The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1905-11-24

strances Of the others. she left the
game and returned 10 the house
Very timidly she made kI.Dwn her err.
rand To Mrs. Hancock. who smiled a
kind approval upon her. as she thanked
her. and told her that the children had
run away. thinking the game was given
up, but would probably soon return
In the meantime would not Millie PLAY
one of her pieces Mrs. Hancock asked.
There were several people in the
drawing-roorl, among them gentle
man whose appearance had created
some excitement from its being SO un.
expected.
Mr.. Darrah was an old friend of the
Hancocks' but il was several years
since they had seen him, owing to his
long absence abroad. He happened to
be travelling through their part of the
country, and finding that he should be
obliged to pass the night at Eastern
Jsnction, only ten miles distant from
Hardwick. he had hired horse and
carriage and driven over to call upon
his friends.
They were delighted to see him, and
Hospitality urged him to spend the
night. He declined the invitation, how
ever, as he wished to take the FIST
train in the morning from tie -
ton, and so must drive back that even
ing.
They assured him that he could not
escape dining with them, as they bad
postponed their dinner until eight
o'clock on account of the ehildren's
party. He expressed his pleasure at
being able to do SO. and they were in
full tide of earnest conversation when
:a1ilie came into the room.
He was in the midst of sentence
when his eye fell upon her, and he sud
denly stopped, evidently much inn
pressed in some way by her appear
ance. He watched her intently while
she played, and at the close, when
others were applauding her for hav-
ing done SO remarkably well, he went
over to the piano and began TO talk to
her.
Mrs. Hancock seeing his interest in
the child. proposed to Millie that she
should take him to the refreshment
tent for an ice. The arrangement was
most agreeable to both Of her guests,
who were soon on such friendly terms
that the gentleman went so far as to
admire his companion S dress.
IF you can buy such pretty things in
Hardwick," said he, Il shall advise my
lady friends to come here To do their
spring shopping"
Il guess you were never in our Hard
wick stores" answered Mile, laugh
ing merrily at the idea. NO, indeed,
this dress came from Paris" and not
without pride. she glanced at her com
panion to observe the effect she was
producing by her surprising state
ment.
He looked IA startled as she could
have wished.
Is that where you do your shop
ping?" he inquired. smiling. though his
voice had a curious sharp ring.
''Oh, no. of course not. | never was
there. My music teacher gave me this"
And her name >" he asked. breath
lessly.
Miss Lester" said Millie.
He drew sharp breath. Miss Mar
garet Lester?" he demanded.
Yes, that is her NAME" replied Mil
lie. surprised in her turn at his excite
ment.
And she ia not married ?" continued
Mr.. DaIrah.
NO, indeed. She is all alone. Her
mother died last year, and she is very
sad and lonely"
''Where does she live7" he asked alb
ruptly. Not in this town."
YES. just below here" Mile replied,
you can see the house from here; that
yellow one with the cupola." pointing
ii out.
THANK you very much" said her
strange companion. and in a moment
he was outside the GROUNDS, hurrying
down the street.
Dinner was over, and the evening
passed. and still nothing was seen If
Mr.. Darrah. The clock had struck II;
the coachman had come in to inquire
if le should put the gentleman's horse
up for the night. and the family were