The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-08-16
WY CONNIE STONE
CHANGED HER MIND
Chance Remarks Heard in
Bride Path Unite Two
Loving Hearts.
~ cLARlssA MAcklE.

The path followed the windings Of
the well4macadamized highway and
afforded 4 leafy, shaded way for sew
eral miles before it took a sudden, nm
expected turn and wandered on
through the deep woods to the river
and the bridge.
Connie Stone rode dreamily along
the bride path. her brown eyes liked
on the green perspective ahead From
the highway came the sound Of swift
" dying moter cars and the rumble Of
carriage wheels to the accompaniment
Of horses hoofs.
ut would be lovely II It were not
for the noises from the road" sighed
Connie at last She licked Brown
Ben lightly so that they would reach
the turn IN the path and ride toward
the river
eAh, wish something might hap
pen something perfectly lovely" she
sighed again. my life is so cut and
dried plenty Of money and even my
future husband selected for me! II
Uncle Remns had only spared me. that
The very fact that am bound to mar
~ Phil Barring has prejudicedS me
against him can't bear him-I wish
he would 60 away!''
This unhappy victim Of match-mak-
ing parents and worldly old uncle
and guardian sulked openly as she
rode along, for now her grievance
against the world In general. and Phil
Barring in particular, quite overpow-
cred her delight in the fresh morning
air.
a saddle girth had slipped and Con-
ME alighted and bent to tighten II.
As she did so, standing there in the
ereen-brown woods only stones
Athrow from the highway. she heard a
Rotor car jar to a sandstilI close at
lhand and two feminine voices engag-
ed In conversation
So. and we all think 1t was per-
fectly horrid Of old Remus Barrie to
agree with the girls parents that
when Phil was twenty-five he should
marry the girl. No. I've never seen
her, but you may take it for granted
that she's q fright, Adelei II she
were not her parents wouldn't have
been to such pains to marry her on. !"
And so Phil isn't quite happy over
it?" asked lazily amused voice.
Wretched Why-you know. my
dear. it's no secret that he's breaking
his heart over little me-and there's
that fright Of an heiress standing like
mountainous wall OF money bags be-
tween us. OF course, Phil couldn't
marry me without some of his faith
er's fortune and there you are"
Poor Elizabeth derided the voice
of Adele. IF you only knew Phil Bar
ing was free to marry. you wouldn't
care two pins for him!''
"Adele!"
And so he has poured out his
troubles TO your"
mo. He isn't that sort, and you
know 1t, Adele. Only he looks mis-
cradle. and | understand the reason. !"
The motor suddenly started nois-
ily and drew away from the spot
where Connie Stone stood, Grim
soned, palpitating eavesdropper. With
swift movement she pulled out q
gold vanity case and scanned her re-
Election In the little mirror.
She saw a blushing face framed In
mist Of Jet black hair, brown eyes
with golden specks In them. perfect
nose and mouth and white chin with
y deep dimple
If she calls me fright, wonder
what she looks like!' exclaimed the
indignant Miss Stone. and she mount
ed Brown Ben and flashed down the
bride path.
AS she rode along the leafstrewn
B way she thought Of her first meeting
with Phil Barring. He had returned
from a long residence abroad, and al
though he was very grave, good
looking young man without much to
say for himself, Connie had mistaken
his silence for awkwardness and she
was angry with him from the begin
ming.
When he did try to be agreeable
and displayed some admiration for
pts cousin who was to be his bride,
onnie became contrary and cratic
III her moods. Somehow she felt that
his admiration was affected. He was
trying to play his part
And all the time he was in love
with a horrid creature named Eliza.
beth, who shrieked when she talked.
Connie could have spared herself
any qualms-he was not in love with
her. He was miserable at the idea Of
this foreordained marriage. He was
unhappy.
4 hate him!" cried Connie as she
few around the sharp bend away from
the high road and into the stiffness OF
the thick woods
Here the trees grew gnarled and un.
shapely, bending down from the high,
messy banks on both sides to form
arches overhead A scarlet tanager
flashed across the road and made a
spot OF gorgeous color against a
brown tree trunk
hermit thrush sang from aorne