Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-06-11

ner Of last night; but he was quite sure
there was upon it very sweet SMILE and
as he looked at her be felt more disposed to
envy than congratulate the lucky Hughes.
1t was plain enough now when Miss Devon
port met him in the morning she must have
failed TO recognize him. Henley felt half
disposed to speak then and there to Hughes
haneee, and to make some inquiries after the
fortunate lover. But his acquaintance, he
thought, would not Justify the liberty and
he had come to a kind of unacknowledged
decision with himself that for the future it
would be wiser for him not to seek to renew
bis acquaintance with Miss Devonport.
The meet happened to be close to Rattle
borough, and on such occasions there were
always numbers Of persons who came to see
the throw off. As Henley rode up he re-
fected with pride on his appearance lie
was well mounted as a man need wish to be.
and there are probably few pleasures more
exquisite than that which is experienced bya
sportsman who is conscious that be bestrides
quadruped equal to any emergencies OF the
hunting-held 1t was, therefore, with no
/ small satisfaction that he witnessed the eyes
T Of the spectators turned towards him as he
made his appearance; and his satisfaction
was increased when be thought that in the
distance he could descrv the figure of Miss De
yonport. mounted on the neatcst lady hacks.
As he approached nearer, Miss Deyonport,
for she ID was. turned her horse round, and
as he came quite close and recognized her, he
yentured TO salute her with bow and
g.. -,od morning But Miss Deyonport re
manned. as he fancied, quite passive, or only
inclined her head a very little forward IN
manner emblematic Of frigidity. What
could be have done to offend her? He al
most wished for an explanation on the spot.
He was puzzled, he was angry, he was hurt.
II was a line of conduct that he could not un-
derstand. Here was a young lady whom he
had met at a ball, with whom he had danced
three or four times, who had talked to him
without the least reserve, and who subse-
qucntly took it into her head at one moment
t. meet him as a friend, and at another As
almost an entire stranger, lust as the humOr
prompted her. The whole thing was unin-
telligible. While he was thinking over all
this, he was suddenly reused by the familiar
signs that the hound had scent Of fox. lie
prepared to ioin the main body Of the horse
men, and a. he was cantering up to the copse
IN which they were, a voice he knew said A
pleasant run to you Mr.. Henley" He looked
round, and saw once again Miss Devonport,
with the sweet look upon her face that had
attracted him 50 much Two evenings ago.
The day was decidedly successful. A.
there is no necessity to give the reader de
tailed account of d famous run with the Rat
tleboro hounds, the line of country taken by
the fox need not here be described. As the
November twilight was coming on, Henley
rode up to his hotel, in an excellent hum0r
with biz horse, which had acquitted itself
f most creditably in the eyes Of the Rattlebore
hunters, but angry with himself for being so
much annoyed-pained, perhaps, would be
the better wori-with Miss Deyonport 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 unaccount-
able manner But he was prevented from
continuing these reflections by a letter
which was put into his hands. IL was from
his sister, and be had halfexpeced It for some
DAYS past. Ii merely told him that his faith
er, whose health had for a long time been
bad. and who was then staying in the south
of France, had suddenly become worse and
was particularly anxious to rec his son.
Would Lionel come at once?
Yes. he would start directly, next even
ing. But there was one thing he would Do
first He would seek an interview with Miss
Devonport lie would see if he could not
meet her in the street, and would endeayor
% gain from her some explanation.
On the following morning Henley wander
ed about the town, but not q glimpse could lie
see Of his partner at the ball. Up and down
the streets he went, gazing into the dim re-
cesses Of linendrapers and milliners shops,
and other similar resorts, which it seemed 10
him probable that the young lady might aft
ect. but still there was no Miss Devonport
ta be seen. Half wav up the high street at
Marlborough there was a narrow turning.
which led 10 what wes generally called the
RattleboIough Lawn, where the Rattle50-
rough band was in the habit of occasionally
exercising is musical powers, and where the
less select of the Marlborough young ladies
were wont. in summer. t. erect their croquet
hoops. aud 70 pursue the mimic warfare of
the malet. 1t was half unconzciously that
Henley lust now took this path. lie was
thinking Of what was to be done, how he was
10 see Miss Deyonp0rt-for be 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 pres
ence. Yes, it was Miss Dev0nport-at last
it was but her face no longer wore the look
Of tenderness and sweetness that had charmed
him so much at the Hunt Ball.
'' Miss Deyonport, he said, bowing, "
am quite aware that | am guilty Of some
bllduess in thus inJruding upon you. But
have % leave Marlborough to-day, and /
feel | cannot do So without a few words of
conversation with YOU. Nor, If | apologize
for asking, do think you can well be sur
prised at my wishing for something Of an
explanation from you. How, then, am | to
account for the extraordinary manner in
which you have treated nc during the last few
days-now recognizing me as a friend, and
now passing me ar an entire stranger?
confess that when met you did not know
that You were engaged to Mr.. Hughes--'' -
Sir =" interrupted Miss Devor port, with
a look Of absolute wonderment upon her coun-
tenance.
What? i my information wrong? Is
il not as | say p
am ompetoly at loss to understand
10 what cause | am indebted for the honor
Of this interruption in my walk. The fact
Of my engagement to Mr.. Hughes can be Of
no moment 10 YOU. When first saw You,
were a stranger, and stranger YOU viii still
remain
And having said these words. Miss Devon
port. her face flushed with indignation,
swept past him with the air of tragedy
queen.
As for Henley. he stood rooted to the spot.
To him it was all dream but be did not
dream long. He laughed a low and bitter
laugh. ' \ consummate actress a heart
less lirt, ] envy Hughes And these, he
said, " are the Rat:leborough young ladids
! suppose the atmosphere Of this delightful
place superinduces the habit. And here am
|, who ought to be proof against such con-
tingences, fooled exquisitely by mere coun-
try coquette Bah, let me treat her as she
deserves - And Henley 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 we'll 1t was Miss Devonport. Did
his eyes deceive him She bowed to him as
IL nothing had happened between them.
But it was Lionel's turn this time. And be
renamed still and motionless as marble.
III.
Two years had passed away. Henley had
reached his father Just soon enough 10 be at
his death-bed, and to catch bis diving words
lis two sisters had both married. and he had
returned TO England the owner of his fathers 5
estate. Wickham Manor As for theNIIss De
vonport affair, be had striyen hard to forget
. It all but. in spite Of all his efforts. he