The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.

| NJ cunt lt0lyOke ana hcCoIulhBly sAS "
elned Mr.. knights offer, greatly to his
disappointment and that Of many others.
| One morning about a week after her
return she announced her intention OF
visiting her mothers grave. Il am ac-
customed to so much exercise" said she,
that | can easily walk three miles, and
perhaps on my way home | shall get
ride"
Mrs. Mason made no objection, and
Mary was soon on her way. She was
rapid walker, and almost before she was
aware of it reached the village. As she
came near Mrs. Campbelfs the wish nat
orally arose that Ella should accompany
her. Looking up, she saw her sister in
the garden and called to her
"Wha-a-t?" was the very loud and I'M
civil answer which came back to her, and
n moment Ella appeared round the cor
ner of the house, carelessly swinging her
straw hat and humming fashionable
song On seeing her sister she drew
back the corners of her mouth into some
thing which she intended for a smile, and
said, why, l thought it was Bridget
calling me, you looked so much Ike her
In that Bingham sunbonnet. Won't you
come in 2"
THANK you" returned Mary. 81 was
going to moSher's grave, and thought per-
haps you would like to accompany me"
"Oh, no." said Ella, In her usual drawl-
ing tone, II don't know as | want to go.
was there last week, and saw the mon
ument."
what monument| asked Mary, and
Ella replicd:
"Why, didn't you know that Mrs. Ma
son, or the town, or somebody, had
bought a monument, with mothers and
fathers and Franky's and Allies names
on itY'
| Mary, hurrying on, soon reached the
graveyard, where, as Ella had said, there
stood by her parents graves a large,
handsome monument William Bender
was the first person who came into her
mind and as she thought Of all that had
passed between them, and of this last
proof of his affection, she seated herself
among the tall grass and flowers which
grew upon her mothers grave and burst
into tears. She had not sat there long
ere she was reused by the sound Of a
footstep. Looking up, she saw before her
the young gentleman who the year pre-
vious had visited her school In Rice Cor
ner. Seating himself respectfully by her
side, he spoke of the three graves and
asked II they were her friends who slept
there. There was something so kind and
affectionate In his voice and manner that
Mary could not repress her tears, and,
snatching up her bonnet, which she had
thrown aside, she hid her face in 1t and
again wept
For a time Mr.. Stuart suffered her to
weep, and then gently removed the ging
ham bonnet, and, holding her hand be
tween his, he tried to divert her mind by
talking upon other topics, asking her how
she had been employed during the year,
and appearing greatly pleased when told
that she had been at Mount Holyoke
Observing at length that her eyes CON
stantly rested upon the monument, he
spoke of that, praising its beauty, and
asking II it were her taste.
mo-" said she. II never saw 1t until
to-day, and did not even know 1t was
here"
Someone wished to surprise you,
dare say" returned Mr.. Stuart at was
manufactured in Boston, | see. Have
you friends thereT
Mary replied that she had one, a Mr..
Bender, to which Mr.. Stuart quickly re-
joined. rs it William Bender? l have
heard of him through our mutual friend,
George Moreland, whom you perhaps
have seen"
Mary felt the earnest gaze Of the large,
dark eyes which were fixed upon her
face, and coloring deeply, she replied that
they came from England in the same YES
sell
"Indeedw said Mr.. Stuart. "When
return to the city shall | refresh his mem
DRY a little with regard to you?"
I'D rather you would not" answered
Mary. "Our paths in life are very diff
ferent; and he, of course, would feel no
interest in me-"
Am to conclude that you, too. feel
no interest in himp returned Mr.. Stuart,
and again his large eyes reseted on
Mary's face with curious expression.
But she made no reply, and, soon rising
up said it was time for her to go home.
Vacation was over, and again in the
halls of Mo1nt Holyoke was heard the
tread of many feet, and the sound of
youthful voices as one by one the pupils
came back to their accustomed places
For time Mary was undecided whether
to return or not, for much as she desired
an education she could not help feeling
delicate about receiving 1t from a stran-
ger, but Mrs. Mason, to whom all her
thoughts and feelings were confided, adj
yised her to return, and accordingly the
first day of the term found her again at
Mount Holyoke, where she was warmly
welcomed by her teachers and compan.
Ions. Still, it did not seem like the olden
time, for Ida was not there, and Jenny's
merry laugh was gone.
Patiently and perseveringly through the
year she studied, storing her mind with
useful knowledge; and when at last the
annual examination came, not one in the
senior class stood higher, or was grad
uated with more honor than herself, Mrs.
Mason, who was there, listened with all
a parents pride and fondness to her
adopted child. as she promptly responded
to every question. But 1t was not Mrs.
Mason's presence alone which melted
Mary to do so well. Among the crowd
of spectators she caught glimpse of n
face which twice before she had seen
once in the school room at Rice Corner
and once in the graveyard at Chieopee.
Turn which way she would, she felt rath-
er than saw how intently Mr.. Stuart
watched her, and when at last the exer-
cises were over and she with others
arose to receive her diploma, she invol
unfairly glanced in the direction whence
she knew he sat. For an instant their
eyes met, and In the expression of his
she read an approval warmer than words
could have expressed.
That night Mary sat alone in her room,