The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-04-10
CHAPTER III,
Continued,

Ris difficult TO say how much further
0kkhrd was going to commit himself
sue James was blushing now and her
eAes was extraordinarily near his lips
-5ut, just at this minute, two figures
stepped out from the little parlor win
dow to the lawn, and Miss Lynchs
voice made Clifford start so that be
nearly deposited the basin of raspber-
ries, as we'll as his own heart. at Miss
Grand's feet.
'Nly dear Jane, standing without
your hat in this hot sun! 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 'hina bowls, as
Mr.. Mohun was so goodnatured as to
offer to help you?"
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 ill. "T did
not know a special license was to be
given to Mr.. Mohun for breaking our
solitary china bowl. And Mr.. Mohun
s 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
victim," said the vicar, who had come
up by Miss Lynch's side. 81 never
In my life saw two people look so alb
solutely miserable as you both do!
However, the. morning air has given
gou roses, Miss Grand" he added, as
he looked closely at the gii-.'s glowing
,ace.: "You have different complexion
now to what you had fourteen years
ago, when first say you-has she not,
Miss Lynch?"
''Time prints his traces on US all, Mr..
Follett," said Miss Lynch. This ad-
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 vaca-
tion at our morning worship, so grown
and improved"
"And trying so hard to make me
laugh whenever I looked at him." in
terrupted Jane, in her hearty way.
"Mr. Follett, do you remember that day
when you stopped short in your sermon
and looked full-not Mt 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 i'll an ostentatious
furry of innocence with her parasol.
81 have got something to tell you,
auntie," cried Jane, coming over tc
Miss Lynch, and with delight mantling
all over her face. "Such news! You
would never guess it in all your life
Mr.. Mohun is going to give grand
ball at Yatton, and am to be at it."
Miss Lynch and the vicar looked al
each other quickly. The vicar was the
first to speak.
"You have not been brought up to &C
to balls, my dear jane but he spoke
very, gently, very kindly; Clifford need
not have given him such n 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 interpolated.
Il am not to go, then, you mean"
Jane exclaimed, and tears of bitter dis
appointment rushed up to her eyes
"Mr. Mohun, you hear! I am not to
gor'
".Tfen there will be no ball at Vat
ton," said Clifford, quickly. ''The point
is not worth discussion. l had thought
1 should like to give something of the
kim on first settling at Yatton-but ii
does not matter. We can be perfectly
cont ented without it!'
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
a man so superior to her in position as
Mohun would, most assuredly, lead.
l.dt 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 to estimate
look of genuine honest passion at its
real worth. And such a look he be-
lieyed that he had now seen in Clifford
Mohun's eyes!
'If Miss Lynch would really rot OBJ
iect to your going, Jane" he began,
rather basely. shifting the responsible
ity as quickly rs possible from his own
shoulders: Il suppose it would be more
a general county restlvity than an |
actual baii-and -"
And Jane GrsD might mix III the |
crowd. without too much shocking the
feelings of the great county ladies'"
cried poor Jane. smiling through her |
tears. "Oh. auntie. do relent and be |
good natured. If Mr. Mobun would not |
mind asking one or two very humble |
people to keep me in countenance. say
you would let me go?"
But the subject evidently awakened |
thoughts that were neither trivial nor |
passing ones in Miss Lynch. She f"r- !
eVt to be either sentimental O: '-is~.,