Middletown transcript., 1905-04-15
[ooNrINUEp. FROM LAST wsEK1


He noticed that she trod with spring
ing step, and his eyes followed her prog
ress idly.
"What a dear old room!' she said
presently, as if talking to herself. mo
cheap and modern gimcracks-jnst waihs-
cot walls and settles, and good hunting
nrints. and ceiling that could touch =
She stretched her arm towards the oak
beams, and laughed as she reached them.
"Ah, here is the coffee p she said, and
came back and sat down on the far SIDE
of the fire. ~
John had not found her commanlca-
tive companion despite the Shawing ten
denotes of this great genial fire and
somehow he regretted it. He would
have liked to fiHl out why she had elected
to follow tile walk in life which she had
done, who were her parents, what were
her ambitions. But she drank her coffee
without speaking, set her cup down, and,
after few moment, said
eff it we're not that it would entail
more trouble in the end, ! should suggest
my sleeping here tonight. You could
then drive straight to the Vicarage, and
get there in time for your dinner party !;
but it might mean sending for me to-
morrow, and the roads will be worse
tomorrow"
1t was new experience to John to be
dictated to by woman, and he was
diverted by the novelty OF it.
"Yes-the roads will be worse to-
morrow" he assented.
She began to walk about again, and, as
she passed him, her dress brushed his
arm.
"How wet you are p he said involun-
tarily. "It is cruel weather to be out in.
This fire tempts one to procrastination."
She looked at him with little COIL
tempt under her lashes and the Ian
guage of her eyes was SO unmistakable
that he laughed involuntarily.
"Come," he said, when he had lit the
pipe which she had told him she did not
object to-'come, confess you think that
am very unfit person to rough it?
"Your words implied it," she said.
He laughed again-this time with keen
appreciation Of the situation.
"Ah, WE'LL" he said, still laughing,
appearances are the most deceptive
things in the world. | dare say the cut
of my coat makes me appear an unmit-
igated idler''-she smiled-''and many
people in the world are judged BY trif1es
no more important than that. Some
people, for instance, might conclude that,
because you have small hands, you are
therefore untitled for your calling. 1t
would be quite absurd of course. But
then there are SO many absurd people in
the world"
"There are," she said quietly, but a
rosy flush spread over her cheeks.
1.-THE great thing is, not to bother ones
self overmuch if one is misjudged," lie
pursued thoaghtfuIly between the smoke
curls.
"Hard words break no bones," she
responded lightly, throwing off his
sympathy unconsciously.
but they have some power to break
ones spirit" he said steadily. "Ah,
here is Mrs. Merrivale !"
The good creature came forward smil-
ing briskly.
''Spitfire seems more herself again, Mr..
jack" she said, ''and the masters back,
and Queen Bess quite fit to take you on
to Cranleigh; and l remembered what
praise you always had for our cherry
brandy, and thought as nothing would
keep the cold out better for you and the
young lady than this, SO just take it
straight off," And she poured out a
small glass for each Of them, needless Of
their expostulations.
Mr.. Jack shook her by the hand as lie
set the glass down.
"Well, Susan, am indebted to you
for still another bit of kindness. And,
when come back from Africa, bullet
riddled and disabled, shall ask nothing
better than just to be allowed to creep
over to Dalstone Farm sometimes, to sit
in your kitchen and drink your coffee"
"Hear him p cried the farmers wife,
laughing. Him as will come back to
us with star on his coat, and letters
after his name, and colors flying
Yes you may shake yorr head and say,
No, no.; but we''-glancing archly at
Miss Earle-''know better-don't we,
miss ?"
The humor of the situation appealed
to Christian Earle and bridged an awk-
ward moment. She merely met Mrs.
Merrival's eyes very frankly and merrily,
and gave a laugh Of pure delight.
John Moncrieff recognized that she had
met the awkwardness with the perfect
self-possession of one on higher footing
than the worthy speaker and again he
felt surprised. His intercourse with this
stranger was not proving such an irksome
thing as he had anticipated.
The lusty shout of Farmer Merrivale
sounded through the hail.
"Come-come !" he said in cheerful
remonstrance. 81 daresay do interrupt
pleasant enough time, but Queen Bess
amt miracle. She'll have a bit Of
fighting before she gets you to Cranleigh,
I'll lay wager. The misses said some.
thing about dinner party, Mr.. John.
If you don't take care, it'll be supper
party, I'm thinking. Does the young
lady mean to venture? ?"
He fixed his bright blue eyes on the
girl as he spoke, and then turned them
on John Moncrieff, as though the de.
cision lay with him.
81 think so," Moncrieff answered,
Mrs. Merrivale was helping Miss Earle
into her cloak.
"Why, OF course, Dick" the good
woman said meaningly.
Moncrieff could not forbear rapid
glance in his companions direction and