Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-11-03
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DROUGHT TO TERMS:



Julia Raymond was Dainton's cousin,
and he had been dangling about her for a
month. Discouraged Mt his want of sue
cess, he determined to go away from her.
He had unfortunately stuffed his
third portmantcau when n letter was
brought to him. Cad" he thought,
"from Julia! Why can't she leave me
alonc?' 1t was IL dainty mssive, ask
ing him to dine with her that night. 1--WE
two together" she wrote, quite to our
selves. Did you say You were going
away today? But that will not matter;
you can go as well tomorrow"
| He sat down to think the matter out.
| He was determined to leave by the mid
night train. but he saw no particular rea-
son why he should not spend the evening
with her Her house lay between him
and the station: there was not much time
| to lose, and since she chose to send her
invitations at so ridiculously short n no
ticc he considered that he might appro-
| priatcly take his luggage with him. Ac-
| cordingly at s o'clock he chartered n cab,
which, loaded with his impcdimcnta
went trailing heavily off toward Miss
| Raymond'S house.
Julia. from an upper window, was as
tonishcd to see Dainton experimenting
| the unloading of the cab before her door.
| Indeed, she was distinctly angry and
| came down to meet him in a very high
and offended spirit. His three portman-
teaus were piled together in the hall
crowned with hatbox. a few chaotic
| parcels and a gun case.
"You see, Julia" Dainton said, 81 have
come"
| "You seem to have come to stay
| I ~ hn CniI phppr.
| fully. you see, l am half way to the
station here. 1t was really too much
bore to think of going back to my place
| again tonight, and SO | brought my bag
| gage along"
ut was very thoughtful of you," she
| said.
Every 1 was astonished at my own
| discretion"
| She looked at him closely. He was
| quite happy and unconcerned apparently,
| and Juia's anger gave way to disappoint-
| ment. She had thought he would not
| go.
"You are really going tonightT'
| 81 am really going. In three hours
and n half l shall be gone"
| And when are you coming back"
81 really don't know. 1t entirely de-
| ponds on circumstances"
ION what circumstancesT
| "Im afraid | cannot tell you"
The first half hour at dinner was rath'
| er silent. Dainton had a pleasant feeling
| of security. Somehow the thought of his
| luggage in the hall solaced him. His
game, he considered, was to wait Ger
| tainly ,Juia's mood was unusually gen.
tie. He had never seen her quite so be-
wichingly sincere. Also he had never
felt so much in love with her before. The
| situation was one to be sedulOusly
nurscd.
81 hate partings." said Julia, "even lit
tie, unimportant ones like this"
"Do you" said Dainton. Yes, l sup
pose they are rather sad"
"Sad is hardly the word, is it?"
perhaps not. Would you use a strong
er word?'
81 should say they were foolish"
ooh, no, not foolish. Only necessary"
"But are they necessary?'
"My dear cousin" he said, you ask
such searching questions. To answer you
in general terms | should say yes"
but in this particular instance" she
asked. She looked Mt him with n great
purple grape pressed against her lips.
SIN this particular instance" he an
swered slowly, 1T is eminently necessary
for me-" She flushed n little and drop
ped her eyes. Dainton was feeling deli
ciOuSly confident by this time. He was
infinitely glad that he had come. Julia
shot quick, inquiring glance at him
over the rim of her wineglass, slipped
and set it down.
Il suppose" she said, that for some
people it is the easiest thing in the world
to break a pleasant friendship"
'AS easy" said Dainton, prompted by
a sudden inspiration, ''as to break this
He empticd his glass and broke the stem
across the middle.
"Oh," she cried, chow could you! You
are so practical in your illustrations.
cannot match that glass"
"Thcn will match it for you"
Il bought them last year in Florence"
"Then | will go to Florence"
"Oh, you need not trouble, thank you
| can find the address,"
but | should like to be of some serv
ice to you. Julia. Cousinship surely ad
mits of that, and l may as well so tc
Florence as anywhere"
you are very strange, and. If l may
say SO, very silly tonight"
You must remember" he said, "that
| am leaving YOU"
| GU are gong entirely OF your own nc
cord"
"Of course" he said, "if you wish me
to stay
'My dear cousin" she began.
'No, not on those terms. If | stay yor
must forget this cousinship, Julia. have
been very patient, haven't I?'
81 am afraid she said, Il don't quite
understand"
"Oh, yes" he said rising, you do. Yor
know | have been patient" He took hel
hand. This is very pretty hand" he
said "for cousin" She did not seem to
mind his familiarity in the least. Sup
pose" he went on, that next year We
go to Florence together for long time?
He kissed the hand he held and had tC
fight hard to keep his self possession.
as this" she said, ''to be considered ;
proposa?"
"precscly," he answered. Shall it bC
next ycar?'
"My dear cousin" she said, "let it be
when you like"
He had to hurry woefully to catch hi
train. II must go. julia" he said. 81
made up my mind. and must keep th'
first strong resolution | ever made, but
shall be back in a week"
He came back in three days.-Ex
change.
Water Soaked Logs.
On the shore of the river near West