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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1886)
240 THE WEST SHORE. t thora aftarw ird with a pleased smile ou his broad face. Ming Azubah Milward was down first, and made tea gloomily, her appearance becoming even more depressed when her brother came in, snt down at the head of the til ilo ami stared alwontly at the snowy cloth. " Where is she?' he asked, at length; but the words had hardly passed his lip when the door ojoned, and Kmily glided in and took the chair placed in readinesB for her. As she passed her a cup of tea, Miss Milward looked critically at her nnice, the result being anything but satisfactory. The curly, rough hulo of golden hair dis. pleased her, as did also the clinging, close-fitting, soft, block dress, with its puffs nt the elbows and shoulders; but the pale, tired face ap)oalod to her heart, and she said kindly " You've had a long journey, child; I expect you want your tea. You must go to bed early." " Yes," answered her uoice indifferently, just raising her heavy eyes for a minute, but dropping them again directly. The meal passed off almost in silence, in spite of Milward's efforts to carry ou a conversation. When it was over he went out; Miss Axubnh helped her servaut to remove the things, and the now arrival looked sadly from the window. She felt very strange and lonely, and pitied herself a good deal for the way in which fate had dealt with her a train of thought dangerous to indulge. The smooth, green lawn and bright patches of old-fashioned flowers became indistinct, and she was shutting her eyes to force back the troublesome drops that wore gather, ing, when au abrupt " Well?" put an end to her medita tion. "Well?" said her aunt, " what do you think of your new home?" " It is Uxt soon to ask me," she said, without moving. " I am tired and cau't think yet" Miss Milward brought soino knitting out of her picket, and turned her attention to that. Looking up presently, she saw something splosh on the window sill. " (lood gracious, child!" she said with a start, "what is the matter?" The girl would not trust herself to seak, but niado a slight motion of her hand toward the crape she wore. The elder woman patted her shoulder to show her sym athy. " There, there, dear, don't grieve. These griefs are all for our good. Beside, though you have lost one pa rent, you have found another." " Yes, but it is so different. No one no one can be like a mother." Then burying her face in her hands she gave way to a fit of deaolsta weeping. Miss Milward remonstrated kindly, tried to soothe her, aud finally went ou with her kuitting. II. The little congregation was just leaving church one glowing Sunday in August Amongst the foremost were Emily Milward and the minister's nephew, a pale young man, rather below the medium height, with a face that was stamped with the unmistakable impress of the city. "We have both been down here a month," he was saying, " and I have only seen you throe times! And I am going back to town soon. You must let me walk home with you this morning." " I am not alone, Mr. Burnet, My father and aunt are following." " Are you really going to stay here? I don't believe it The place does not suit you. You look ill and Wed. " Of course I am to stay here where else should I go?" she answered with a sigh. " It's a horribly dull hole for you. Will you intro duce me to your father?" As the former was close behiud, she did so, and the trio walked on together for a little distance, the two men exchanging a few commonplaces. " I must turn back now, or my uncle will be waiting dinuer for me," said the young man, stopping suddenly, and giving a keen look from the girl to her father and back again. "Good morning, Miss Milward. Good morning, Mr. Milward." He shook handB with both, but contrived to put so much meaning into that simple action, as far as regard ed Emily, that he loft her blushing and greatly con fused. " Whore is aunt?" she asked, when they were alone. " Just bohiud, with Tom Blukely, Emily, my child, I don't like that chap." " Who?" she asked, surprised. "That Burnet" " Why, you have scarcely seen him." " I know something about him, all the same. He has boon down hore before. I don't care to see you two together." " We wore acquainted in New York," said Emily, stillly, nud turned Bway. " That dou't make any bettor of it," Milward contin ued. " Take my advice, my girl, Bnd see as little of him as you can. Thank goodness he won't stop here long!" Emily was silent and they slockened their pace to allow Miss Azubah and her companion to join them, the lntter, a manly, bronzed young fellow of five and twenty years, immediately fell into the place by Emily's side. "Glorious weather, isn't it?" lie said, giving a sido glance at the golden hair that almost blazed in the sun shine. "Vory I moan, yos, it is." " I suppose you are becoming quite used to country lifer