Middletown transcript., 1904-02-20

how our acquaintance UcRau. AitO'
that. he and uncle James and Harriet
were out every day together. Harriet il
the athletic one; she can use salmon rod
as well as uncle James or better. Belle
goes in for art and the ornamental side oi
life; she sketched great deal while We
we're in Scotland. ! was the only one
without accomplishments. / am grea'
Ounce, Mr.. West.
Are you? he said, smiling back at her
I am indeed, she returned, speaking
earnestly, but with mocking mischief
still shining in her eyes. Harriet and
Belle are very clever, you know. As
aunt Lydia used to tell me, everything
they attempted they did we'll. Now
am not bit like that.
Molly had been listening rather anx'
iously.
Stella dear, I am afraid you did moi
like your cousins very much.
Stella's eyebrows went up.
1t was quite the other way, Molly.
They did not like poor little me. But the
boys-Ned and Bertie-are dear little
chaps. We had some splendid times to-
gether in Perthshire, till Ned sprained
his ankle. All, that was an adventure,
Mollyl We were twelve miles from
everywhere, with Scotch mist, thicker
than most English fogs, coming on, and
poor Ned incapable of walking step.
Berthe and carried him for some yards,
and then gave it up as impossible. If We
had not met Mr.. Creighton
Stella checked herself, with the color
rising in her cheeks, but neither Molly
nor Anthony noticed it. Anthony had
turned sharply to speak to his dogs, who
were lying on the gravel outside the
window, and Molly had dropped her
glance to the table. A closer observer
than Stella would have seen that the
rigid stiffness of her attitude was due to
extreme agitation, but she spoke very
quietly.
M. Creighton? Is that Mr.. Alan
Creighton, Stella? He has bought place
i'll Perthshire lately, his cousins told me.
The color on Stella's cheeks deepened
to scarlet.
Yes-you know him, don't you? He
told me that he stayed here four years
ago. But his cousins are away now, are
they notP
Anthony turned round.
Yes-they are in Australia just at this
moment. One of the daughters is i'll.
How often sea voyage is prescribed by
the doctors now! Much iollier than med
icine or the Riviera! What do you
think, Miss Stella?
Stella had quite recovered from her
momentary confusion. She was looking
at him with amused eyes, grateful for the
sudden turn in the conversation, but
wondering at the abrupt embarrassed
way in which he got out his sentences.
Was he in love with the invalid daugh-
ter? she wondered.
I have never been for sea voyage,
she answered demurely. And I always
thought that the Riviera was such de-
lightful place. Why don't you like it?
But Molly spoke before he could an
swer. Her voice was perfectly steady,
and she looked at Stella with calm clear
shining eyes. Who was to guess that
her hands, hidden by the table, were
locked SO tightly together that the rings
were bruising her tender Hesl?
Mr.. Creighton stayed at Newlyn for
same weeks, Stella. We were all sorry
when he went away. He was a great
favorite. Is he going back to Africa?
Anthony breathed more freely as he
listened. He, like other people, always
avoided speaking of Mr.. Creighton before
Miss Mary. She and Mr.. Creighton had
been great friends when he had stayed at
Newlyn. 1t had indeed been rumored
more than once that they were engaged.
But, by the unexpected death of an uncle
md a cousin, Mr.. Creighton had become
. very rich man, and he had left Newlyn
not to return. Everybody
,ven his own cousins-had thought that
ne had behaved abominably, and it had
Srung Anthony's tender heart to see
Miss Mary had aged in the year after he
lad gone away. He was very glad now
o hear her speak so unconcernedly about
lin.
Oh. I don't think he will go back to
Africe! Stella had answered lightly. He
8 in the States now, but he is coming to
Sewlyn in August. He has rented it for !
he autumn. Didn't you know?
Anthony had known it for week, but
lad never found courage to speak of it at |
he Grange. The man who told him had |
dded that Creighton had just got en-
aged to girl in London hardly out of
he schoolroom. He wondered if Stella |
,new it, and if she was about to announce
he fact TO Miss Mary. He hastened to
10 his best to prevent her.
The shooting at Newlyn will be tame |
fter Africa, he remarked with laugh. |
suppoas Creighton has been in the |
labit of bagging half dozen lions before |
breakfast. But l must really go now,
Hiss Mary. May I come to breakfast to-
morrow? Miss Mary takes pity on ME
low that my sister is married, Miss Stella,
nd lets me breakfast with her whenever
ride this way.
You know that we are always delighted
zee you, said Molly in her kind voice.
md now You will have Stella to talk to.
We have been poor company for you
ately, am afraid. But l must 90 up
nd find out if Catharine is ready to see
GU, Stella. Anthony, show her the
reenhouse before you go. And pick
ome roses for Mrs. Deane. You can
eave them as you pass; l promised that
he should have some to-day. She wants
hem for the church.