Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-06-02

one is mistaken. think, Tor the world
holds no safer friend for woman than
an honorable man. A woman's friend
ship is very likely to be the result of
convenience, contiguity, or being. as my
father sneeringly remarked, s.the only
Christians within hail of each other -
Mary showed me all her secrets. and /
returned the compliment, mindful of
Burns advice to still keep something to
myself wad no tell to ony.'
Life settled down into an uncxciting
but endurable routine. Mary and |
visited each other. and arranged our
next winters campaign, for | had invit-
ed her to pass the cold weather with me
in New York. One day in the middle
of these pleasant chats, a servant came
in and handed me card. The name
on it reused all the antagonlsm in my
nature. 1t was Geoffry Gardner"
Now it so happ pened that the existence
of this gentleman was the one thing |
kept back ill my confidence with Mary.
So had now to explain who and what
he was. | wanted her to come into the
parlor with me-but no, she would 90
heme first and dress but size promised
to be back to tea.
disliked Geoffry. yet was glad to
see him. My mental faculties were
rusting for want of attraction. Father
would not quarrel with me. and Mary
was my only face card. could not
throw her away. Besides, | rather liked
to see his great handsome figure in the
room he was so full of life that he
seemed to vitalize the chairs and stools /;
they tumbled about and got out of the
way in the strangest manner. | told
him about Mary Larcelles, and warned
him that he would lose his heart. He
gravely told me that he had none to
lose.
Imagine six feet two inches without
heart
We waited tea for Mary. but she did
not come till quite dark, and we had be-
gun tea. She said she had been detain-
ed by company, but knew better than
that. She was dressed with reference
to candle-light effect. and would not
lose its influence on her first appearance.
/ | never saw her look ie-.l lT-her rose
colored dress, with its broad shimmering
bands of white silk, wonderfully en-
HANGED her charms. Geoffry looked de.
lighted, and she gave him the benefit OF
both her upward and downward glances
When tea was over | left the room g
few minutes, and when came back
found Geoffry and Mary sitting opposite
each other. with the chess board between
them as an excuse for Irritation. Tn,
move had been so rapid that had beer
astonished, and little angry, too; anc
father did not improve matters by whis
pering, as | passed his chair:
''Checkmated, Olive"
1t was a pleasant evening to me, ant
it was the beginning of my unpleasant
ness.
''How it came let the doctors tell :
but | began to like Geofry just as 500
as he began to like Mary. | called u
pride to the rescue, but it did not hel
me much, and | suffered great deal i
watching Geofry's attentions to Mary
and listening to her prattle about him
| thought her so supremely silly, and
told her so. She was astonished at m
petulence, but don't think she suspect
ed the truth. But father did, and locke
, so ''served you right, Miss, " that | long
ed for him to be woman for an hou
or so that | might talk back to him.
One day, after Geoffry had been
month with us, riding party was pre-
posed to the top of the mountain. F;
, ther and l, Geoffry and Mary-ths
| would be the order, of course. and wa
prepared for it; but there is a last stra
e in every burden, and my last straw W;
, this incident: They were mounted an
e waiting for me. when Mary dropped ht
gauntlet From my window l saw Geo
y fry pick it up, put it on the hand lai
!. so confdingly in his, then kiss it. A
ter that was not going to ride Fl
Y liking or kaiser" | sent positive r
fusal to all entreaties, and after the
a were out of sight INDUCED in a good r
freshing cry. cried myself to slee
n and woke about dark with a new-bol
) purpose in my mind, which comfortt
me wonderfully, the key note of whit
i? was, ''she stoops to conquer" Yet
a did not dress again l knew they we
to take tea at Mr.. Lacelles so | thre
:" my dressing gown around me, and ia
ing '.Red as a rose is She in my han
IS | ordered cup of strong tea, and we
J. into the sitting room. AS | walked
: at one door, Geohry walked in at t
d ether.
II Il came to take you to Mr.. Lacelle
Olive he said.
= "How do you propose to do it, 81
At For unless you bind me hand and fo,
lie and get couple of darkies to tote /
a there, really don't think you will ST
s. ceed."