Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-25

judge, and hers is not the style admire"
wonder what style you do admire"
said, scomfully. Great red cheeks, anc
staring black eyes, like mine, suppose ?"
Yes" he asscnted, provokingly, "thel
are not so bad when they look amiablc
which they don't now"
Well, It's your fault if they don't" re
piled, making an indignant exit from the
room, and banging the door after me.
CHAPTER H.
found Miss Armitage reading foreign
looking letter that she had received that
morning. Its contents seemed to distress
her, for there were tears in her eyes when
she looked up. 81 hope you have had no
bad news" said
Oh, no - she answered, rather hurriedly,
putting the letter in her pocket It's only
from a cousin Of mine who is in India with
his regiment Poor fellow he is very home
sick, and writes rather dismal letters. 1t is
time for you to practice, dear; you had bet
ter begin now
felt rather curious about the unknown
cousin; but the subject was evidently disa-
greeable 10 our governess, so | did not ven.
ture to ask any more questions.
At luncheon, Reggy proposed taking Miss
Armitage and me for ride.
assure you you need not be nervous" he
said to her. "1he horse is perfectly quiet
should not let you mount him if he were not"
She blushed painfully when he addressed
her, aud then, without looking up, she said,
in n low tone:
Thank you very much. | will go"
We started about an hour afterward, Miss
Armitage looking very lovely in dark blue
habit and beaver hat
1t was April now, and the day was like
summer, The birds sang their loudest, as
if to show their Joy that winter had passed (;
the trees and hedges were clothed with a
tender green and the sky was cloudless. |
was in wild spirits, all the world seemed so
bright and beautful | felt so full of life
and happiness, so determined to enjoy every
thing to the very utmost, and above all, so
pleased with the improvement, as | fancied,
in Reggy's manner towards Miss Armitage.
lie was riding close beside her now, keep
ing a watchful eye on her horse, and occa-
sionally giving her directions how TO manage
him. She was getting over her tmidity,
and was beginning to talk joyously. The
exercise had brought delicate glow to her
cheeks, aud her gray eyes were sparkling.
am beginning to think shall actually
succeed in learning to ride" she said. 81
don't feel bit afraid to-day"
You are getting on splendidly," | re-
marked but, Reggy, don't you think we
might have gallopI 1t is slow going at
this pace
VERY well show us the way he said,
" You are never happy unless you are tear
ing along at full speed"
! saw a half-frightened look come into
Miss Arntage's face but, without stopping
To reassure her, started my horse on a
broad strip of grass at the side of the road,
and away we went.
The soft wind blowing in my face, the ex-
hiarating motion and Increasing speed,
made me oblivious of everything but the
pleasure of the moment. | was thoroughly
happy as | went flying along
\ sharp cry from behind brought me 10
my senses With some difficulty stopped
in my mad race, and turning back, saw, TO
my horror, Miss Armitage lying, white and
apparently lfeless, ON the road, and her
horse galldping away in an opposite direction.
Before ! could dismount, Reggy was on
his knees beside her. | saw him raise her
in his arms; | saw the look of wild alarm
and passionate love in his face | saw him
hold her 10 his breast and heard him mur-
mur low words of endearment over her. and
in an instant ! knew all. lie loved her
they loved each other for, as q slight flush
Of returning consciousness came into her
face, and her languid eyes opened for an in
stant and then closed again, | saw the look
Of intense happiness that made her face ra.
diant, aud my heart filled with a wild pas
sion OF anger and jealousy.
She had taken him from me-my Reggy
who had always loved me best till she
came; and now | was nothing 10 him
never should he any more. She had taken
my place who could not love him as did
and they had deceived me they had loved
each other all the time, and never told me.
\ crowd of bitter thoughts swept over me
like food. In my heart of hearts knew
was wronging them-that they were both
too truthful and upright to deceive any one
that the secret OF their mutual love had
only become known to themselves in that
moment of danger, when both were off theii
guard. But would not listen to reason
stihed its voice and kept it from me il
breathless silence | stood sullenly by Will,
Reggy watched the signs of returning ami
nation | am sure he did not know | wa
there, or he must have been struck by my in
difference TO Miss Armitage's state
She was soon able TO speak, and at once
with her usual sweetness, begged us not Il
be alarmed saying she was not hurt at all
and should be able 10 ride home quite well
but when she tried TO rise, her changing
color and involuntary cry of pain proveC
that she was suffering
Her foot felt painful she said, and il
proved, on examination, to be badly sprainec
and much swollen.
You had better take Winnie's horse. |
is not very far from home, and she can walk.
" ! am giving you so much trouble, Mr.
Dane" she said, shyly.
IL is no trouble TO me-" he returned, will
his lovers eyes gazing ardently at her down
cast face, which it maddened me TO see
Your foot ought 10 be kept perfectly quiet
and ! am afraid even the ride home will hur
il good deal, but il is not far"
Winnie, he seemed to remember m,
existence now for the first time" will yol
hold Princes head while lift Miss Armitag'
into the saddle 7"
sulenly obeyed. lie raised her gently
in his arms, aud placed her on my horse.
saw her face flush crimson, and the long
dark ashes droop on her cheeks and
clenched my hands, and vowed in my hear
that il should never he.
All the way home preserved doggeC
silence, brooding over what persuaded my
self was my great misery. A thousand thing,
that had passed unnoticed by me before now
flashed into my mind. | remembered how
Reggy had always managed TO spend the houl
before dinnerwith us in the drawing-room lat
terly--how soon he joined us after dinner
and with what rapt attention he listened tC
the goyeness' singing.
Ah il was all clear enough now How
could | have been so blind all this time
But it should not be--as TO that was de
termincd. | would do anything-say any
thing to separate them. The demon o
jealousy had entered into my soul changing
my nature, turning my heart to gall, anc
embttering my life. II was, indeed, proving
to me T" more cruel than the grave"
BY the time we reached home, Miss Ar
mitage was very weak and faint; she had
suffered, though silently, good deal and
mamma at once desired that doctor should
be sent for.
In the few months she had been with US
she had endeared herself to every member OF