The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-11

| l. sHc sdlu Vulckl1 tucu as III Ttpcutlup
of even that slight impulsiveness, she re.
sumcd in the old tone, still, suppose ai.
ter all were to turn out a desperate
eharactor--what would you say then p
i should say, with one Of our New
York judges, that there must have been
attcnuating circumstances | replied
laughing.
She smiled, aud reached out her hand
to her glass: Very well, TO noighbor.
hood and friendship" then, since you
choose to run the risk .
This little dialogue had been carried on
thus far under cover Of rather noisy dis
cussion opposite, but here some one spoke
to Miss Knowles, and | was obliged to
content myself with observing her. | did
not fad it n tiresome occupant She was
a very handsome woman-for, though un.
married and evidently Young, no one
would have thought Of calling Mis-.
Knowles u grl,-and there was much
more than beauty in her face, there was
a meaning in every line, meaning which
suggested that hers had been no ordinary
or easy life. But though set face, it
was not hare one. and attracted in spite
of itself
Miss Knowles, | think it is to unkind
said the person who had interrupted us
one of the prctticst little school. girls
ever saw, leaning forward from our side
of the table. You haven't spoken word
to me yet. do believe you've forgot.
ten that we'ro engaged =
by Jove Miss Knowles is to be en-
We'd = 1t was Webster who said this
and the marked way in which he said il
made the speech a rude one. Deblay
perhaps thought SO, for he said instantly
oh, mon Dieu yes, Nlees Noailles
and Mees Morrell are to be envied and
blamed alike, both the two 1t is crue
Of your sex to monopoli1o itself agains,
us miserablcs, yon hear, Mademoaellt
Morrcll 7?
If one fancied Miss Knowles face hard
he would have changed his mind in watch
ing the smile with which she answered the
laughing young girl, smile out Of which
the ice had melted and left pure sunlight
No, I've not forgotten, Rosa she
said bat you know Of old | never kiss
and tell
Il was a peculiarity or this woman's,--
as [ had occasion later repeatedly TO OBJ.
serve--that, whatever she said or d.she
could not help being remarkable, SO much
her personality made itself felt in every.
thing. She made that quotation from the
common little song just as anybody might
have done, carelessly, and manilosty
without Il thought of effect, yet | do not
believe there was man at the table who
heard it from her lips quite upmoved.
Even Webster lifted his eyes to her with
kind Of sullen admiration, a tribute
which he was as unwilling to give as she
to receive, hut which was forced from
him against his will.
My pledge Of friendship, am con-
strained to admit, did not advance me as
could have wished with Miss Knowles.
y certain degree of progress she allowed
mo to make, Dut never one step beyond.
Oddly enough, it was kind OF Disagree
ment which served me most, and which
came about in this way. One evening |
had been reading to her, and had just
closed the book as twilight came on,when
my attention was attracted by newly
married pair on the balcony opposite, who
regardless Of the double row Of houses,
we're indulging in some of those demon
otrations peculiar to the honeymoon. 1t
would only have amused me, as usual but
for the effect it had on Miss Knowles, !
shall never forget her look or her tone
the mixture of pity, contempt, and some
thing that was almost like envy, as she
said under her breath-'She think it will
last poor little fool y Involuntarily a
quotation from the volume we had been
reading together came to my lips: i
too, have been in Arcadia y | should
hardly have known that had spoken
aloud, but for the way in which she turned
on me.
What suggested that to you p she said
imperiously. Tell me, insist
The expression of your face just now /,
answered, smiling There was whole
romance in it.
Indeed y she rejoined, with dclibcr.
ate emphasis contrasting with her former
abruptuess, that must be an agreeable
pastime, trying to surprise faces off their
guard Perhaps you arc going to favor
me with other revelations gained in the
same way?
Aside from the sudden, most unwel.
come conviction that | had indeed
CHANGED on some Earring chord in the past
was so taken aback by her cold and
cutting manner Of speaking as to be liter
ally without words to reply. | could
only look at her, but she understood my
look, | suppose, for the next moment she
said, in very different tone : Il beg
your pardon, sincerely, Mr.. Denvers, you
have right to your thoughts, and it was
| who forced you to explain them. Only
and she gave forced smile, take my
advice, don't waste your time in studying
my face; the romances you light read
there would not be good for much in any
sense. And now, forgive me- AND
she reached out her hand to me, took
it and held it a moment while our eyes
met. What she read in mine | dom
know, but whatever it was, it did not ap
pear to please her, for she drew her hant
away quickly with slight frown Still
as | said, after this, though she did no
admit me to any more real intimacy, hel
manner was less formal and more friendly
Meantime, while | was, as | hoped
making progress in her good graces, event
were working to bring to the surface tn,
latent fcud between her and Mr.. Webster
That amiable gentleman had taken to de
voting himself somewhat demonstratively
to Miss Rosa Morrell, to the NANTES
discontinue of NJ, Eugene Deblay, bu
not of Miss Rosa herself, who, like mos
schoolgirls was an arrant little flirt, ant
had not the SLIGHTEST ohiection IN M,