Year: 1873

pravity Of chairs and tables and bedstaads,
which refused on any terms to look home
like in new house, it was comfort ur,-
told to rush out into the avenue, In the
dusk, and take sweet counsel with myself,
or. as quaint old Herbert expressea il,


And tumble 1S., mp and and DOM sS:S ~ cheat


1t was the avenue that made me take
he house nobody's avenue in particular,
vet it seemed to belong to each one Of the
small group of cottages to which it led
from the high road. II had existed - =
sort of lane before the cottages were
thought of, and great trees had had time
to grow up in leisurely way and meet
overhead. 9aaE.


A long gate closed it in at night from
Lhe snares of the outer world, and gave
greater sense OF security to the lonely spins
ters and timid widows who lived In the
cottages


On this night thick mist enfolded the
trees and me as with a sombre garment,
and the remark Of one of our old neigh
bors when she heard our destination came
back to me like bird Of ill-omen 'Going
to Dovecotes! Then you will live and die
an old maid. No one ever goes there
but the doctor to make them sick, and the
lawyer to write the wills. It IL too far
from the village to walk, and too near to
make it worth the while to ride"


She evidently spoke not without know
ledge. and Ikeenly felt the little fine point
that was wrapped up in it. 1t had fear
ful sound 10 be an old maid all Of my days,
for old maids do live immensely long lives.
having neither great joys nor great sor-
rows to wear out their bodies. 1t always
seems that, with little more effort. they
might live forever. was twenty-five
years old, and no love passages had ever
been mine. If one must be an old maid,
it would be some consolation to have .
few old letters and bunch Of dried dow-
ers. It was an old familiar track in my
mind my thoughts travelled it often.


The hour was not very late, but the fog
made darkness that might be felt. Sud-
denly heard voices near me, but whether
10 front or following 1t was impossible to
tell, as distinguished footsteps.


II fear we have made q mistake said
a woman's voice, trembling in spite Of .
hard tone in 1t. IF you cannot bear with
me while we are lovers, what will become
OF me by and by?"


at is only when we are alone that l
should suspect that we We're lovers" re-
joined masculine voice.


You were willing that our engagement
should be secret


"Yes. because you besought me so anx.
iously, but your manner to other men is
so utterly-utterly-"


Don't hesitate for word. assure
you can endure it. My manner is So


.'unepgaged, would say. to put il very
mildly"


''Perhaps it is better that my condition
should fit my manner"


"Perhaps-unless you change that
manner"


II could no more do that than the leo.
pard could change his spots. Ihave loved
you well, but that is no reason wig We
shonld marry, suppose


'.ls it notp"


"Oh none whatever hear some one
coming. Here is the ring that You meant
for fetter. Good night and good by"


A woman ran by me so closely that her
skirts brushed mine, and the fog liftings
little at the same moment, saw the out
line of man take his elbow from the
long gate, on whicn he had been leaning,
thing on the ground Then he hurried
away toward the village. and. as Bunyan
says of his pilgrim, ~ saw him no more"


felt like person blindfolded. who has
been tormented with other peoples secrets
against his will. l leaned my own arm
on the gate until the fog cleared away.
and seit, wavering moonlight fell on
the trees. which seemed to whisper togeth-
er about the very secrets that shared
with them.


In crack between post and bar some
thing cleaned in the moonlight. Ipicked
out ring, the ring which one had thrown
away in her angry haste, and which the
other had looked Tor in vain. II was
violet formed Of small sapphires. with
diamond in the center.


I carried it home tucked it into the
furthest corner Of my upper drawer. and
for a month pondered 1t in my heart. !
looked eagerly for all notices under the
head of "Lost and Found" Vast hordes
of dogs seemed to have gone upon their
travels about that time; muffs and bonds
and other small matters were entreated
| to return, and no questions asked; but no


one had lost ring. composed with In


finite pains at least a dozen advertise


ments, which should delicately convey 70
that outline of man that his ring might


be recovered if he desired it. ! said not


a word to my aunt with whom shared


the cottage and all other worldly goods)
OF nv little adventure in the avenue. IL


she had ever had any nonsense about her.
it had entirely worn off before my time.
She would have sought for the owner Of
the ring in the same straightforward and
exhaustive way as If it had been stray
hoe found in our garden. Those two
lovers would have been forced to stand
and deliver their names and their secret
within a week. .sas


Aunt Esther had brought me up in the
same way that she did everything else;
she never forgot to wind her clock on
every seventh day, and she never failed to
give me good measure Of home comfort.
but it was not pressed down nor running
over. gave her honest liking and re-
spect without any love and she never
missed it. Nevertheless it gave mo 4 ter