Middletown transcript., 1904-03-12
what made you come here 80 suddenlya

stole round her lips.
Aunt and 7 agreed that II was bette
for me to come here while you wer'
away, she said demurely. You can asl
her to tell you her reasons the next tim,
you see her. But do you want me to x
to Cowes? Are you SO anxious to get rio
of met
/ should 70 too, OF course, he sale
hastily. What would you like to do
That is the question.
Somewhere deep down IN Stella's hear
there was the consciousness that sht
would be miserable at Cowes-miserablt
anywhere away from the Grange. Bu
she pretended to hesitate, looking smil
ingly at her lover.
| Molly said that you spoiled me, slis
answered after q second or two; for
know that you hate Cowes. remembel
your telling me 80. MOL win stay herr
| please. | want to. And / am really =
comfort to Molly. She will tell you so
will aak her to come down now, and
you shall hear what she says.
Molly appeared just as luncheon was
announced. There was only time for .
word or two before they went into the
dining room. Alan had determined be
forehand to greet her with the affection
ate friendliness that future brother had
a right to show, but he found this ina
possible. His fingers were as icy as hers
as he took her hand for an instant, and
his voice was studiously cold. He made
the proper inquiries for Miss Passinghanl
and asked If there we're anything which
he could do. They must make use ol
him i'll every way, he said. He should
feel that he must keep away from the
house If they did not.
But it was SO coldly said, and with
such an evident effort, that Stella felt at
first impatient and then distressed. II
would be dreadful il lie and Molly were
not going to get on. In little while,
when she had learned to feel quite at
home with him again as che used to feel
in Scotland, she would tell him that she
meant Molly to live with them. lie
would have to understand that she never
meant to be parted for very long from
Molly egain.
Luncheon was rather silent meal ,and
directly it was over Molly went back to
Catharine's room. Alan had an appoint
ment to keep with his uncle's bailiff, but
he stayed for short time, and it was
then that Stella told him of her secrecy
concerning their engagement. She did
not tell him that the disclosure had prob
ably helped to bring on Catharine's
paralytic seizure. He looked grave
enough without that ; he seemed quite
hurt and displeased. And he did not
regain his good humor before going
away. Stella gave an unmistakable sigh
Of relief when she saw his upright, square
shouldered figure disappear behind the
trees. She stood at the window for some
moments longer, breathing the sweetness
of the summer air. It was sunny. but a
delicious breeze was blowing. It was
the very afternoon for walk. II only
Anthony would come and take her for
one OF their long rambles !
The wish had risen up before she was
aware OF it--not mere feeting wish, but
longing that took hold Of her, and mas
tered her altogether for the moment.
She knew now why the day had seemed
so blank, even with Alan to talk to.
Alan was too grave, too old to fill An
thongs place. And he had grown older
and grayer since they parted. Why did
not Anthony Gomez He could not be so
angry with her as to intend to keep away
altogether.
Even as she said this to herself che
caught a glimpse OF him through the
trees. Her face grew red and then
turned pale. She felt afraid to meet him
lest he might look at her as he had looked
the night before. She went quickly to
the dining room, where James was clear
ing the luncheon table, and told him that
she was going to lie down, and did not
wish to be disturbed unless Miss Molly
wanted her.
CHAPTER VII
Kind Mrs. Deane had asked the elder
girls in the Sunday School to tea on her
lawn, and Stella and Nina ChiIcot and
one or two of7the teachers had come to
help her entertain them. Just as tea
was over anthony made his appearance,
bringing with him basket of fine peaches
from his garden. He had been to Dart
moor for week trout-fishing, and bad
returned that morning.
For little while he had preserved in
the part which he had to play, and had
visited as usual at the Grange, where his
cheerfulness and friendly interest in her
engagement had somehow iritated Stella
almost beyond endurance. But after
some days Of this lie had eagerly accepted
the invitation Of friend to join him for
week.
1t had been even harder than lie had
expected TO see Stella and Alan Creighton
together-harder still to make cheerful
talk when with Stella alone. Yet he had
no sooner heard from his housekeeper Of
Mrs. Deane's Sunday School party than
he had sent her to get the peaches for
him TO take, down. He guessed that
Stella would be there, and lie meant to
walk back with her through the valley to
the Grange. He was craving 10 see her,
to speak to her, to touch her little hand,
to look into her clear gray eyes. He
knew that he was preparing bitter pain
for himself-that, he told himself, he
could bear-but he found life impossible
away from Stella. But for the promise
which he had given his friend he wonId
have come back long before the week
was over. It was torture to be near her,
but il was still more so to be away from
her.
Stella was talking to Mrs. Deane when
4 Tv.mA Il n