Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-10

| however. was as anxieuS FOR 4 fare
well peep at the mysterious beauty as
his companions.
This tiIue they were fortunate. When
they had gone past the inn, they
caught sigh: of tue pretty figure whom
they all had in their thoughts. and
they all pretended to view il with in
difference. Willie was the first 10 break
Gown in this assumption.
There she is" he said. in quite 4
tremulous voice HIS no use pre-.
tending we don't see her DO you
| think she'll run away If we get over
| the fence"
Clifford had already made the expert
! ment.
10 the great relief of the whole
| party. Nell turned slowly and waited
for sheir approach without a smile.
vita. indeed. sort of quiet defiance.
Il suppose" she said 10 Clifford. as
soon as he came up. you have come
20 say good-by. you and Your friends,
before you 20 back IL town."
She had remembered the date he had
given her for that event. then. This
was 4 ray of consolation. but she
gave him no other. She was cold. re-
served, almost hard. He felt So an
cry with her for her contemptuous dis
regard of his feelings that he thought
for the moment that his passion was
extinguished 10y II. However. she un-
ben. so far as To invite them all in 10
tea. and the three young men were
much puzzled as TO which of them it
was who had procured them this fay.
or Conybeare seemed to he. ON the
whole. the one To whom she talked
the most: Clifford was. without any
doubt. the one OF whom she took the
least notice.
The meal. on the whole. was
pleasant one. although Claris himself
was more taciturn than he had been
OH that unlucky day when he and Nell
and Clifford had spent such merry
hour in the little sitting-room.
Now the weather had changed: the
autumn winds were whistling about
the little inn. and the blue sea had
become dark-gray line. fecked with
white crestS. There was 4 fire in the
little CRATE. and il was when Otto
Conybeare moved quickly forward to
poke it for Nell that the incident &C.
Cured which was TO throw shadow
over the meeting.
In passing side-table upon which
stood 4 wicker work basket, Otto
dragged the cloth Off. and brought the
basket and all the rest of the things
on the table with 4 crash TO the floor
Willie. who was near him. went down
on his knees with apologies for Otto's
clumSiness
He thinks it's manly. you know, TO
show cOntemptuous Indifference to
such feminine trifies. A sure sign of
genius. you know. Miss Claris. and
You must excuse il. as it's the only
sign he's got. Oh. and just look ut
the pretty things he's been trampling
under his great intellectual feet
And Willie held up to the astonished
gaze of the rest glittering jewel
which sparkled in the freight
For a moment there was an oppres.
F'AfE ntu -Nttl. pane anu dSl-
tatcd. snatched it from him with fin
gers so unsteady that the trinket fell
10 the floor again. Ii was Clifford who
picked it NJ this time and gave it to
The girl without 4 word. Nell woulh
have put it back into her basket. but
George Claris. on whom the appalled,
silence OF the young men had not been
ln- 81 1T
TO give ii to him.
What is the thinS:' he asked
sharply.
Only one of n pair o? old-fashioned
earrings. uncle" answered Nell. with
emotion. which no efforts on her par;
could hide.
Earrings I didn't know you had
any. Where did YOU get them: Who
gave them to your
For one moment the girl fenced with
him. trying TO treat the matter lightly.
as she got upon chair and placed the
work-basket at the top of the high
cupboard by the fireplace. But George
Claris was not man to be trified with
Selling the girl by the shoulder so
roughly that he almost dragged her
10 the ground. lie tore the work basket
out of her hands. flung back the lid
and turned ont the contents upon tie
table. the chairs. anywhere. Until he
mad found both the earrings
Then he held them up Ia The light
critically: then he looked ut Nell with
Il puzzled frown.
Who gave 'em to you:" lie asked
sharply.
The young men. trying to hide their
interest III her answer hy talking
among themselves. yet listened eager
ly. She blushed. stammered then
turned white as she said:
''The colonel gave them to me-
Colonel Bostal. All least. he ana Miss
Theodore"
George Claris rubbed one of the ear
rings on his sleeve. and then rather
quickly thrust them both our OF sight
under little pile of old papers and
magazines which had been replaced
upon the side-table.
We'll. l don't know what folks wan.
spending mozey on jew'lry for. wnen
You can get Just as good TO look at for