Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-08-22

Mr.. Darrah was an old friend of the
TIancocks' but it was several years
since they had seen him, owing to his
long absence abroad. He happened to
be travelling through their part of the
country, and finding that he should be
obliged to pass the night at Eastern
Junction, only ten miles distant from
Hardwick, he had hired horse and
carriage and driven over to call upon
his friends.
They were delighted to see him, and
Hospitality urged him to spend the
night. He declined the invitation. how
ever, as he wished TO take the first
train in the morning from the juno
ton, and SO must drive back that even
ing.
They assured him that he could not
escape dining with them, as they had
postponed their dinner until eight
o'clock on account of the children's
party. He expressed his pleasure at
being able to do so. and they were in
full tide of earnest conversation when
Mile came into the room.
He was in the midst of sentence
when his eye fell upon her, and he sud
denly stopped, evidently much i'm
pressed in some way by her appear
ance. He watched her intently while
she played, and at the close, when
others were applauding her for hav-
ing done so remarkably well, he went
over TO the piano and began to talk to
her.
Mrs. Hancock, seeing his interest in
the child, proposed to Mile that she
should take him to the refreshment
tent for an ice. The arrangement was
most agreeable to both of her guests
who were soon on such friendly terms
that the gentleman went so far as to
admire his companions dress.
eff you can buy such pretty things in
Hardwick." said he, 81 shall advise my
lady friends to come here to do their
spring shopping.'
81 guess you were never in our Hard
wick stores" answered Mile, laugh
ing merrily at the idea. mo, indeed,
this dress came from Paris!" and not
without pride, she glanced at her com
panion to observe the effect she was
producing by her surprising state
ment.
He looked as startled as she could
have wished.
'Ts that where you do your shop
ping?" he inquired, smiling, though his
voice had a curious sharp ring.
! "Oh. no, of course not, / never was
, there. My music teacher gave me this
/ And her name?" he asked, breath
lessly.
Miss Lester" said Mile.
He drew a sharp breath. "Miss Mar
garet Lester?" he demanded
"Yes, that is her name" replied Mil
lie surprised in her turn at his excite
ment.
And she is not married ?" continued
Mr.. Darrah.
"No, indeed She is all alone. Her
mother died last year, and she is very
sad and lonely"
"Where does she live?" he asked, alb
ruptly. "Not in this town."
eyes. Just below here" Mile replied
"you can see the house from here; that
yellow one with the cupola," pointing
it out.
Thank you very much" said her
strange companion, and in a moment
he was outside the grounds, hurrying
down the street.
Dinner was over, and the evening
passed, and still nothing was seen OF
Mr.. Darrah. The clock had struck II;
the coarhman had come in to inquire
if he should put the gentleman's horse
up for the night, and the family were
debating as to the advisability of re
firing. when the culprit appeared
breathless and heated as though from
hurrying.
When he could speak he began his
apologies. He was assured that he
could he pardoned on only one condi
ton; that he make Il full and free eX
PLANTATION of his erratic behavior.
lie agreed that his rudeness demand
ed it. and. not without confusion, re
lated his story.
Three wears before, while living in
Paris, where his business interests de
manded his presence, he had met Miss
Lester and become engaged to her
Then a wretched misunders tandinG
arose, and they quarreled and parted
To change the prOverb slightly. "TheS
quarreled in haste, to repent at leis
ure." Soon after the Testers left
Paris and returned to America. He
heard accidently of Mr.. Testers death
and then rumor reached him of tn,
young lady's approaching marriage
but he soon lost all trace of her. On his
return TO America the previous winter
he tried in vain for news of her. They
had no mutual friends of whom HI