise Of wheels and shouting
and | stood up to see what sort of tray
eler came with such a tumult of ar
rival. A chalse drew up before the
door. \ very elegantly dressed man
stepped out and handed forth woman
after him: she took his hand timidlv
without loolinr int. bis ta,o I'D
saw that she would have freed ii again
long before he had mind 10 let il 20
She held her head so low that could
not get a clear sight Of her face at ;ha,
moment. but her figure was so graceful
and slim. and. as II were with spch
force OF youth In II. that | felt myself
happy only to have looked upon II /
did not like the look OF the girls COM
panion. and liked il less when | saw
him al close quarters later ON.
sat down to the table while my gen
fleman was giving his orders which ho
did with small courtesy and gre,t
noise. and had already made good way
with an excellent cold capon before tho
new guests were ushered into the
room The man hesitated for mo-
ment when he saw that the place was
already occupied but after looking me
up and down in manner that made
the blood tingle in my cheeks. he came
in without more ado aud drew the girl
after him. She had been crying; the