Middletown transcript., 1906-08-04

duty and the one that should be
most precious to her is that of
home. keeper.
His companion nodded her
head approvingly. ! think just
as you do, she said. But ] must
go in now.
Edgar turned aud Walked De
side her.
Haven't sou q dance left for
me? lie asked. II you don't feel
quite sure about my not being a
burglar, I'll get my sister to pre-
sent me.
The girl paused d moment be
fore entering the house.
Surely that is unnecessary.
she said kindly. Even We're ]
inclined to doubt you, your like
ness to Mrs. Stanhope would be
sufficient guarantee that you arc
her brother.
Thank you, returned Edgar.
Will you tell me your nam@
Caroline Mason.
She gave him another friendly
smile and was about to slip away
from his side when he queried:
And the dance?
She looked at her card. I'm
afraid ] haven't one, she said re-
gretfplly, unless there should be
an extra.
There will be one, declared Ed
gar. I'll speak to Angela.
Imet a very charming woman
last night, remarked Edgar to his
sister at breakfast on the follow
ing morning.
/ fattered myself there were
several charming women at my
dance, replied Angela Stanhope
calmly. Who was this particular
one?
Her name is Mason.
Oh! Caroline Mason! | wanted
you TO meet her. Whointroduced
yen?
We met in the garden. vouch-
safed Edgar.
His sister, being occupied with
getting the requisite quantity OF
cream and sugar into the coffee:
cups beire her, did not notce
that his reply was not an answer
to her question.
So you liked Caroline, she said
absently. Well, I'm glad of that
but don't allow yourself to be-
come seriously interested in her.
Why? asked Edgar quickly.
The coffee was served and for
a moment Mrs. Stanhope gave
him her undivided attention.
Because there are reasons why
you wouldn't consider her a suit
able wife for you, even if she
would look at you, which | don I
believe for a moment.
What are the reasons? demand
ed her brother.
Angela shook her head. |
promised Caroline I would keep
her secret, she said.
A mystery, Edgar muttered to
himself. And | could have sworn
she was the frankest person
alive.
Mrs. Stanhope arose. Tom,
she said to her husband, ! shall
send word to Doctor Vaudeville
to come to see the baby this
morning. She doesn't seem her.
self at all.
The world was aglow with the
CLINT of gold and the simmer of
green. Edgar, striding along
under the tall trees, could not
remember ever having felt as
much in love with life as he was
this morning. Under the inspir-
alton of this unwonted buoyancy
his soul seemed to march ahead
of his body down the cool, dim
vistas Of the forest.
He had not gone far, however,
when the soul, with a sudden
quivering of joy, returned to the
body to which it belonged. and
the two together advanced TO-
wards a young woman who was
seated under a tree with a book
in her lap.
At his nearer approach she
looked up and their eyes met.
Good morning, she said, and
Edgar felt This form of greeting
to be quite new, q happy inspira-
ton of hers.
Good-morning, he returned as
he dropped on the grass beside
her. 1t seems odd, he wenfon,
that each time / run away from
DR.. Vaudeville / should meet you.
The girl smiled. Then you
don't knew whether she consid-
cred the little girls illness SER
ious? she inquired.
No, | do not, replied Edgar.