The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-02
A FORTUNE IN A TEACUP,

"You don't look happy, Beatrice"
"Well?"
"Not very encouraging infection on
the word, my dear. Does it invite SYM
pathy or inquiry 7"
Neither"
al believe you are out of sorts"
Have you any objectionf"
Her handsome, good-natured brother
laughed outright.
avery serious objection, Beatrice, if it
makes you cross with me. Now, tell
me all about it."
"I've nothing to tell"
Harry Longworth gave her a quick
look, mistrusting at once the cause OF
her unamiable mood. He was d fine
young fellow of two-and-twenty, with
a bright, cheerful face that won every
body's confidence, and the frankest,
sunniest temper in the world-every-
body's friend and mostdevoted brother.
Beatrice, two years younger, had been
silly called Iceberg" by her school
friends, who had found considerable diff
ticulty in thswing the reserve of cold
and apparently unsympathetic nature.
She was admired where she was scarcely
liked, for her literary ability and fine
conversational powers, which she some
times chose to exhibit, gave her claim
to be considered brilliant" in the Cir
Gle where she moved. To her could
justly be applied Tennyson's description
of Maud" Faulty faultless, icily reg
ular, splendidly null"
She stood, in her elegant walking
dress, leaning against one of the veranda-
pillars, and listlessly swinging a croquet-
mallet to and fro. The sound of merry
laughter from a distance seemed to an
noy her, and she shrugged her shoulders
impatiently under her brothers touch.
Beatrice, you have quarreled with
Doctor King"
She looked up with defiant express
sion.
"That is my affair, Harry"
Inside the parlor, the window OF
which stood open, woman sat reading.
She closed her book at the sound OF
voices, and sat erect, quiet, listening.
"You are making mistake, then, In
your own affairs. This is the second
time, you know, and Doctor King is not
the man to endure trifling. For heavens
sake, don't let your abominable pride
stand in the way to your happiness
l. Dcl1CNO Sou Wouio oooiiSi NAS
by inches than yield, Beatrice"
81 yield only when l am in the wrong,
Harry. But what made you suppose
there was trouble between us? l said
nothing"
"Probably you can recall the old
adage of actions speaking louder than
words, and then you know how easily
your gifted brother puts this and that
together. / was in John Kings room
only half an hour ago; found HIM pack
ing his valise, humming little tune to
himself, blythe way, and not apparently
suffering from heart-disease. He told
me he was suddenly called to New York
could not tell when he would return.
But, now find you in such melancholy
frame of mind, 1 am convinced that he
was sent, not called, away, and that you
are responsible. Have you been gnaw-
ing at the old bone OF contention Z"
"If you mean Mr.. Warren, yes. 1 ac-
cepted an invitation to ride with him
tomorrow. Doctor King objected un-
reasonably. l am my own mistress yet,
l believe"
Harry Longworth gave comical
groan, which ended in long sigh.
Don't be foolish and obstinate,
Beatrice! 1 declare, the perversity OF
women is one of the most unsccountable
things i'll this universe. 1 don't like
Warren a bit, with all his polished man
ners, and you may be sure Doctor King
has good reason for his antipathy. You
know you love John as well-almost as
well as you do your precious brother !!
Now confess you do p
The proud, willful woman made no
reply. The figure in the parlor stirred
quietly, changed its position so as to get
a glimpse of Beatrice Longworth's i'm
penetrable face, and looked at her eager
ly, little sneer growing on the lips.
Both brother and sister were equally
unconscious of her gaze. Harry pleaded
long and eloquently with his sister, ap-
parently to no purpose. for waiting till
he concluded, she said, quietly:
"If you have finished, l think 1 will
go to my room and dress for evening.
1t is nearly time for the tea-bell"
She walked into the house with her
stately tread, leaving perplexed Harry
to reflect that, although blessed might
be eace-makers,it it was doubtful whether
those who failed in their worthy efforts
in that direction were equally fortunate.
Sibyl Guerrin remained in the parlor
for little while, apparently well pleased
with her own musings. She rose at
last, and with gliding sort of motion,
in some way suggestive of feline pro-