Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-10-17

| I'm the contrary, dear aunt, | am as
proud as monarch while you are leaning on
my arm u
Agatha heard it all, and she also heard
him answer, in reply to the gay challenge of
some companion:
"Thank you, don't reckon upon me as
one of your party this evening at the opera
am going with my aunt who is passionately
fond OF music, so yeu must excuse me for
once"
81 told ysu so ~ said Fitz Aubyn, in a
soits roce tone, Struggling his shoulders.
Did you ever see such fellow as Stan
ton ?'
Never" was Aga.ha's reply, but it was
so emphatically spoken that Fitz Aubyn star
ted. And that night when the courted beau
ty was brushing out her luxurisnt hair, she
paused many time and fell into thought
ful revere.
Moral courage p she murmurcd to her.
self /" have somewhere read that it is no.
bier far than the iron resolution which makes
men reckless in battle wonder"
And there she stopped resolutely.
What a glorious, bracing New Years day
1t was! There had been Just snow enough
in the night to form white, glistening coat
over everything, and afforded an excellent
excuse for the merry sleighs that darted
hither and thither with streaming furs and
jingng bells. All the the fashionable world
was astir the gentlemen hastily consulting
their intermnable lists of calls, and the ladies
putting the last touches to their gorgeous toi
lets.
There were not many upon that day who
received more adulation than Agatha Milne
as she stood like a young empress in her
splendid drawing-rooms every mirror fash
ing back her loneliness. Her dress was very
simple-pink silk, edged around the shoul
ders with snowy ernine, and long sprays of
jcssamine dropping from her hair-yet she
knew that she had never been so beautiful
as now, as she listened with languid smiles
to the compliments showercd upon her. 1t
was nothing new.
The gilded chandeliers had been lighted,
and the jeweed fingers Of the tiny alabaster
clock on the mantle pointed to late hour,
when the peal of the door bell announced a
new incurlson Of guests, and Mr.. Fitz Aubyn
entered, surrounded bya gay party Of young
men
Good evening, Miss Milne surely am
not too late to wish you the happest of all
imaginable New Years? Whom do you
suppose met steering in the direction of
your hospitaoe mansion just now? Here
he comes to speak for hmself-the Chevalier
Stanton ~
Agatha turned calmly to welcome the new
conner, and the keenest eye could scarcely
discern the deeper shade Of color that glowed
on her delicate cheek, as he quietly came
up to greet her.
"Fil your glasses, gentlemen, exclaimed
Fitz Aubyn, holding hig h above his head
tiny chalice of engraven Bohemian glass,
brlmming with crimson wine, let us drink to
the health OF our fair hostess, Miss Agatha
Milne"
The impromptu toast was received with
acclamations of satisfaction, and Fitz Aubyn
glanced around to sec if all had followed his
in;unctions, ere he touched his lips to the
glass.
Come Stanton, no lack of chivalry here :;
where's your glass"
will drink Miss Mines health in clear
iced water with the greatest pleasure" said
Stanton, smiling; but never touch wine"
Never touch wine! and pray why not ?"
| 1t is against my principles" said Stan
ton with quiet firmness.
Fitz Aubyn curled his lip in contemptlsous
silence, that was several degrees harder to
bear than spoken obloqny, but another Young
|
"Offer the wine to him yourself Miss
Milne surely he cannot be so lost to ali sense
of gallantry, as to refuse it from your fair
hand ~
Agatha had grown very pale, but without
speaking, she filled one of the goblets, and
held it towards Stanton.
"Will you take it from me?"
Stanton looked at her with calm gravity,
as he replied:
"Miss Milne, should be a coward indeed
did allow your persuasions to sway me from
the fixed principles which are the guiding
stars of my life."
He bowed and Withdrew. The glass fell
from Agatha's hand and shivered into thou
sand sparkling fragments she bit her scar
let lip until the blood started with strange
| sympathetic thrill Of exultaton. Had he
wayered for an instant in his determination,
she would have despised him.
! "A very poor investment those horses of
mine, and all this behavior lu good boy in
story book muttered Fitz Aubyn, about
! four weeks subsequently, as he strobe into
the brilliantly illuminated salons of the Club
House. Waiter, a glass Of brandy and
water, quick y
"What's the matter Fitz ? you look as
black as thunder cloud,' observed by
stander who was leaning against a marble
pillar and picking his teeth in most epieii-
| Iean manner.
"The matter? Do you remember that
magnificent Agatha Milne, the Queen Of all
the beauties ?"
"Of course do; she hasn't lost her wits
or her property, hope ?''
"No, but Tee lost the latter item pretty
effectuaIly. Who do you suppose she is 60
ing to marryY'
am sure cannot guess. Do tell your
news at once, and don't keep fellow in sus-
pense."
Well, she is going to become Mrs. Char
ley Stanton; actually going to marry man
with fossil aunt and principles that won't
allow him to drink a glass Of wine Bah
the humbug that passes current in this
world"
~ could have prophcsied as much before.
my dear boy, it you would have only done
hnn RI. Il. u u