The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-02
CHAPTER III.
Goutinned

~ is ulInculI 10 say now mucn 1urIDer
Clifford was going TO commit himself
for James was blushing now, and her
face was extraordinarily near his lips
but, just at this minute, two figures
stepped out from the litt' parlor win
dow to the lawn, and hiss Lynch's
voice made Clifford start so that he
nearly deposited the basin of raspber-
ries, as well as his own heart, at Miss
Grand's feet.
my dear Jane, standing without
your hat in this hot sum- And Mr..
Mohun, too-and, dear Mr. Mohun, that
you should be holding that common
basin! Jane, child, why did you not
bring out one of the china bowls, as
Mr.. Mohun was SO good-natured as to
offer to help your
Because this is the one you always
tell me to use myself, auntie," said
Miss Grand, with that composed little
air that did not become her i'll. Il did
not know a special license was to be
given to Mr.. Mohun for breaking our
solitary china bowl. And Mr.. Mohun
is not very expert in this kind of en-
ployment,' she added, demurely, as she
took the fruit from Gifford's hand. HE
has more than once very nearly spoiled
my whole mornings work, as it IS"
"Mohun has thoroughly the air Of a
victim said the vicar, who had come
up by Miss Lynch's side. II never
in my life saw two people look so abb
solutely miserable as you both dol
However, the. morning air has given
you roses. Miss Grand he added. as
he looked closely at the girls glowing
face. You have different complexion
now to what you had fourteen years
ago, when first say you-has she not,
Miss Lynch Z"
Time prints his traces on US all, MI,
Follett," said Miss Lynch. This adj
mirable woman always aimed at the
sentimental in common conversation,
but especially felt it incumbent upon
her to be high-fown and elegant be-
fore the master of Yatton. "And yet,
really, it does seem but a day since
those happy hours when Mr.. Mohun
used to appear before US every yaca-
ton at our morning worship, SO grown
and improved"
And trying so hard to make me
laugh whenever looked at him. in
terrupted Jane, in her hearty way,
"AIr. Follett, do you remember that day
when you stopped short in your sermon
and looked full-not at Gifford-not at
Mr.. Mohun. which would have been
justice-but at poor innocent me? who
had done nothing the whole service but
Try to keep my eyes on my prayer
book"
"And So exasperate ME into doing
something desperate to arouse your at
tention forcibly," said Clifford. Boys
are like men, Miss Grand. Demure,
averted looks don't always repel them
to the exact degree that they ought"
Miss Lynch thought the conversation
bordered on the improper, and screened
her own face quite in an ostentatious
furry of innocence with her parasol.
Il have got something to tell you,
auntie," cried Jane, coming over to
Miss Lynch, and with delight mantling
all over her face "Such newsl You
would never guess it in all your life!
Mr.. Mohun is going to give a grand
ball at Yatton, and am to be at it,"
Miss Lynch and the vicar looked at
each other quickly. The vicar was the
first to speak.
"You have not been brought up to go
to balls, my dear jane" but he spoke
very gently, very kindly; Clifford need
not have given him such a terribly
fierce look Of suppressed malediction.
"You have lived happily without any
thing of the sort, hitherto"
although greatly obliged to Mr.. Mo-
hun for doing you the honor" Miss
Lynch ihterpolated.
Il am not to go, then, you meanw
Jane exclaimed, and tears of bitter dis
appointment rushed up to her eyes.
"Mr. Mohun, you hear! / am not to-
gow
.'Then there will be no ball at Yat-
tom said Clifford, quickly. 1.-THE point
is not worth discussion, had thought
should like to- give something of the
kind on first settling at Yattou-but it
does not matter We can be perfectly
contented without itr'
And he looked with a most unmis-
taxable expression--or so Mr. Follett
considered it to beat James fearful
face.
The vicar felt himself relenting. He
had good reasons for shielding the
poor girl from the petty Sights to
which her forced entrance into society
might cost her; or from the lasting
misery to which light attentions from
man so superior to her in position as
Mohun would, most assuredly, lead.
But were they light attentions? With
all his calm, prosaic exterior, with all
the SOLDERING influences of his NEST un-
romantic life, enough Of his own youth
yet lay buried, but not dead in the
wears heart to enable him 10 estimate
a look of genuine honest passion al its
real worth. And such a look he be-
Iieved that he had now seen in Clifford
Mohun's eyes!
IF Miss Lynch would really not OBJ
ject to your going, Jane" he began,
rather basely. shifting the responsible
lily MS quickly as possible from his own
shoulders: Il suppose it would be more
a general county festivity than an
nctual ball-and
"And Jane Grand might mix in the
crowd. without too much shocking the
feelings of the great county LADIES'
cried poor lane, smiling through her
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