Middletown transcript., 1903-06-13

( priceless Jewel, and wondering
if I should ever meet my one, my
} only love again. Mrs. Mernel
; kept up ceaseless chatter, which
5 I hardly noticed till she was say
!, ing
This is my best friend, Mr.
g Leonard, Miss Pembroke, and We
: stood before my idol. She was
: far more beautiful now than or
t our former meeting; but she
. blushed and seemed so constrain.
q ed that thought it best to ignore
or forget that other meeting, and
to this end tried to keep up a
lively talk ON different topics of
no especial interest to anyone,
and this soon served to put her
at ease and make her so charm
, ing that I was more entranced
than before.
At the expiration of half an
: hour we were joined by her
! mother, to whom I was duly pre-
sented. I endeavored to make
an agreeable impression in that
quarter, and succeeded SO well
that when they bade me good
night at the carriage door, it was
with the understanding that I
would call on the following Wed
nesday evening.
In my new found happiness I
almost forgot Bland, and when I
did think of him at all it was with
the reflection that my diseased
Imagination had overestimated
his power over Mary Pembroke
and that the little dispute about
the ring might have been the
outgrowth of a mistaken claim on
one side or the other; but when
I recalled his malicious counte-
nance as he Kissed into her ear,
Beware, you know me, and her
evident alarm; and subsequent
silence on the subject, l was
forced to acknowledge to myself
that there was a mystery about
it, to solve which, / would do
anything in my power, provided
it could in any way contribute to
the happiness of Mary Pembroke.
One evening while walking in
the park, thinking of all this, l
heard near me familiar voice,
which grated harshly on my
ears; it said
Come, let US walk down the |
Elm Parade, it is quiet there
now, and we can talk more at |
our ease.
Looking intently through the
cleaning I saw it was Mr.. Bland,
and beside him was Miss Penn
broke. She did not answer in
words, but he, seeming to take
her silence for consent, led her
down the walk indicated, and the
next moment both passed from
my sight without having seen
me. After wandering listlessly
about for awhile, I resolved to call
at Mrs. Pembruke's house on the
ensuing evening and ask, not an
explanation, but if I could be of
service; for the expression of
despair on her lovely counte-
nance as she followed that man
from my sight, was, / thought,
a sufficient warrant for offering
my services.
I found both ladies at home,
and as agreeable as possible.
Mary was so lovely and enjoyed
myself so thoroughly in her So
ciety, that I would gladly have
banished Bland from my mind,
but for a look of listless melan-
choly that occasionally crept into
her face; in view Of this, I availed
myself of her mothers first alb
sence from the room to say
Forgive me if I seem to meddle,
but l cannot help seeing that Mr..
Bland is an unwelcome acquaint-
ance, and with your sanction
Let US not speak of him, she
interrupted in pleading tone.
He is a friend, frequent visitor
here, whom you will doubtless
like on better acquaintance.
hope you think better of me
than to suppose my words were
prompted by idle curiosity. Be-
lieve me, I would be of service
to you if I may, and if at any
time I can, do not hesitate to tell
me so.
A grateful tear glistened in her
bonnie eye as she replied with
much feeling, l believe you, Mr..
Leonard, thank you.
After this l frequently saw Mr..
Bland at the house, and as had
no pertinent reason for quarrel
ling with him, endeavored to con-
ceal my dislike of him, while