The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-06-26


Follett's intense disappointment was, l
doubt not, tempered by thankfulness
that Jane had never for moment sus-
pected him of speaking for himself.
But her very blindness showed him the
more strongly in what light she viewed
him, even If her own indignant words
had not so plainly set it forth.
81 have never sought to be seen by
or to meet living man since the day
that Clifford left me"'
He, the Vicar of Chesterford, classed,
palpably with Huntley, the married
doctor, or Mr.. Gillett of the mill, or
any other aged man Of the parish who
happened to-Mear- coat instead Of a
gown! He felt horribly, intensely bit
ter towards her. He thought he hated
her. He thought her faithfulness TO
Clifford the obstinate, stiff-necked fancy
of fool. He thought her declaration
of it to himself indelicate, vain, heart
less: and, under the influence of these
genial feelings, he broke out into the
following speech:
"I beg your pardon for what have
said, Jane-I beg your pardon for be-
lieving your heart to have the slightest
need of support or affection. AS you
Justly say, you have never seen or been
seen by any one worthy to receive your
love since Mr.. Mohun left. Fortunate
Iy, as you are so averse to the thought
of marrying, you are now again to have
a neighbor from whom you will know
YOU have nothing but friends regard
to fear. Mr.. Clifford Mohun is coming
back, Jane! I am here at this moment
for the express purpose of telling you.
Clifford Mohun is coming back to ne'
cruit, if possible, some of his shattered
fortunes by living quietly at 1atton.
1 hope you will pardon my uninten-
tional offense, now that 1 have given
you this exceeding good news of the
prodigars return"
AS he spoke a strange light came
across Miss Grands face. She forgot
Mr.. Follett, forgot that be had wound
ed her pride, that he was speaking
bitterly to her or speaking at all. Gift
ford was returning, the dream of her
lffe-G Gifford, broken and weary. return
eyes filled and sank to the ground; her
lips trembled; faint color rose up in
her cheeks. For few moments the
years of heavy pain seemed lifted from
her, and she was girl again, listening
at the little wicket for Mohun's step in
the twilight; few moments, then she
remembered Mr.. Follett, and that if
70 S1,
tears of joy it would be discreeter to
escape and sled them alone than to
weep here with him for an audience.
As she raised her eyes, however, fall
tering out something about the sud-
denness of the news and the way IN
which it had overmastered her she
found that she was already alone.
There are probably few men generous
enough to appreciate the charm OF
bushes called forth by thoughts of an
old lover Immediately after the rejec-
ton of themselves; and the Vicar of
Chesterfield did not, with all his vir-
tues, possess the superhuman qualities
requisite for such self-abnegatio ton. He
had turned abruptly away at the first
faint color that rose into poor James
delighted, downcast face, and at this
moment Otter at his own folly in hav
ing spoken of love at all, bitter at Miss
Grand for her unwilling refusal of his
suit. and trebly bitter against himself
for his own last ungenerous speech to
herr was making his way back to the
vicarage fierce and fast beneath the
sultry morning sun.