The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-09-25

| luIHSu " NdplilH NNliIIIl, lOiliS liC HOS
pitable honorS of the moment for her all
sent parents.
"Thcy will be SO glad to see you thi:
evening"" said she: land ifyou don't mine
coming with me, we will soon find tht
boys-my brothers, | mcan-and The
boat and Ill ferry you across. Papa
will be sorry he was out, but of cours,
he went to meet mamma"
And then droll smile began to lurl
again about her lips at the notion (nh
treason. treasonM of her quiet, old papa
having ever had a fancy for any one
other than the said mamma" and
Captain Ryland came to the conclusion
that the squires daughter was the most
delightful substitute for her elders, and
blessed the chance that sent his steps
a-straying up this path.
Perhaps, thrown off his guard by this
unceremonious introduction, he expressed
his satisfaction n little too warmly, or
lva's righteousness took fright at COM
pliments-a conversational vol-au-vcnt
for which she had no taste; but her shy
ness came back with a rush. and instead
of lettering down the uneven way, she
sprang on alone, never SO much as look
ing to see if he were following, and gained
the greensward by the river before her
companions less accustomed feet had
half made the descent
The moment he reached her-"Now
said she. with a young imperiousness
that was vastly amusing, "stay here, if
you please, and rest. can run for John
and Harold. l shall go much more quick
ly alone"
But Forbid it, all ye shades of chival-
ry.." thought Captain Ryland, and begged
for leave to join the search so hunibly
that it was graciously accorded, and
Herewith set in an innocent afternoon
romance for in the languid heat along
the valley that search proved most
desultory affair.
There is no particular need to hurry,
if MIR. Hurst won't be at home for couple
of hours, suggested the young man;and
Iva agreeing. with the recollection that
her brothers, coming upstream, must
pass this point, they staid their ramblc
by little hill rivulet that riIpled down
its stronger sister, margincd with whisp-
ering reeds and blue forgct-me-nots, and
on huge ichen-tiuted stone, among
springing ferns and sprays of wild white
roses, sat and waited most contcntcdly.
More than contentedly. For Wallis
Ryland, at pains to undo his first blundcr,
put out the strength of his ten years
seniority to please; and Iva, with all the
frankness of seventeen, was so ready to
he propitiated that they were quickly on
the best OF terms, she gliding, willing as
a child into the present hours enjoy
ment, he entangled every moment more
in the fresh charms of his young listener
With the swallows circling overhead
under the clear sky, no sound near save
the rustling of many leaves and the rush
of cleaning waters, the most sensible of
mortals would have found it hard to be
prosaic.
To be sure, their words were common
place enough-he telling of chance en-
counter that brought about this visit to
his mothers old friend; she talking of her
home, her father, her brothers, their many
pets, of which it was easy to perceive she
was the chief. There was something
now commonplace to him, and new to
her. in the lowered tone in which the
young soldier declared that chance ell
counter stroke of rare good fortune to
him, and when she turned a pair ofloving
eyes toward the gables of her home, just
visible on the opposite bank, asked,
Would she never care to leave that home
newer"
Then into very wonderland followed
Iva, while her companion told-and told
well-of far-off countries where for eight
years he had seen service, and had run
the gauntlet of risks that had sent scores
of men about him to their graves.
Desdemona-like, she hung signing upon
stories such as she had never heard be-
fore, and saw in this fair-haired guest of
her aunt's the nearest embodiment of
real hero she had ever known.
"But you were safe" she cried, with
rising color and long, quivcring breath
at the climax of some danger whcrcout
he had come scathless, thanks to his
steed's swiftncss. "And OH l am so
glad that"
THAT" echoed the young man, lean
ing little nearer.
THAT our Harold is not to be a sol
der" finished Iva, so scattering warmer
words that different answer would as
suredly have betrayed Captain Ryland
into uttering.
Thus quickly the minutes went by. The
shadows heightened, the golden light
gathered about the tree-tops; and not
one thought did these young people give
to time till church-bcll, sounding over
the hillside, startled Iva.
"Six o'clock she exclaimed, opening
wide her eyes, as if just waking, land the
boys not back. Perhaps they went the
other way, after all, and have left the
boat for me. Oh! it have kept you here
for nothing. | am so sorry"
but am not-I never shall be-" was
the reply, in a low tone, that stirred a
curious answering thrill. And must
we hurry now? Here, stay" as long
branch of roses caught her dress. "Let
me just gather you some of these before
we GO"
The boat was moored under the willow.
AS the occupants stepped out, one forgot
to let loose the hand that lay in his.
For a few seconds they fingered so, she
gazing over the peaceful meadows to the
dim Welsh hills, that all tonight seemed
dressed in some new beauty, he looked
down on her-bcauty enough for him.
Suddenly "Iva." shouted a boyish
voice, and Harold came racing down the
steep lane with flood of questions and
explainings ancnt fishing and wadiug
that lasted the whole way up the manor.
There the home party, earlier returned,
awaited them, Aunt Helen in their midst,
and someone, strange, whom she brought
forward, with many smiles, and, Nov
you'll forgive me for going of to Swanley
Junction alone. Captain Ryland. |
wanted to make sure of her company be-
fore | told Won q word about IL -