Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-20
Statesman,
STRANGE MISS DEYQNPORT.
ICQNCLuSI0N.l

| CoNCLUsIoN.
The day was decidedly successful
AS there is no necessity to give the
reader detailed account of famous run
with the marlborough hounds, the line
of country taken by the fox need not
here sbe sdescribea. AsstbS November
twilight was coming on, Henley rode up
to his hotel, in an excellent humor with
his horse, which had acquitted itself
most creditably in the eyes of the Rat
tleborough hunters, but angry with him
self for being SO much annoyed
panied, perhaps, would be the better
word-with Miss Devonport. He could
disguise the fact no longer; he loved
her. He had loved her from the very
first, and she had treated him in this un-
accountable manner But he was pre-
vented from continuing these reflections
by a letter which was @put intoA his
hands. 1t was from his sister, and he
had half expected it for some days past.
It merely told him that his father, whose
health had for long time been bad. and
who was then staying in the south of
France, had suddenly become worse, and
was particularly anxious to see his son.
Would Lionel come at oncei
Yes, he wonld start directly-next
evening. But there was one thing he
would do first. He would seek an in
terview with Miss Devonport. He
would see if he could not meet her in
the street, and would endeavor to gain
from her sornese xplauation
On the following morning Henley
wandered about the town, but not a
glimpse could he see of his partner at
the ball. Up and down the street he
went, gazing into the deep recesses of
linen drapers' and milliners' shops, and
other similar resorts, which it seemed to
him propable that the young lady might
affect, but still there was no Miss Dew
onport to be seen. Half way up the
High street at marlborough there was
narrow turning, which led to what
was generally called the marlborough
Lawn, where the marlborough band
was in the habit, of occasionally y exer-
cising its musical powers, and where the
less select of the Marlborough young
ladies were wont in the summer to erect
their croquet hoops, and tor pursue the
mimic warfare Of tile mallet. 1t was
half unconsciously that Henley just now
took this path. He was thinking of
what was to be done, how he was to see
Miss Devonport-fo he had quite de-
termined not to leave the place without
seeing her-when an abrupt turn in the
avenue brought him suddenly into the
lady's presence. Yes, it was Miss Dew
onport--at last, He, stood still /, and
bowed Miss Devonport it was but
her face no longer worelthe look of ten
derness and sweetness that had charmed
him so at the Hunt Ball.
miss Devonport," he said, bowling !;
81 am quite aware that 1 am guilty of
some boldness in thus intruding upon
you. But 1 have to leave Rattlebor-
ough <to-day, and feel cannot do so
without few words of conversation
with you. Nor, if 1 apologize for ask
ing, do 1 think you cam well be- surpris-
ed at my wishing fof something of an
explanation from you. How, then, am
l to account for the extraordinary man
ner in which you have treated me dur
ing the, last few. days-how recognizing
me as a friend. and now passing me as
an entire strangeri 1 confess that when
L met you did not know you were en-
gagged to Mr.. Hughes -"
"Sir ~ interrupted Miss Davenport,
with look of absolute wonderment
upon her countenance.
"What Is my information wrong ?
Is it not as / say :"
al am completely at loss to under
stand to what cause am indebted for
the honor of this interruption in my
walk. The fact of my engagement to
Mr.. Hughes can be a matter of no mo-
ment to you. When 1 first saw you,
20" ', wsEsa strahgsr, E and nd stranger you
And having said these words, Miss
davenport, her face flushed with indig-
nation, swept past him with the air of a
tragedy queen.
As for Henley, he stood rooted to the
spot. TO him it was all dream; but
he did not dream long. He laughed a
low and bitter laugh. "a consummate
actress? heartless firt envy Hughes!
And these" he said, "are the Rattle
borough young ladies' I suppose the
atmosphere of this delightful place su-
perinduces the habit. And here am 1,
who. ought to be proof against snch'silly
contingencies, fooled Aexquisitely by a
mere country coquette. Bah, let me
treat her as she deserves!" And Hen
ley strolled back to his inn-angry, and
though he would not have allowed it,
wretched.
As he drove down to the marlborough
station he caught glimpse of a form
with which he was familiar; he saw a
face that he knew well. 1t was Miss
Devonport. Did his eyes deceive him ?
She bowed to him as if nothing had
passed between them. But it was
Lionel's turn this time. And he re-
manned still and motionless as marble. :
- kgE5L -[lll ~ ~ /
Two years had passed away. Hen