The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-08


Of June. 1t was a court surrounded
on all sides by the walls of high
houses, under one of which the sally
port ran.
The walks were graveled. the flow
er beds were in exquisite order, and
In the middle of the space circle
was marked off by hedge Of box
wood Directly opposite the entrance
to this circle was little gray stone
statue of some nondescipt Venus.
At the foot of the pedestal stood a
little iron table, and all round the
hedge of lockwood was circle Of iron
chairs.
Miss Knollys had pale gold hair,
beautiful blue eyes, the proverbial
English skin Of milk and roses, and
her name was Violet, as an English
girls should be. She wore white
waist and tan linen skirt, and she
was fresh and wholesome looking, but
there was not vestige Of style about
her
She was sitting with her slippered
toes ossed-pigeon-toed-and her
slippers had low, fiat heels-what
more eloquent statement Of her utter
lack Of coquetry! she was en-
roidering on an enormous tea cloth
Rcimens of all. the flowers Of the
arranged in heavy wreath
the hem.
~ is it SO evident I'm Eng
she asked, scowling a little as
laid strand of scarlet silk over
pale pink rose, and then calmly be-
Z gan to execute art by picking out
with it the high lights on the unof-
Tending flower.
Didn't you tell me that you had
been working on that thing for two
years?" asked Dicky.
''Yes.'
well. an American girl would
either have finished it in week or
have put it in the fire, or have given
1t to the cook"
"Oh! Mr.. Morris. why?' asked
Miss Knollys, in mild establishment.
Because they do everything in a
hurry in our country said Dicky.
"But they couldn't do this in hur-
ry." protested Miss Knollys.
Then they wouldn't do it at ALL"
said, Dicky. Il don't believe they'd
do it at all, anyway. l. know mother
buys all her stuff like that in the
shops or at the woman's exchange.
"Oh! Isn't your mother fond of nee
dlework?"
My mother? | believe she could
make ball gown out of carpet in
fifteen minutes il she wanted to; she
Is so awfully clever. but she hates
the sight of a needle"
ooh! how unfortunate" said Miss
Knollys.
.'Why?" demanded Dicky.
sOh! woman who doesn't sew
must so often be at a loss for occupa-
ton"
Goodness, no! Why, mothers al
ways on the go. She goes out good
deal and belongs to all kinds of clubs
and yet she manages to be at home a
good deal, too, and she and dad sit
and hold each others hands and call
each other dear They're fond of
each other. Are yours?"
you have no right to ask me such
question" said Miss Knollys. cold.
iy.
"Oh, yes have. You know very
well that I'm in love with you"
"And does that constitute right to
pry into private affairs?"
ut isn't prying. I am naturally in
terested in your ideas of marriage"
There was d silence for moment.
Then Miss Knollys said:
my mother was in love with her
second cousin. captain in the Guards.
The second son OF lord was in love
with her. The eldest son was deli
cate and a confirmed bachelor She
married the second son. Then the
eldest son married and has now four
boys. In my country we think a
great deal Of rank. Those are my ideas
of marriage
Well, they're silly ideas." said
DiclE. You'd better get over them
VIII you marry me?"
IN cant" said Miss Knollys, faint
ly. binding over her work.
"Beause of the littleS French
couIf?" said Dicky, not impertinently
pr Jealously.
>Rr head bent stiil lower and she
honestly care anything fol