Year: 1874

|
were on the same side of the street with
only an arbor-vita hedge between them,
and even this slight "wall of separation"
had long since ceased to be barrier, for
Mildred, impatient of whatever tended
to keep us apart, had prevailed upon her
father to have a gateway made at the
end of the currant path, and through
this we came and went at our pleasure.
In fact there might as we'll have been no
gate, for it stood open day and night,
greatly to the vexation of Hubbs, the
gardener, who was constantly threaten
ing to nail it up; but as Judge Dale
thoroughly approved our friendship the
threat was never put into execution.
Had we been own sisters do not think
we could have loved each other better.
though perhaps the bond between us
was strengthened by the very fact that
neither of US had sister. Yet we felt
no lack of young society, for on the op-
positc side of the street lived our two
friends, Fred Kempton and Carl Dwight.
They were cousins and had grown up
under the same roof, for Carl,
left an orphan In infancy, had
been adopted by his uncle and
knew no other home To us they
were like brothers. We had played to-
each others pleasures, and together
"wept our little weeps" over imaginary
woes, for as yet no real sorrow had
touched our happy lives. And thus we
grew, Mildred and |, to womanhood, and
Fred and Carl to the dignity of downy
boards and swallow-tail coats. 1t was
chiefly owing to this friendship, think,
that we girls had reached the advanced
age of seventeen-that romantic period
in maiden life when knight-errant
seems absolutely indispensable to happi-
ness-without once having felt the need
of beaus or lovers. How could we, when
wherever we might choose to go these
faithful ones stood ready to attend us?
And really up to that time ! do not think
there had been the least nonsense"
among us. not thought beyond the SIM


pie friendliness of warm young hearts
who knew and trusted each other. We
were still only careless children, happy
dreamers to whom the future was as a
vision seen in sleep. But one summer
day we all walked up, and then, all ME!
there were secrecies and heartaches, and
play which came near ending in
tragedy.


suppose it was the most natural thing
in the world for girl like Mildred to be
pleased with man like Mr. Gregory, at
least it seemed so then, but | doubt if
she herself can understand now how she
came to think of loving him. He was a
tall and somewhat slender man, with an
air of polish and refinement which made
him at once the admiration of all the
village girls and the envy of all the young
men. There was certainly some sort Of
fascination about him, yet as general
thing l think ones first impressions OF
him were not altogether pleasant. AS to
who he was and whence he came nothing
was known beyond what he himself had
told-that he was an amateur geologist
anu udu UcCu dtbIdCtCu w SOiAW oil W
the facilities which it offered for the
pursuit of his favorite study. Looking
back now I see that this man uninten


tionally did good work in Cornwall


for he stirred up our young people to the


investigation of science to which unit


then none of them had given thought


and was indirectly the means of Dar


Browns discovering that he had coal


mine on his farm. But just then, an


sure, none of us had anything so sordit


and practical as coal-mines in view. i


was the summer vacation, and the acad


envy students were at leisure to enjoy


themselves in any way they liked; Sc


for the time geological excursions be


came "the rage" We climbed noun


tains and explored ravines and listened


with rapt attention to Mr.. Gregory's dis


courses on the drift period, fossiliferou


rocks, alluvial deposits, etc. But befor'
|, many weeks went by it became painful!


evident to some of us that his zeal il


science was beginning to wane. And NJ
wonder! What were petrifactions ant
| fossils and all the other footprints o


the past" comparedt to Mildred Dale will
her radiant eyes and her glory of brow
hairs People called her beautiful, ant
SO she was, but there were those VIII
limited that Judge Dale's wealth rathe
! than Mildred's beauty was the secret O


Mr.. Gregory's devotion, and thought tn
Judge would do well to keep him at
distance. At a late day ! reluctantl,
, made up my mind they were quite righ
in this or,inion hut hardly think Judg
!, Dale needed the hint, for he had Away
] seemed to dislike him and treated hir
/ with q coldness which would have uttel
, " abashed less presuming man. Mr.
J Dale, too, regarded him with evident dii


trust, and frequently begged Mildred :


accept no attentions from him; still,
they did not actually deny him the hous'
he made bold to call occasionally, an
gradually fell into the way of walkin|
home with US from singing school an


praycr-mecting, always managing to p'
Himself It 1filhfeds side, leaving Ere