The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-22
THE EDICT OF FATE.

The library IN Mr.. Irevelyan ele-
giant country residence was one of the
pleasantest apartments imaginable, and
on that bright summer morning seemed
the embodiment of GOODNESS, shade and
fragrance-from the dark green carpet
that covered the floor like a sheet of
emerald velvet, the lighter green silk
curtains and damask furniture, to the
cleaning marble statuettes, the white
and gold calf-bound volumes in rows of
shelves from floor to ceiling.
Outside the sun shone and the birds
were holding perfect carnival of song
in the warm, fragrant air.
Everything seemed so pure, so peace
full, so strangely at variance with Mr..
Trevelyan's angry, clouded face as he
stood, straight and naughty, with one
hand on the green cloth of the central
table, with his eyes looking down on
Raymond Santelle's face-a face per-
feet in its bold, manly outlines.
1T is the most outrageous breach of
gentlemanly honor l ever had the mis-
fortune to know, and | am the more
astonished, Mr.. Santelle, that | had al
ways, previously, held you to be a suit
able man to occupy the position of tutor
to my sons. But this total disregard of
every law of etiquette, honor, decency-
if may be allowed to use so strong an
expression-this open-faced, presump-
tuous attempt at Irritation with a guest
of Mrs. Trevelyan's, isis Extensively
disgusting to me-"
The young mans eyes blazed as he
listened patiently to the quiet, intense
insult, and you could see how tremen-
dous was the force with which he kept
himself in check-you saw it SO plainly
by the tenseness of every muscle in his
1.-THE, handsome frame, by the compress
sion of his lips under his dropping am
Der mustache, and in the intense, fright
fully-calm tones of his voice as he an
swered, with his blue eyes never finch
ing from the cold, gray ones opposite
him.
You have made most unWarrant-
able assertion, sir, which for Miss
Veldt's sake regret-which for my own
l care as little as l regard the truthful
fulness of it, as
Mr.. Trevelyan interrupted him by
sudden blow of his fist on the table.
Is, " You dare tell me-you, hired
teacher in this house. that am liar
that Mis-
Santelle did not make the smallest at
tempt to interrupt the tide of passion.
but there was something in his eyes
that made the gentleman pause sud-
denly, and then Santelle went on,
quietly as before, with that unnatural
quiet which precedes terrible tempests.
"There is no occasion to introduce
the lady's name again; | simply say |
have never paid her any attention be-
yond what is due to a lady from a
gentleman; that | should pay an EN-
press of the blood royal if the occasion
required it, or any other woman. You
have seen fit to misconstrue, and from
the moment you branded me unfit for
the position of tutor to your sons, how
ever false the accusation was, you
ceased to be my employer. Mr.. Trevel-
yam, there is no need to prolong this
interview"
He bowed with the cold, polished
ease of a society-usaged man, and went
leisurely from the library to his room
with that same compression of his
handsome lips, but with the fire in his
blue eyes giving place to bitter, dreary
woe.
ITO think she is the first woman |
ever met who could quicken my pulses
by glance of her bright, beautiful
eves-and | am insulted because l dare
converse with her-I, a tutor on a
salary, she darling of fate and fort
uner'
Down in the library where Santelle
had left him, Mr.. Trevelyan paced to
and fro.
"The insolent, Independent puppy,
with his face like gods and his man.
ner the manner of Prince 1t is time
he took his congo from Trevelyan Park
when he bids fair to be formidable
rival to my son Rupert in Ida Veldt' S
favor | am not blind; I'm not fool:
| have seen the girls magnificent eyes
look at him with a light in them I'd
willingly give check for thousand to
see in them when she laughs with my
boy"
And Just within one of the deep, dusk
recesses of the library, hidden by flow.
ing silken drapery, as fair girl as ever
lived, with lustrous dark eyes all aglow
and cheeks as pink as morning-glory
stood quiet and breathless until Mr.
Trevelyan had left the room.
1.-The grand, glorious fellow! Why
he's Prince in disguise! ! wonder
wonder 10 dear, of course it is only
chivalrous courtesy Mr.. Santelle feels
and won't be fool if he has got tn,
most heavenly smile and the hand
soonest eyes ever saw, but I'll see hin
again before he leaves, and"
But Ida Veldt did not see him agail
before he left Trevelyan Park, for San
telle did not remain over one train, ant
when Ida returned from her gallop owe
the breezy country roads, with he
cheeks glowing, her hair wind-blowl
over her face like a mist of spun gold