The Republican journal., 1874-04-23

bury, said Cornelia Granger, tall, pale
ill-naturcd girl. TO whom Rupert had beer
saying civil nothings for the last few min
nteS. and who was fnriously jealous Of
Mrs. kathlane in her hearts of hearts
~ on gentlemen are wild about her, be
lleve. Red and hlue-what excrllciatin2
| taste | wonder her maid does not teach
her better
Every one has not Your critical ewes.
Miss Granger" said rupert laughing. n
thought her dress charming"
"Of course" Miss Cornclia was not an
amiahle girl, rs we have said, and at that
moment her temper was pinching her
rather SourlV "PerhapS Won make one OF
those who are wild over her. Mr.. Thorn
| bury p
1t would be OF no use to me, | expect.
If | were. replied Rupert in his candor
"Nell, | suppose moi as She is soon ~
be married again
"Marriod again - he uttered
50 report runs. said Miss Granger,
toying with her fan
To whom had not heard Of il
TO Mr.. Worthington = cousin of her
late husband, yon know"
II know him." cried Rupert. feeling he
knew not how. Dick Worthington'1 NOT
worthy OF her. II would he desccration y
She may not think so 1t is said there
was u great deal OF intimacy before Mr
kathlane died She married him simply
for his money that's we'll known and
the handsome GO sin used to be frequent
visitor There was a deal of gossip about
il al the time, and-but there's Dick
Worthington now Look how her color
rises when She speaks TO him
Are YOU quite certain your information
is correct. Miss t'ranger?"
The pale eyes glanced at him and then
looked away.
about the engagement Quite sure.
Mr. Thornbury Al least. the world is
sure OF it. am neither more nor less
wise than it,
Mr.. Thornbmy did moi change color at
the news, or seem, in reality, to feel much
surprise; he stood laughing and chatting
with the Young lady for a few moments
on different subjects. and then, cxcusing
| himself, sauntered across the room to
where Mrs. kathane sat, surrounded by
an admiring group, of whom Richard
| Worthngton was one
'lt is my waltz" said Mr. Thornbury
as She looked up, and greeted him with
one OF her brightest smiles "Or are Won
too tircd?"
'rired ," She laughed u little silverv
laugh as She rose. II am never tired of
dancing. Richard, | will leave nv flow
erS and fan with You as a hostage"
1t was nothing this leaving with him
her fan and tlowers-it was like Il thousand
| little coqnetlish ways which she had-but
Rupert thinking. O.how bitterly, of what
had JuSt been told him, tancied that he saw
something deeper than her usual light
coquctry in the glance she gave the hand
some young fellow, and groand in spirit.
1t seemed a full confirmation of what he
had heard.
''One, two. three. One, Two. three
You are shockingly out Of step, Rupert :"
said she after the first turn. "What is the
| matter? 1ou look as if you had seen 4
ghost.
81 have, he said, almost grmly ''the
ghost of Il dead hope and She. half
| frightened at his tone, looked up AT him
questioningly. But in another moment he
smiled back at her, ana she was reassurcd
'Don't talk nonsense, Rupert There,
ynn are dancing beautifully now What
were Won and that odions Cornelio Fr.'nSt'l
talking about so long?''
''Olhous, do YOU call her."
well do, Rupert | think her SO
She has not a spark Of good feeling in her
Don't yon 60 and tell her now"
"Do YOU think She IS truthful, Mill
cent -
mo, | don't Take care"
They whirled lightly through the dance
Rupert almost startling MilIicent by his
unwonted gayety, laughing and chatting
like any one but his grave self; and she,
the color deepening in her cheeks, the
light in her eyes growing morIentarily
brighter looked like a yeritahle dance
sprite. 50 arlv did she lit through the
| rooms
''How beautifully they waltz Even
Cornelia Granger involuntarily spoke in
admiration, and slender youth near her
gave it as his opinion that ''Thistledown
couldn't be lighter than Mrs kathlane in
4 waltz
'.Are YOU tired p said Rupert, looking
down at the beautiful face and Millicent
for answer, said she could keep on forever
And so they danced on, until Rupert saw
| the bright color fading away, and the sen
sitivc mouth beginning to droop 4 little at
| the corners.
"You are tired, he said and then, be-
| fore she could answer, he whirled her
| through the low, open window, into the
cool. fresh air of the balcony.
| "Thanks,- she said "a believe | was n
little faint. VIII YOU get my cloak And
| then until her cloak came, she sat quiet
| like tired child, with her head resting
YEARLY on the railing
| The next dance but one is Richards" ="
| she said. as he wrapped the soft white
cloak around her tenderly. II must not
| slight him But will stay out here until
| then, unless you wish to 90 back--in which
case | will not keep you with me. | am
engaged for every one of them, am afraid.
| could have been engaged three or tour
times over" she added laughing Il am
sorry, Rupert, but
| "No matter" he interrupted her, almost
rudely. 81 must get used TO it, | sup
pose He was standing before her, look
ing down at her, and she, in her pretty
| imperious way, laid her hand on his arm
"You are cross tonight" she said
| ''Sit here beside me, and tell me what it
| is thattronbl es you"
| lie heSltated moment; and then, with
| a reckless determination to disclose every
| thing, and afterwards leave her forever,
| he told her the story of his love for her
| Told her in fierce, hard way, which al
| most frightened her, and yet made her
reverence and admire him more, perhaps,
than she had done before
81 have loved you, Millicent love
you now more than you can imagine, and
| haye not told you because-because you
are so far removed from me in every way
feared you would think me mercenary
! feared-O, Millicent Heaven only
knows how have loved you; how have
longed to tell you, and yet have not had
the courage. Now it is too late. either for
harm OF good shall pray for your nap
piness always with the man whom von
have chosen
'What do you mean, Rupert?"
The profound wonder in her voice made
him hesitate. 81 have heard of your en-
gagement to Mr.. Worthington."
"Who has told you thar" she asked
But in the same moment Richard Worth
inGtOn StepDed thrOuOh the window and