Middletown transcript., 1905-04-15

Then she Strengthened her white cuiis
involuntarily, and went to open the door.
She was nervous and gave her visitors
cold welcome, but Betty Foster was equal
to a hundred cold shoulders.
1t was she who did all the talking dur
ing the quarter of an hour which the
visit lasted. She put string of questions
as to board, Ere, and bed, and hoped
that the new schoolmistress would be
happy and not disappointed in so dull
a place as Cranleigh. Reg sat by her
side and employed his eyes more than
his tongue. Both of them did their
utmost to be agreeable, and both half
expected that the schoolmistress would
show a little regret when they stood up
to say good bye. But Miss Earle merely
gave grave little bow, and wished them
good afternoon calmly.
When the pair had got beyond the
yew-hedge they stood still.
"Wel p said Miss Betty emphatically.
"What OH earth is she here for ?' said
Reg and then he added slyly, "Are you
going to reckon her among your unfor-
tunates, Bet ?''
Betty gave an odd little laugh and as
she tramped back at his side she specu-
lated What John Moncrieff and the strange
girl had talked about as they had driven
together through that bitter night. But
Miss Foster was very busy little person
with a hundred hobbies and fads, and
the visit to the Cottage soon faded from
her mind. She had big house to man.
age for her father FIVE miles away from
Cranleigh, and such. person as Miss
Earle naturally did not cross her path.
1t was just a month later, when the
trees were trying to forget the cruel frost
and to push out shy leaves against the
pale blue sky, that the fact OF Christian
Earle's existence was brought to her
notice again.
She had driven her ponies into Gran
leigh forge to have loose shoe rectiied,
and, while waiting for the needed repair,
had set off for brisk walk towards the
Moss-a sedge-hung pond on the borders
Of the village where the first primroses
peeped out.
As she neared the stile which led to
the pond, she saw two figures coming
along the smooth greensward they were
looking towards the water, whence
startled wild duck flew upwards noisily.
Both walked with light and springing
tread, both were tall, one OF them was
a man and the other woman. Betty
saw them plainly they were Reginald
Moncrieff and the schoolmistress.
Betty drew back rapidly from the stile.
They we're evidently quite engrossed and
there was time to escape. Acting OH the
impulse of the moment, she ran for the
bend of the lane. When she was shell
tered by the curve,of the road, she stood
still with her hand at her side and
frowned.
81 wish that l knew what it meant. l
hope to goodness that Reg isn't playing
the fool Or is it the girl? Reg is a
splendid fellow when he has got John to
guide him, otherwise Bother Reg
He is an idiot p
She delivered that opinion in her usual
decisive manner, and then walked quickly
back to the forge. She ordered about
the blacksmith and his son and his wife
for the space of five minutes, and then
sprang into her seat and whirled away
home. AS she passed the schoolhouse
she glanced inv oluntarily at its ivy-cov-
cred walls, but hastily turneL her gaze
elsewhere.
Some one was standing on the door
step-a tall and finely-built man with
fiorid face and keen black eyes. He
was person whom Miss Foster only
acknowledged if there was no possibility
OF finding anything else to look at.
$50 Saturday is Miss Earle's off-day,"
said Betty, setting her lips, ''and she
keeps two strings to her bow l don't
wonder at her liking Reg. But Parsons
Ugh! l shiver when have to shake
hands with him. Dear me, it is funny
really funny y
Probably if Miss Foster had possessed
as indiscreet tongue as many of her
sex he would have carried this tit bit of
news from tea table to tea table in the
course of the week, but she was neither
malicious nor scandal-loving, and thought
it as well to keep the incident to herself.
She would pump Reg on convenient
occasion, and find out how much or how
little the walk by the Moss meant.
She rather wished tnat the convenient
occasion would occur soon, for she took
warmer interest in the light hearted
young man at the Vicarage than she
choose to acknowledge. But just at this
time an aunt in Park Lane fell ill, and
Betty was sent for to nurse her, SO that
she had no leisure in which to consider
the welfare OF Reg, and Reg went his own
way placidly.
He generally managed to do what he
wished undisturbed, and SO he laughed
lightly when he made up his mind to go
to the Cottage second time-to lend
a book was his excuse-and decided that
he was acting very unselfish, generous,
and considerate part. 1t was quite evil
dent that the girl was above her position,
and that she was lonely, and also that
her taste in books was cultivated What
nobler or more kindly act therefore could
this young man perform than to consti-
tute himself her friend, and to educate
her literary leanings?
1t was a mild March twilight when
he walked up the path to the pretty
building standing upon the green, and
saw the freight twinkling through the
lattice-panes. He felt an element Of
pleasurable novelty in the circumstances
of this visit as lie waited in the porch.
How would she look? What would she