Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-22

"A
Rover's heart was fain are not to be
found on any map! No liners book
passages to those Fortunate Islands.
But that he did not realize. he
thought that he, was yearning for
Japan, for China. Places he'd never
have the money or the chance to
get to. He probably would always
have to "stay put" on this collection
Of sea-bound rocks of Western
Europe called the British Isles.
This girl would stay put also; but.
then, Archie would always mind.
Always he would be dissatisfied, he
thought, because he could never
manage to go out to Cashmir. which
. sAh, the things one missed!
Christmas Camp in India, now.
How heavenly that must be, with a
girl who was everything to one, of
course.
But Mauve Rice Mathews quoted:
I'VE change our skies above us,
But not our hearts that roam?"
He looked quickly at her, sitting
there quietly, with her cigarette.
She had a very pretty hand, he
had noticed already, and he knew
that this was the reason that many
girls did smoke; but he was not
/, thinking of that now-he had ceased
to take notice primarily of this
girls looks He was stirred by her
voice-it was a voice that seemed
different which had quoted the line.
=
A lovely voice. Even as it
spoke. interruption came into that
| sunny garden where the smell of
freshly dug earth mingled with the
smell of roses. Through the pergola
and up TO, the sundial there stepped
demurely the black and white figure
of Megan, the Welsh parlor maid,
who cast an oblique glance of melt
ing tenderness toward Mr.. Laverock
quite unconscious that he was
adored in secret by the whole of the
female staff at Rhos) and who bore
in her hands u square. solid looking
packet that she handed to her young
mistress.
1t was a parcel that arrived by
the second post. called from the
town post-office by the lodge keep
ors children-and there had been
three and siXpence excess postage
to pay on II.
To save Miss Rice Mathews from
running up to the house Archie
brought the silver out of his jacket
pocket, even while Mauve, tossing
away her cigarette end, exclaimed
Three and six? but why?-Oh,
it's from Persia. is it.
Yes, Miss" murmured the little
maid-her inward interest all for the
visitor, her inward comment being,
There's handsome he is! There's
kind he is! There's always the same
same he is. to everybody" in rain
sort Welsh words. She slipped
away. back to the house, out of the
presence of Archie Laverock, who
had scarcely noticed her little face,
all the time she had waited upon
him at Rios, but who, to her dying
day, would remain the criterion of
charm for one browneyed Welsh
maid -
The young mistress of the house.
examining the box sewn up in wax
cloth wrapping, said half to herself,
I'd forgotten that.it must be SO
near nay birthday. ."
Upon which Archie found himself
involuntarily pricking up his ears.
Birthday presents, from Persia?
He said. lightly, MANY happy re-
turns of the day, then"
1T isn't really the day until to-
morrow Mauve answered. break
the stitches in the wax cloth.
She then blushed deeply.
Now this was not altogether on
account of the faithfulness of that
man in Persia. who still, it appeared
would not give up hope, who wrote
unfailingiy at Christmas, and who
remembered equally without fail,
that date in June, Mauve blushed,
partly because she had that sort of
skin. Also partly because she felt.
during these last golden days, cur
oil Ia cd
laugh easily, and unlike her usual
self. She blushed partly, too, be-
cause of something in the eyes now
fastened upon her of the Arrant
Rover.
He said, DO you want that lid
pried Open?" and brought out one
OF those knives over which women
wonder how men can stow them
about their person; a case of in
strumentS, q box of tools in n
sheath.
"Oh, thanks" said Mauve and
gave over the box to him. He got
the wooden lid raised and handed
back the box.
1t was stuffed with packing of a
sort we'll known to recipients of par
GELS from the Eastern bazaars. dirty
screws of newspaper and of more
newspaper came finally the
precious contents: something swath-
ed and wound about in rolls of for
eign- smelling muslin.
Mauve unwound the stuff. There
appeared shining. slender, 'some
amen silver object; half-vase, half
censor
An yes. ! know what II is" she
exclaimed, holding it up in the sun
SHINE. Il was promised one of