Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-08-04
with excitement. / exclaimed aloud !:

and smiled on me.
Miss Elsie is radiantly beautiful"
said / to Mr.. Arundel.
"Do you think so? Well, perhaps
you are right You see she's younger
than Julia, and a tomboy. She's devel-
oping rapidly, no doubt
Mr.. Arundel seemed shaking with un-
comfortable laughter. | was disgusted.
He had called that exquisite creature by
an odious name.
Miss Julia is evidently her papa's
favorite,' = | thought to myself somewhat
bitterly.
"Here comes the young ladies them
selves" said Mr.. Arundel, the play be-
ing over "Very fine actresses you
make, my dears." He then presented
me.
Miss Arundel held out her hand half
timidly. Miss Eliza looked at me with
her large blazing eyes, then said hearth
ly:
81 noticed you from the stage, Mr..
Van Dyck, and knew at once l should
like you. l played my very best to
please you"
I was little disconnected at this
charming candor; but every one laugh
ed, and Miss Julia asked:
"Are you sure you didn't fancy Mr..
Van Dyck the hero of the play, and 50
make such an effort to fascinate poor Sir
Eustace %
You've guessed it exactly" replied
the frank young lady. '.You see MIR.
Van Dyck," she went on, addressing
me, 'ssister Julia has been fattered till
she expects all the attention: but claim
YOU The darling girl had actually
taken my arm.
run away with Mr.. Van Dyck, il
you please, Elsie p cried Miss Julia,
blushing, but joining in the general
laugh.
"You may have a dance with your
conquest, if MIR. Van Dyck chooses to
be regarded in that light, seconded Mr.
Arundel
live certainly no objections" l re-
torted, laughing.
In another moment Elsie and | were
whirling among the dizzy waltzes.
IzscIy JUG 10 r0onrn5 ""o nauS"r"s
at us" remarked my eccentric partner
"as if danced like an elephant"
''Impossible !" exclaimed |, deprecat
ingly. "Your waltzing is the very es
sence of grace-the poetry of motion.
"At any rate, I've had enough of ii
1t is lovely in the conservatory; let u
go in there and get cool by the fountain.
l followed her lead willingly enough
"Isn't this delightful p sighed Elsie
as soon as we found ourselves alone
dropping her somewhat dashing manner
and looking up at me with a languie
almost timid glance.
She caught my admiring gaze an
smiled, revealing dazzling teeth.
"Here's seat among the roses ft
you, Mr.. Van Dyck. The water frol
this fountain is as cool as ice, and {
sparkling as diamonds; let me fill tn
goblet for you'll I'll be Hebe, cupbeart
to the gods, and you shall be the glor
Gus Apollo. I'll take care not to stun
BILE to be banished from my Olympu
I'm in paradise, Mr.. Van Dyck p
''Your illusions are classical, fair i
dy; but are you in earnest in sayir
you're in paradise p
"Of course | am, monsieur, with Il
handsomest gentleman in the compan
alfto myself, and / younger sister. "
: Here Elsie, half kneeling, presentt
the goblet with bewitching grace
Judge me not too harshly, kind reade
when l admit that my heart beat rapi
ly. ] was young and susceptible.
! s'I've no accomplishments" went (
my charmer. Il cannot play the plan
nor sing, nor dance like sister Juli'
but" here she paused and looked
E me half defantly-"I can play b
. liards!'
e "a sort of Dl Vernon" retorted /
no means startled from my self-posst
!; sion.
+ &sO dear! I'll tell papa you call
e me that''
did you call me dear ?' 1 ask
i Silly.
: 'sNo, never call gentlemen deo
e but it must be very pleasant
..Try it to me. then. sweet Elsie p
t exclaimed enthusiastically, enraptul
e by her engaging candor.
Elsie made no reply but to drop
r, head till her cheek touched my hand.
II was intoxicated. | believe bent do
e and kissed her.
o. to think of the folly of that ev'
ing
| confessed my love to the fascinati
IF beauty.
in s.You don't think me rude and I
ct ward, then, as papa does-as they
lg do?" she askeds
e. mo, Elsie, adore your simple
s. and frankness. What joy to P
at through life with you p
Sc 80, really, Mr.. Van Dyck p and
-, SIC ,,acfIoJ oioe, r., ~,