Middletown transcript., 1907-09-21

you q little piece OF news. You
you are such an old friend, that
1 want 10 tell you the very first.
Yes, said Marion Holmesdale,
without looking up. She was
pouring ont. tea at her aunt's
garden party, and she had a good
excuse for not raising her eyes,
inasmuch rs she was transfer
ring q little hot water from, a
silver nrn to a somewhat heavy
teapot.
Mr.. Ashton was standing close
to her, and All her energies were
concentrated in the effort to keep
her hands from trembling. She
fIled the teapot, replaced the
china lid with q view to its moi
rattling in the operation, and put
the pot with its scalding contents
upon the table.
I am afraid you must be very
tired, said Douglas Ashton as he
watched her. You have been
standing such q long time
Oh, no, I am not at all tired,
thank you. You know I love
anything Of this kind.
/ know you do, he said.
There was pause. Marion
wished he would go away. But
be still stood there as she mar
shalled together some more clear
cups from q big basket under the
/ have another cup Of tea
g Rectorf
Fas q young carate, whc
up with an empty cup in
ld.
lnly, said Marion, with
stty smile. rAnd may
yon another as welly
Thank you. IN come back for
1t later on If ] may. Mrs. John.
stone Is just discussing some
rather important arrangements
about the fair. Miss Johnstone
has kindly promised to get up
private theatricals. She is
splendid at all that sort of thing.
She is indeed, said Mr.. Ashton
with emphasis, splendid.
h Marion slightly overfowed the
cup she was pouring out. She
looked @ little confused. Then
she emptied the saucer, carefully
added cream and the sugar which
she knew the Rector always took,
and handed the fresh cup of tea
to the curate.
Thanks, he said, hurrying
away with 1t to a corner of the
lawn where portly Mrs. John.
stone was in close confab with
the Rector.
Still Douglas Ashton did not
60 away. He stood silently be.
side the long table, watching
Marion's busy fingers.
He asatet go; she told herself.
lam trying to behave all right.
I kEosC / am looking all right
not stupid or anything, thank
nee b . But he mast 60. It's
harder than 1 thought.
vas bravely smiling all
e as she busted herself
cups and saucers.
q lovely afternoon it Is.
i'd, in Q cheerful voice, as.
BIT some little squares of,
from o huge block of rich.
ound, and stacked an empty
with it. Almost everybody
b Aunt Fanny expected has
led mp. There were just O.
who failed to put in an ap.
rance.
Ind it's very often the ones
Q disappoint Ms that We knd
have wanted the most.
Douglas Ashton spoke ab-
ntly. But Marion understood.
Beautiful Ailda Johnstone had
not been able to come with her
astAs A siisghs siisghs eeia kept ip5t her her
Ito the house. Yes, Marion un-
|derstoodg Those crowds ofother
pretty girls who covered the
lawn, floating in and ont among
tho trees and the beds of flowers
IN their gay dresses, were as
nothing in comparison with that
one girl who had been compelled
70 stay away. Bnt that she Il
Marion-should, Of all people, be |
made Douglas Ashton's conf |
dante struck her as the very |
Lrefnement Of cruelty.
You really do look tired
frightfnlly tired. Miss Holmes
bale.
he could speak in that tender
tone without fear OF being mis-
understood. When a man is going |
70 tell one woman that he is |