The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-21

ait nldteu WITH CLOWN,
And the grossness of his nature will
have weight to drag thee down
-Tennyson.
Jem was still absent at Yeominster
so there was no bar to the freedom
and delight with which Vernon pour
ed out to Mrs. Bardsley the story
of her going to service at the Mis-
sion Chapel and making friends with
Evelyn Morrison.
She did not dwell upon the twins,
nor mention their doubtful paternity.
She merely said that Miss Morrison
had asked her to help with the ba-
bies and that she should like to do
so. Ii would give her a definite oc-
cupation. Mrs. aBrdsley was on the
whole quite pleased. Her one over
whelming anxiety was lest Vernon
should tire of the simple countryside
and want to spread her wings and
fly. Anything that might keep her
in the neighborhood was welcome.
She wanted to foster the intimacy be-
tween her and Miles Umfraville: but
had noticed of late that Vernon seem
ed shy of going to Ponthewel, and in
clned to hold back from making
friends with Selma. She wondered
whether Miles had been injudicious
and shown his hand too plainly.
If this were so, it would be wise
not to see very much of him for
few weeks, and the new interest in
the Mission Distict would be an ex-
cellent diversion. She very willing.
ly promised to accompany her niece
TO tea with Miss Morrison the fol-
lowing afternoon.
Some one was speaking of her
the other day" she said, Il cannot re-
member who it was-somebody
lunching at Lady Bunburys, | think
They were saying how beautiful she
was, and that there was tragic love-
story connected with her, but do
not think | heard any details"
"She looks as if she might be the
heroine of tragic love-story," said
Vernon. "Oh dear, | think most love
stories are tragic!"
This was said with so deep a sigh
that Aunt Emma looked keenly at
the vivid, changeful face.
Il do hope and pray that yours
is in the future, my dear, and not in
the past" she gravely emarked.
Vernon colored up in way for
which her aunt had not been pre-
pared Il suppose" she said hurried
ly, scraping the remains of her din
ner roll into little pile beside her
plate, that many girls have fancies
don't they? Little ballons d'essai, be
fore they send up the big one?"
Certainly" said Mrs. Bardsley
THE trouble is lest we should think
the first time our senses are moved,
that our destnies are fixed"
What is it the Germans call it?"
said Vernon, dreamily THE Probep- |
feil-that's it! The trial-arrow,-The |
difficulty seems to be lest the other
person should really be shot by the |
Probepfeil, so that what is just prac-
tice for one might be grim earnest
for the other"
"Our modern fashion of allowing
young people complete liberty to fix
up their own affairs, opens the door
to many such complications" replied
the elder woman. "They are risks
which one has to take. But it is
better to make a man unhappy for a
few weeks or months, than to make
him unhappy for the rest of his life,
which is what you would very likely
do If you married him when the main
part of you is still untouched"
81 expect that is true" said Yer
non; and when dinner was over, she
went upstairs to the cosy sitting
room which her aunt had given her,
and to which Jem had helped to carry
the piano. There. upon the mantel-
piece, stood the silver frame contain
ing the photo of Lionel.
His soft, kind brown eyes looked |
wistfully at her. Did he know how /
fast she was forgetting him or rath- /
er. how fast she was escaping from
his hold?
Life was still so new to Vernon, |
she was so inexperienced, that she |
did not know her own heart at all. |