The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-07
An Original story.
Harry Finderne's Temptation
BY FRANK HAYNE.

BODY; she liked to do it. I say she: her
name, unfortunately, was Harriet, but every
body called her Harry. She was always sur
prising somebody, and she never surprised
any one more than she did Guy Denver, when
she promised to marry him.
lie had not the least idea she would; ratE-
Ell hoped she would not; had got to ask her
anyhow. Rather hoped she would not; ard
why?
Harry Finderne was pretty enough TO salts
fy any reasonable man. She had a protusion
OF nut brown hair, wide blue eyes and saucy
red lips, while the yielding curves OF her
slender figure led the eye from grace to grace.
she never painted nor powdered; her com
pieXlon was no dazzling white nor brilliant
req; Its clear unyarying hue plainly dlsdalh-
ed the aid of art. She never wore false hair;
for one day, in the midst of some impromptu
gymnastics at picnic, her waterfall came
down, natural, ripping cascade of sparkling
brown, that foated into ringlets at the least
breath OF wind and curled inextricaby around
Its owners fingers as she tried to roll 1t up
II ever Guy came near feeling SENSATION
akin to love, it was as he watched her detuy
rolling and rolling the shining mass over her
small hands, land raising her round arms
picturesouely as she fastened it with her
comb.
The infnitesimal inclination was gone di-
reetly, and our fine gentleman was himself
again, wondered why people would go on pic
mics, and then turned away and tried TO
yawn. Unpromising material for a hero,
isn't he? That we cannot help; 9ccident
has made him ours.
And whence ariseth his disinclination for
the charming heroine of The piece? Alas (!
mystery enshrouds its origin, and we can
only guess at it.
1t wasn't her temper which caused him 10
dislike Harry, for that was gay, sunny, deli
cious; her red lips overlooked with wit and
laughter, while mirth and feeling chased each
other through the April heaven of her eyes.
Perhaps it was because Guy hated to be dis
turbed. He liked to keep all the ladies at
cool distance, and chose to flirt with them in
an incident, passive way, which could not
easily be done with Harry, because she was
SO thoroughly alive to everything, and espec-
tally to the ridiculous. The keenest sensation
that Guy had had for some time had been
that Harry Finderne would laugh at him.
And man naturally dlslikes a woman whom
he fears.
1t appeared to be an effort for Guy to take
a lady in to dinner, or hand her into her car
riage. AS for talking to her, that was quite
impossible. He vastly preferred putting him
self into an elegant attitude and allowing her
to admire him, as he had not the least doubt
she would do. Not that he was fool, by any
means, or had not the ordinary modicum of
common sense vouchsafed to young men of
MS age. But he had acquired the habit of
loungmg, and did not care to correct it. 9th
er men did so, and it was very easy and COM
portable, and on the whole why shouldn't
man enjoy Is? That is precisely what GUY
would have said if any one had quizzed him
about it. He was not altogether accountable
for his innocent confidence in universal adj
miration. 1t was an unavoidable consequence
CT his peculiar situation. He was the idol of
large family connection Astounding in I'M
eles and aunts, all rich, and many of them
chidless.
II was chiefly avuncular pressure which in
duced him to make Harry that astounding
proposal which We have limited at. GUY
himself wondered afterward how he had been
made to do IL; but he had done it, and there
was no getting over the fact.
lfthere was a tender point in GUYS social
position, it was "famiIy." The Denvers were
all rich, to be sure, and Guys own appear
ance was unexceptionable. His manners left
nothing to be desired. But some Of these
uncles and aunts with whose dollars he was
expected to figure by and by were not exact
ly on the same footing. Guy said very little
about them. To do him justice he did not
wish them to die and would not have poison
ed any one of them had he been certain he or
she proposed to live forever. 1 trust need
bring no further testimony TO his moral hero
ism.
The fact which Guy quietly ignored was
recognized by all the rest of the Denvers in
its full bitterness, and they eagerly desired
the only possible alienation of the smart. In
their eyes Guy was destined to raise and per-
petuate the family. All his PROJECTIONS were
bestowed upon him by approving heaven for
that especial purpose. They cast about for
some time for the most suitable match, At
length every verbal ballot in the whole coterie
was thrown for Harry Finderne. She was
handsome, she was stylish, she attracted at
teutIon wherever she went; whoever she
might choose, the match would be an event
In society. II she married that handsome
dtsttngae nephew Guy, nothing could possibly
go Oh better. And then, it was whispered
round the little circle, with some wincinr AMI
colorlng, Miss Finderne's. family was unexcep-
tionabe. That was what it hinged upon, aE
ter all. Nothing more was added; but the
thing was then and there decided.
Uncle Joe,-who made indisputaby the
best appearance of them all, and was, in con-
sequence, considered to stand in loco paren-
tbs (uide Mrs. Hobson Newcome) 10 our
friend Guy, in lieu of the papa and mamma
whom tate had taken-uncle Joe was DEBUT
ed to open the subject to Guy, who little
guessed what awaited him. He received the
communication with establishment not un-
mingled with terror. That he was ever to
~SiN SSN'~'J IA "HJ HioAO way. Qlu
not appear to have entered our young gentle.
mans head. So evident was his disncina-
ton to relinquish the ease of bachelor quar-
tiers for the cares and vexations of an estab-
lishmeDt, that uncle Joe actually forgot TO
mention the name OF the lady, 1t was there
fore not until the second interview that GUY
learned who was to make him happy man.
The revelation seemed to increase his aston
ishment. He so tar forgot himself as to whis-
tie; for which he instantly apologized by say
Ing, in his lazy, good-natured way: 81 beg
your pardon, uncle Joe, but really, sir"
Here he stopped, and in no succeeding in
terview did he ever get any farther. When
called upon TO give reason for Directing to
such an admirable arrangement for his flu
ture welfare, be virtually replied: "Reasons,
God bless you, sir, I've none to give, sir"
Such passive resistance was Of little avail
against persistent friendly assault Not one
OF his respected relatives threatened him
with any future testamentary omissions;
they all loved him too dearly. He often
wished they had threatened, for then he
could have seen his way clear. But no! Il
was all for his good; and they were willing
TO make any pecuniary sacrifice TO settle him
handsomely in the world. How then could