Middletown transcript., 1907-09-21

invent excuses for not meeting
him. Mrs Johnstone was soor
q constant visitor at Mrs. Ash
tons, and Hilda would come, with
her Oriental beauty, and bring tt
bear the irresistible fascination
upon the handsome invalid. She
would play croquet with him
wait on him at tea, sometime read
to him. And Marion would bs
either at home, trying not tt
listen to the sound OF the croquel
balls and the merry laughter in
the garden a little way of OF
else at parties which wearied hel
with their sameness, and te
which she accompanied her aunt
and cousin out of sheer pride,
She took more pains with hen
limited wardrobe she held her
self more erect and she laughed
when she would like to have
cried.
How very bright Miss Holmes.
dale is said one hostess to q
friend. was rather afraid she
might have lost her heart to
young Ashton, and we all know
who he has set his heart on
Well, it would be hard if Miss
Johnstone received no reward
for her trouble. She has never
left him alone since her arrival.
I did not think he could so easily
change. / always imagined he
cared for Miss Holmesdale.
After the absolute recovery OF
his health and strength, Douglas
Ashton had gone back to his
work. Marion was away at the
time Of his departure; she had
arranged it so. She dreaded the
parting, at which she dared moi
show even her old friendly re.
gret lest it should reveal some.
thing else. So she had accepted
q long-standing invitation of an
old school friend, and thus es.
capped saying goodbye at all.
She did not meet Mr.. Ashton
again till he came to her aunt's
garden party.
She watched the guests depart
in fear and trembling. The lawn
was rapidly emptying. Soon
Douglas Ashton would return to
claim his promise, and that
dreaded interview would BEGIN.
She was feeling so thoroughly
tired that she did not think she
could bear much. Her feet
ached ; her hands ached and,
oh, how her heart aehed She
longed to go and lie down in her
room and rest f9 hours. Yet
she must stroll about tahe grounds
with Douglas, and listen to words
which would be, every one, a
shaft in her heart. And the
worst Of it was that but q few
months ago the prospect of a
stroll with Douglas would have
seemed to her the most enchant-
ing pleasure life could give.
He was coming. She rose up
and, as it we're, pulled herself
together. She was going to be
brave. She might never have
such g test of her courage again
in her life. She shook out her
dress till all the little Aounces
looked fresh and airy once more.
She put her hat straight. She
slipped her fingers through the
loops of pink ribbon which formed
a huge knot at her breast, re-
storing them to their pristine
daintiness, and then she stopped
to pick a spoon off the grass.
When she lifted her face again
there was a smile on her lips.
As Douglas drew near the
table she went to meet him.
How fresh you look he said,
admiringly. just as if you had
done nothing but rest all the
afternoon. He was looking at
her dress as he spoke when he
looked at her face his words were
different. But you look awfully
tired. It is a shame my carry
ing you off in this way when you
ought to 60 and lie down.
A walk will do me good II
have been standing too long.
They did not speak much as
they strolled over the lawn and |
through the shrubbery but
when once on the shady slopes, |
they became absolutely silent. |
To save her life Marion could nott
have spoken. She was dead |
tired, and he had asked her to |
come it was his place to do the
talking. She had braced herself |
to listen as much as he pleased |