The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-31

instantly proceeded to astonish her

instantly proceeded to astonish her
with an account of him. -.as .-a-.l
"That is very mysterious person,
Miss Aylmer. A young Englshman,
educated in Germany. He spends
most. of. his time travelling, nobody
knows where. He disappears for
tuonths, and then suddenly comes back
to London; and he knows everything
THAT has happened In his absence. They
SAY he studies magic, and has sold his
soul to Satan. He rarely goes into So
ciety. got him to come toni ght by
promising he should meet DIR. -"
lShe named tho most distinguished
physician and chemist of the day. )"He
has not spoken to any lady but me to-
night. They say he hates women. and
has never been in love-" .., ss...-.
i 1t was not an uncommon thing for
some mischievous wag to hoax this
good lady with wild stories about in
nocent, unpretending people, to make
them ''ions" in her eyes. She was
once made to believe that an honest.
gentleman, a chance acquaintance of
hers, had been suspected of numbering
his wife. vOfcourse;i she had him at
hersnext soiree, aud circulated the de
lightful horror In day or two by
accident, it came to The. ears ofits he
ro, and his rage eau be imagined. r.
g Her embellished edition of Robert
Greville's history was drawn from a
parallel source. The facts were that
his foreign educption had ratherspoiled
him for English society; he had a
taste for scientific experiment, and a
distaste for the boisterous vices and
amusements of the age; and moder-
ate fortune enabled him to spend his
time as he pleased. He rather culti-
waited his reputation for eccentricity;
it amused him aud gave him more
liberty. .-- .-.
One word in Mrs. LIS sketch
decided Maud. "He has never loved"
She signifed her royal pleasure that
he should be presented to her. 'tHe
shall love me. "she said to herself.
And so he loved her. He came to
Aylmer oftener than the earl, than any
other visitor. Maud took care, how
ever, that the earl and he should new
-er meet. .-
The Earl of Lilberre loved Maud
Aylmcr like knight of old. He en-
dowed her with all manner. of imag-
mary virtues and perfections, and
treated her as he would have treated
queen. Robert Greville soon OWNED
or discovered her character, but he
could not resist the spell of her lowell
ness; he adored her and despised her.
Maud speedily found that with him she
had no part to act, he knew her thor
-oughly; and since he admired none
the less, she liked him the better for
it; it put her at ease.
He worked on her foibles to win her
favor, He praised her beautiful hand
and she let him take it in both of his,
and pose the taper fingers, resting OF
his palm, in the position in which they
ought to be sculptured. She let him
hold it, and comment on the delicate
rosy nails, the blue veins lacing the
the pearly wrist; and she hardly with
drew it when he pressed the soft palm
with passionate force to his lips.
He expressed wish to see her rich
chestnut hair unconfned;' and by some
unaecountable accident, on his next
visit, the structure into which it was
erected gave way, and the whole appa-
ratus of pins snd combs had to be ta-
ken out. The glorious masses of soft
ness and. lustre fell over her white
shoulders and reached below her waist. !
Could Robert resist drawing a long
tress through his hand, to admire its
color and texture? And could Maud
refuse when he begged her for little
lock that could not be, missed? She
gave it to him, and her soft gray eyes
met his with look so sweet, so like a
soul looking out of them, (only think
there was none, THAT he began to
think no was mistaken, after all; she
had n heart, and he was winning it.
. In short, he lost his head, as she
meant he should, and fell deeper in
love with her. si5s5e -aH e-Uoa al
ID He asked her to be his wife She
but in such a manner that en-
couraged him IS yield to her winning
prayer stnot to to be- her friend, to
visit her as usual" Yet he had been
so sure of success that he'was enraged
with her; and once, as he rode home,
he raised his right hand to heaven to
swear that he would never see her
again; but at that instant there rose
before his minds eyes the look in
Maud's when she gave him the tress of
hair; the oath was unsworn; and on
the day when she allowed him to visit
her, he presented himself as usual
Maud had expected him, and he i'm
agined her blush of triumphant vanity
was one of pleasure. a .@i
During his absence, the Earl of Lii
berne had offered himself to Miss Ayl-
mer, and been accepted. There being
no reasons for delay, an early a day
was fixed for their marriage as the
necessary preparations would permit.
And Maud wore ON her finger the
earl's circlet of blazing diamonds, ev-
erywhere but in Robot Greville's
presence.
To keep up the pretenco of friend
ship while he was winning his way
further, Greville tried to interest
Maud in topics foreign to her daily
ifo; in her acquaintances in London,
in his travels, and even in his scien-
tific pursuits. 9a7i".' r.l
8 One day he brought her, in seal
ed glass-case, n damask rose, with Il
bud or two, and spray of green
caves. ~ Il Lrf!-'.-:t, -. t5'.rs4 Il
iH" How long has it been gathered,
10 you thinlkl' he asked = .f.-a II
Since this morning." answered /
Maud. 2..f-i ,E1aId , r...- .tBgsT- 1t