The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-22

loons, leonard keeping up vigiIant scrutiny
| Vi the company, With view 20 avoid a colE
SION with the individual whose unexnected ar
rival mad SO suddenly marred MiIdred,s pleas
| urP. f
lhey mad to pass through one more saloon
IL was somewhat smaller than the others. and
refreshments were laid out there on a beaufet
here the Princess Mathilde and Primes Louis
| Napoleon encountered them.
You are not going, Miss Wray,n exclaimed
the princess, laying her hand on Mildred's
beautiful arm. at is progressively warm,
know; but, take an ice.o
My sister wishes to take leave of vou
madam" answered Leonard, bowling to his
hostess " she is slightly indisposedn
~ would not detain you, of consse,r respond
| ed the Princess; but must introduce you to
| acompatrlot whom you should know, Monsieur
Wray. Come this way. Cousin continued
| She addressing Louis Napoleon. apermit me
to take Monsieur Wray's arm, and do you take
Miss Wray under your protection, and intro
duce her to Monsieur Aveling, who stands
yonder, perceive
ss was inTsain to ssruggss ag inst the force
OF circumstances Casting an imploring look
upon his sister, intended also to exhort her TO
take courage, Leonard resigned Mildred to the
Prince, and followed, rather than conducted.
Aveling stood, deliberately disposing of an ice.
Monsieur Aveling," said the Princess. ia
king the lead Of the Prince, "permit me TO in
troduce Miss Leonard Wray, a countrywoman
OF yours, who has, | assure you, quite eclipsed
our Partisan ccquettes and who is likely to
drive our galants mad if she remain the sea-
son in Parisn
"And allow mt" said the Prince, I" to intro
duce our brother to you, Mr. Leonard Wray.D
The establishment of Mark Aveling on meet
ing with Mildred and Leonard under such Cir
cumstances, would probably have betrayed the
fact of their being already acquainted and of
the existence of some unpleasant secret be-
tween them, but he met the fierce gaze of
Leonard, instead Of the downcast, tind look
that Mildred cast upon him as she curtsied
His embarrassment, however, was only mo-
mentary, and his selfposression only eaualled
by that of Mildred and Leonard themselves.
The salutation with which he honored them
was of the most formal kind, and was as stifly
returned by Leonard, who, by great effort,
contrived to preserve an unrufled exterior,
though an inward prey to violent rage and in
dignation. The introduction over, the Prin-
cess added, addressing tho Prince, and taking
his arm
"And now, cousin, we will resign Miss Wray
once more to her brothers. care though
doubt whether, with all his vigilance, he will
be able to prevent her from getting a husband
in Paris, before very long,
SO saying and pressing Mldred's hand as
she spoke the Princess turned away, with her
cousin, leaving Leonard and Mildred face to
face with Mark. Leonard felt his sister trem-
BILE, as she stood, leaning heavily ON his arm
for support, and not daring to look up though
aware that the eyes of Mark were upon her
as well as those Of the bystanders. The pause
that ensued, though BRIEF was painful and
awkward, but was brought to close by Leon
ards bowling silently to Aveling and compo-
sedly Withdrawing with the shrinking Mildred
Scarcely, however, had they quilted the
apartment, than Marks assumed impassibility
left him. His countenance underwent rapid
change, tuning from pale to scarlet, and then
to pale again. His teeth and lips became
firmly compressed, and large drops of heavy
perspiratiOn stood out from his brow. Sudden
ly, he dashed down the glass he held, with a
vehemence far from in keeping with the sober
rules of gentlity, and, to the amazement of
those who had witnessed the recent incident
rushed out after the departed couple with an
alacrity quite trans atlantic.
He overlook them in the vestibule; and so rap
id had been his pace, that he even overshot them
few PAGES
"Your pardon, Mr.. Wray," calculated he, in
English, in a furried tone /; but was so as
tonished to meet with you, and with Miss
Wray, fear have been guilty of a breach Of
courteey in not recognising you when you were
introduced. May be permitted to tender an
Apology"
"None is needed, MIR. Avcling 80 far as
am concerned" replied Leonard, calmly ;
and | will also venture to say as much for
my sister,
"But Mr.. Wray, MIR. Wray," pursued Ave-
ling, following the young man and his COM
panion, 4" | wish to speak with you. | have
something of Importance to say"
" Sir" retorted Leonard, stopping short, and
confronting him, " desire to have az little to
do with you as possible. The relation in which
we stand towards each other has long since
been determined and | do not desire to dis
turb it, save in so far as it DAY release me
from all obligation to you. | am your debtor,
but you have your security We will. if you
please, retain our mutual position, until can
redeem the pledges which the improvdence Of
my unhappy father, and the curse of a fearful
institution, have placed in your hand, as 4
guarantee for the advances your father made
to mine. Sir, wish you good evening"
So saying Leonard hurried forward, leaving
Mark confounded, and standing like statue
in the hall. He was aroused from his abstrac-
ton by s servant, who, addressing him in
French, said
"MonSieur, Ueut.I ga couture 2;'*
"Ehl What No Yes Confusion y ex-
claimed he all in breath and rushed out
after Leonard guided by the sound of rece-
ding wheels, aud utterly Oblivious that he had
left hat and cloak behind him, and that it was
pouring in torrents.
X Does Monsieur want his carriage"