Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-07-29

flame that made her gentle fawn colore
eyes shine steel and gold, and gold an
steel, and that illumined into positive
potent brilliancy her modest, softly tin,
ed, pleasantly featured, but never bt
fore startling face.
She was really beautiful, and ever
one said 40 that night. The belle. with
out possibility OF mistake.
But to those who knew her and VII
were with her frequently, or watohe
her closely from that time forth, ther
was something missed from Irene tha
had hitherto had part IN herself-th
joyous confidence, the innocent abandon
tho quiet but genuine undertone OF rea
happiness, had fled. With all her pride
she was too ingenious to conceal frou
those who cared for her that her perfec
peace was lost.
Our friendly young men held con
sultation upon this point.
"Mark me-" said Sam Dent, ~ know
something Of girls, and that girl ha
fallen in love. Mark me, in love will
one OF usl I only hope, since I an al
engaged man, that it's not me-"
Du Bois looked infinitely self-con
scious, but did not speak.
"Don't trouble yourself, Sam," sale
Wilhurst, with insinuating self-assertion
II happen to know she hasn't been sucl
o fool as that"
"We've played too deep" said Gros
venor. "Upon my word, it hasn't beer
right. We've had our fun, but, by
Jove, it has been hard on the girl"
"Well," said graceless Dick, +" it ISM
q wrong that can't be made right. Il
it's me She s in love ith-and-but-wel
-n'importe. If it's me, I don't care il
do become a victim. IT'S cool hun
dred thousand. It might be worse"
"Wilhurst," exclaimed Lindsey, witt
flashing eyes, stake care. Miss Wolf il
too true o woman, too good girl to be
lightly spoken OF, in my presence, al
least. A girl that any man might be
proud to make his wife,"
/" Hear! hearl" cried Dick. "Excuse
me, friends. meant to praise, not tc
scof. What greater compliment can be
paid to made belle than to ring the
change out of herring the changes.
mean. Lindsey, my dear fellow, pass.
Take her; and thousand blessings go
with you, my boy"
"Lindsley is right" said Sam Dent. ii
"The girl has metal in her,"
"Whoever heard of belle that hadn't
metal in her 2" asked Dick.
"Nonsense but I tell you there's a
genuine ring to her,"
"Of course"
"And a smart tongue, as I can testify,
when she's put to it" said Grosvenor.
~ like woman who can hold her
own."
"Her own tongnef So do l." said
Dick. "Oh, I'm sincere. Irene Wolf
is all right. Hurrah for our made belief
She's q trump. Lindsley, you're a euc-
cess. Well, good night, boys; I'm off.
By-bye, Lindsey. Ring the belle
ding-dong!"
The feminine portion of the house
had not been SO sensitively aware of the
change in Irene. The truth is, they
were too thoroughly engrossed in a
wonderful event to condescend to
trihes.
The event was no other than the un-
expected arrival at this delightful sea-
side hotel of an English lord, bachelor,
crossed in love abroad, it was rumored,
and como to America expressly to marry.
A live lordl One and all Of the femi-
nine portion OF the house fixed heart and
soul upon him OF once. There was no
turning back from the plow; there was
no dallying with time to be "well off
with the old loves" or loss of haste in
going first to bury ones dead. The
affair demanded, or commanded rather,
a religious zeal and dispatch. Cup and
strike |" was the motto of every Anna
zonian ambition whose bewitching arch
cry suddenly fixed upon this shining
bull's-eye.
If the thought of "Mrs." had to any
one been sweet, the thought of "My
lady," "My Lady Lindehurst," was in
comparably treat.
It was, of course, necessary to be
presented to "my lord" first. And
Lord Lindehurst, who had been thrown
by accident Of foreign travel into init
mate relations with Grosvenor and Du
Bois, came specially introduced. He
was legitimately prize Of the set.
Not until fortnight had elapsed did
it become family rumored that Lord
Lindehurst, whose attentions had SO far
been generously general, had "taken
particularly to Irene Wolf.
A torrent of indignation swept through
the house. Miss Hammond felt her
plane OF duty so broadened that she
actually contemplated con6ding Dick
Wilhurst's secret, "too good to keep"
to the young Englishman-to illumine
his note book as characteristic episode
of American manners and life. She was
delayed somewhat in her benevolent in
tent, for the reason that the live lord
was not easily approached.
As for Irene, when she felt that the
illustrious stranger was unfeignedly at
tracted by herself, she experienced some
womanly tumults of satisfaction. He,
at least, was sincere. This lover, at least,
was unaffected in his marked preference
by any latent relish of joke.
"He did not make mo, she very nat
urally, and with some grateful sense of
restored dignity, said.
The young nobleman, an unassuming
youth, seemed hardly to appreciate the
furore he had created. The rumor of
his having been crossed in love was not
correct. His own temper had made the
cross by decidedly refusing match pro-
posed for him upon worldly principles
alone.
Personally. Lord Lindehurst was
man who, without title, would not have
been popularly remarked. He was
travelled, but not "society" man; OBJ
servantly, not experimentally, edu-
Gated nor was he particularly intellec-
tual. But he possessed an agreeable
presence, refined manners, an ample for
tune, and an excellent heart.
He had prcsentiment that he should
find his wife in the new world, and his
presentiment was fulfilled.
He fell in love at first sight with Irene
Volt.
The night of his arrival was the night
of Irene's beauty. In whatever degree
she faded from her perfect brilliancy
after that, his kindled Imagination sup
piled tho defect. Hesaw her first in the
apotheosis wrought in her by the one
cruel moment of her life. He never
faltered in his faith in her bright
supremacy from that time forth.
For a fortnioht ha skndied her nnoh