Dr. Heidenhoff's Process

Henry knocked at Widow Brand's door. He had by no means forgotten Madeline's

simple picnic dress of white, trimmed with a little crimson braid about the neck and sleeves, which she wore to-day. It was gathered

me that the picnic is put

nd Laura too. I've come to

nd," said she, as if she th

might do so?" he said, getting a l

n di

t evening poor Geor

that? What a terrible memory you have! Come

he favour, lest he should feel too presumptuous, I don't pretend to know. Mrs. Brand set a chair for him with much cordiality. She was a gentle, mild-manne

ant day for your picni

owing Madeline's movements as she stood before the gla

his presence was a suggestion of familiarity, of dome

ell?" inquired Mr

you, very well i

Madeline. "Here's the baske

e tall, graceful girl, and it is no wonder the girl's mother

e river-bank to convey the picnickers thither. On arriving, Madeline and Henry found all the party assembled and in capital spirits; There was still just enough shadow o

circulated from mouth to mouth among the young men. And there, too, was Emily Hunt, who had shocked the girls and thrown the youth into a pleasing panic by appearing at a young people's party the previous winter in low neck and short sleeves. It is to be remarked in extenuation that she had then but recently come from the city, and was not familiar with Newville etiquette. Nor must I forget to mention Ida Lewis, the minister's daughter, a l

addressed by them, and, thus shielded from the, direct rays of their society, basked with inexpressible emotions in the general atmosphere of sweetness and light which they diffused. He liked picnics because there was much work to do, and never attended indoor parties because there was none. This inordinate taste for industry in connection with social enjoyment on Tom's part was strongly encouraged by the other young men, and they were the ones who always st

ave of the petticoat had been at wor

g!" said Madeline kindly, as she stood on th

Tom, laughing in

e girls spoke to him, being too much confused by the fact

to arrange the boats fo

't anything at all," he blur

r boat, ain't you, Long

ing with us," cried

who, with Laura Burr, was sitting on the forward thwart of the

ou to do their rowing for them," said she. "G

o that, Henry?" sa

thing after Madeline has sp

bjection," remarked Ida

, with a sudden spasm of boldness, followed by violent blushes at the thought that p

" said Madeline, turning to Henry

as if he would rise. "Tom, yo

ow," said Tom, seizing the

," urged Henry with a hypocritical grin, a

ed Tom, as he made the water foam with the violence of his strokes

t to sit by me, Tom. That hurts my feeli

m. "Only I'd rather row; that is, I

ha'n't help you any more; and here the

e stern of theirs, and the others had fastened to that; their oa

not," gasped the devoted youth, the

e of the protests of their occupants, who regarded Tom's brawn and muscle as th

ch nearly distracted him with bashfulness and delight, and drove him to seek a safety-valve for his excitement in superhuman a

sighed Madeline, throwin

know a spring a little way off where

ied, and they walked off together, f

slipped a little, and for, a single supreme moment he held her whole weight in his arms. Before, they had been talking and laughing gaily, but tha

ever shown a sign of confusion in his presence. The sensation of mastery, of power over her, which it gave, was so utterly new that it put a sort of madness in his blood. Without a wor

hurry. Where will yo

efore with so light a foot that he did not overtake her until she came to a bank too steep for her to surmount without aid. He sprang up and extended her his hand. Assuming an expression as if she were unconscious who was helping her,

o such a thing t

her, sheepish, dogged, con

absurdly simple, and yet rather unanswerable. Angry as sh

y, but the suddenness and depth of his contrition had disarmed her. It took all the force out of her indignation to see that he actually seemed to have a deeper sense of the enormity of his act than she herself had. And when, after they had rejoined the party, she saw that, instead of taking part in the sports, he kept aloof, wandering aimless and disconsolate by himself among the pines, she took compassion on him and sent some one to tell him she wanted him to come and push her in the swing. People had kissed her before. She was not going to leave the first per

d his every thought of her. He touched the swing-rope as fondly as if it were an electric chain that could communicate the caress to her. Tom Longman, having done all the work that offered itself, had bee

ut rowing." The young man's cup seemed running over. He

just now. I'm sure we c

take too much for granted. I was goi

ralysed Tom's faculties with an agony of embarrassment. He grew very red, and there was such a buzzing in his ears that he could not feel sure he heard aright, and Madeline had to repeat herself several times before he seemed to fully realize the appalling nature of the proposition. As th

ht! You're going

though perhaps it would be more proper to say he would have a good time when he came to think it over afterward. It was an experience which would prove a mine of gold in his memory, rich enough to furnish for years the gilding to his modest day-dreams. Beauty, like wealth, should make its owners generous. It is a gracious thing

ing the probability that Madeline had called him to swing her for the expre

ing up a game of croq

your side," he a

always kind to her. At his answer her face

like to,

enough, was now the life of the croquet-ground, and full of smiles and flushes. She was a good player, and had a corresponding interest in beating, but her eq

eaving the game and joining her where she sat on the ground between the knees of a gigantic oak sorting pond-lilies, which the girls were

k me for that boat

mean," she answered, wi

you went to

" she replied. "Laura, come her

teased to?" replied that young

she cannot at once throw off. That kiss had brought her relations with Henry to a crisis. It had precipitated the necessity of some decision. She could no longer hold him off, and play with him. By that bold dash he had gained a vantage-ground, a certain masterful attitude which he had never held before. Yet, after all, I am not sure that she was not just a little afraid of him, and, moreover, that she did not like him all the better for it. It was such a novel feeling that it began to make some things, thought of in connection wi

he said, "and I'll pu

od," said he, ha

Then I won't do it. I don't want to appear particular

about middling," he urged, upon whi

e lilies around it, holding it up, now this way and

jump after it?" she said, twirling it by the brim, and looking over the steep b

instead of mine, I would jum

with a reckless

e water. They were both of them in that state of suppressed excitement which made such an experiment on each ot

trouble to get a mitten. If you are so anxious for it, I will give it

" he asked, scarcely audibly, his face grown white and p

wildfire in her eyes quenched in a moment w

ything," he

a, and threw himself upon Madeline's protection. It appeared that he had confessed to the pos

Madeline, gravely. "Neglect to tell her the secret, without being particularly asked to do so, would be

dictively flirting the switch with which she

?" demanded Made

he said he was; and I asked him what made him sure, and he said because if

t for you is to make a clean breast of the affair, and throw yourself on the mercy of t

one who is going to take George Ba

, quick!" ex

said Madeline. "Poor George! and here we are

erk's name?" said

son Co

ha

son Co

me," said Laura.

"he comes all the

some?" inqu

dition, although really he ought to, for the looks of the clerk is the principal

face took away my disposition. Never mind," she added, "we shall all have a chance to see how he look

und no opportunity to resume the conversation with Madeli