National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-02
No !; ! remember my promise. "
" And that was ?"

| ana tOlu VeTltuDle romance , tne Inuy
has only to turn out ghost or ghoul
to make it complete" said Miss Lund;
but as she spoke, she started and turned
pale it was only with an effort that she
completed her sentence.
Bertram, looking round for the cause
of this emotion, saw that new arrival
at Spa, man whom he knew slightly
in England, had just entered the room
and he experienced that pleasing
thrill which animates pointer on snuff
ing gamey scent, or dramatic author
when the idea of n plot comes into his
head, for he relieved the tedium of n
somewhat lethargic existence by watch
ing the little social romances going on
around him. If he had been tattler,
this might have proved n mischievous
propensity but he kept his discoveries
to himself, or only intimated them to
the principal actors, for his amusement
consisted in knowing what other people
failed to perceive. The young man
who had Just entered moved up the
room, looking right and left for ac-
quaintances. Presently, he saw Ber-
tram, who came forward and shook
hands with him, asked him when he
had arrived, what hotel he was staying
ut, and other little commonplaces,
while he was answering which he saw
Miss Lund, and could not prevent a
slight start before he bowed coldly.
The young lady replied with distant
bend of the neck.
"You know Miss Lund ?" said Ber-
tram.
I" / had met her once or twice. But
they are going to dance again, and as
am not in a mood for violent exercise,
having only just swallowed my dinner,
| shall 90 and have look at the Irente
ct Quarante.
Though not gossip himself, Bertram
by no means objected to take occasional
advantage of the gleanings gathered by
members Of that fraternity, so he went
and sat down by Mrs. Cracket.
/" So you have been making love to
the heiress," said she.
Rash, under your very eyes, wasn't
it ?" he replied. But what is there
between her and Graham ?"
" Do you mean to tell me that you
don't know p
How should / 2" was not aware
of Miss Lund's existence till this even
ing"
"Well, they were engaged for ever
so long he was at her house every day.
most improper, with only that poor old
Miss Corney to act as chaperone ; when
suddenly she broke off the match. The
airs these parvenus give themselves.
"Was there no cause, then ?"
ooh, suppose it was some jealous
whim. and there may have been some
occasion for it. You men are all a4lke.
This was quite enough for Bertram
to start upon, and he made no more in
quiries. But he enlistened himself in
| the troop of the heiress' s admirers, which
was pretty numerous, took the Lund
shill Ing as he himself expressed it, and
being an adept in the art of making him
self agreeable, was soon promoted to
the rank of leading partner and first
shawl-carrier, vice Williams and Ven
ables, told off respectively to Miss Cor
ney and the lapdog This distinction did
not put hiniHp unduly, for the descrim
mating young man perceived that the
preference was afforded him because he
seldom approached the topics of love or
matrimOny, and when he. did, it was al
ways in ton eof badinage.
Yet there were times when she assum-
ed coquettish air, which seemed to in
vite him to more serious Irritation, but
this was invariably when Graham was
present, and appeared to be observing
her.
"Now, said Bertram to himself, "there
are two courses for the male spoon to
pursue: either to clear out of the place
! Il - Il, f>11 1n,,l
Graham adopted the latter course,
and harnessed himself to the car of
handsome young widow, who dressed
gorgeously, rode fearlessly, talked
slangily, danced untiringly, and sat
doun to play.
The manners of the little English
community assembled at Spa were very
much relaxed from the standard set up
by each individual member at home.
Persons, even of different sexes, spoke
to one another without formal intro
duction young ladies danced some
times twice consecutively with the same
partner. The majority only went once
to church on Sunday, and devoted the
Irest of the day to long walks in the
woods the perusal of secular journals,
and listening to the band, which played
other music than Handels. Many who
frowned at sixpenny whist at home as
gambling, staked their florins and five
franc pieces at roulette and rouge-et-
noir. But there was one tacit law
which the female portion of the British
visitors adhered to religiously, and for
bade them to take seats at either of the
play-tables. They might stand behind,
and make their little stakes over peoples
shoulders, with an air of assumed indif-
ference as to whether they lost or wen,
if they pleased That was considered
to be mere looking-on. But to sit down
like regular Gambler, with big G.,
was held to be fearful breach of pro-
priety.
And this crime Mrs. Geylass, the
young widow, committed. She con-
stantly took seat, which was obsequi-
ously vacated for her Mt the unsocial
board, removed her gloves, took card
and pin, piled her stock of napoleons
into little heaps in front of her, and |
went in for the thing in the most busi-
ness like way, her admirers clustering
round and backing her luck; on the |
principal, l suppose, that imitation is
the sincerest fattery. The admirers al
luded to we're all men their mothers,
wives, and sisters abhorred her to wo-
man. They would have cut her, only |
her late husbands cousin was lord,
and her own father baronet, and she
was rich. Blood and money cover more
sins than charity, so they bowed and
smiled, and answered when she spoke
to them. But that was not very often,
for the widow preferred masculine con-
versation.
This was the lady to whom Graham