The Newtown bee., 1900-05-11
ange blossoms came before him.

ange blossoms came before him.
 We'll, supposing she did break the en- gsgement? Another piece of hard luck On, but she would not do that-she could mot do it; land he would explain about the broken eccentric and make it all right as soon as he got home.
 "Ah, the country is a fine place." he unused as he walked along toward Mrs Darlington's inn. "How happy people must be who live here. No smoke. no jam, no roar, no business-by Jovel No business; well, that in itself is a com- fortipg thought. My! how lovely these roses are; red as red can be. I wish Ethel had some-but, no, she has orange flowers to-day. almost forgot"
 But ashe plucked one and inhaled it's perfume, he thought: "Well, they are only imitationg-these are real"
 A few steps more and he was within Mrs Darlington's dominions. The gate shut behind him with bang. What 8 quaint old place it was. The house had truly the appearance of an linn" in every sense of the word and not of 8 boarding house, as Dobbins had said. No one seemed about. As he raised the old fashioned knocker few drops of rain fell upon his hand. The shower had commenced. We'll, he would find & temporary shelter here and think over what to do. AS the door opened he be- held the sweetest-faced old lady he had seen in many day, and a sudden fancy came to him that they had mutual sym- pathies.
 "Is this Mrs Darlington ?" he asked as he raised his hat. She nodded. 'The train met with an accident at the cross road" he continued. Broke an eccen. tric and can't leave until morning. I rode up with MT Dobbins and he referred me to you for rest, shelter and bite to eat. Could you accommodate me?" and he gave her one of his sweetest smiles. "Why, certainly; indeed I can. Come right in. Here is our parlor. Tell me all about the accident. I am so anxious for little naws. There's not much gets here as rule."
 { Halliday looked aroud. What 8 cozy place! Old-fashioned as could be; lace curtains and dry grasses in vases, and family portraits on the walls. But what caught his eye was the furniture. It was the old black horse-hair covered sofa | that carried him back to his childhood days, when he lived with grandpa down on the farm, and nothing was 80 nice ae on hot summer afternoons to lay his ruddy cheeks against the cool covering and listen to the bees. What happy days! He seemed to feel 80 much al home, and the comedy widow appeared like some reguscitated relative from the past-perhaps Aunt Jane; no, Aunt Mary! We'll, he couldn't tell, but some body he had loved in those faraway days anyway. With conflicting memories stirring in him, he sat down with sigh ot gratitude. He felt weary.
 "Yes." answered, "a bad accident and most unfortunate for me. You see just as we reached the crossroads, the train came to 8 dead stop. We al rushed out. and in the commotion my hat got smashed. It YVES not very pleasant When we go out they said an eccentric had broken, and there was no chance tt 1 go on until morning. As for me was ir hard luck. You see" And then Halli day told the little woman all about his trouble, and how old Dobbins had carried him to the combination emporium, be hind his raw-boned "Ike", and lastly how the cross-eyed individual had told him the wires were down.
 As he ceased, he turned the rose around and around, as if in quandary.
 "Well, never nind, Mr Halliday" she said, sympatheticalIy s'Although it's all very unfortunate, Pm sure your sweet. heart won't do as she has said. Why, il is not your fault, and she could not have the heart to break your engagement SC cruelly.''
 1T dread the outcome, at any rate," he rejoined. "Just think of the diaappoint. ment and humiliation; the minister, old Smith, and all the relatives, and poor Ethel all dressed up, waiting, waiting, waiting. It's to horrible to think of And out of sheer perverseness, or sense of the ridiculous, engenGered by the thought of old Smith blinking like an owl, and pompous Lovejoy in convulsions of injured dignity, he burst out laughing in which, notwithstanding tear stealing down her cheek, the little widow joined
 Make the best of it, she exclaimed, sand all will come out right. In the