Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-01-06
ERLA and FLORIAN.

Erla Vincent made a graceful cour-
tesy when Mrs. Marden presented Florian
King, and thought, with q little unusual
sparkle in her blue eyes, that if this was
the wonderful Mr.. King she had heard
so much about, and who had been in
vited to Mrs. Marden's for her express
benetit-why, that he might have been
spared his trouble-tall, ugly and dark as
he was, and she hated dark men 50.
MIR. Florian raised his hat with the
grace OF Il c0urtier, and took a swift in
ventJry Of Miss Erla's charms, and re-
corded the vow that if this independent
young lady with tie yellow hair and
light eyes was the wonderful Miss Vim
cent y he had been advised to win, that
he might as well have stayed where he
was.
How do you like her, King? Beau
tiful girl, isn't she? [ tell you, if you
succeed in making love to Miss Vincent,
you'll do what no other fellow ever did, !"
said Franz.
Beautiful Miss Vincent beautiful {?
1t did not occur to me. Tall, fair and
icy, isn't she % said Florian
Dantonville gave a little groan of hor-
or
"Florian Miss Vincent is perfec-
ton And to be described as only fair,
tall and ICY this magnificent Venus
among women.
Kings lips parted in an amused smile.
" Really, old fellow if [ didn't know
you were married man and above re-
proach I'd be suspicious. Honor bright,
is Miss Vincent SO enchanting Tn glad
to hear it, although [ do not usually
! care for blonde women. Take sal,
/ Dant 2"
Isn't he splendid, isn't he elegant :?
Oly Erla, if Mr.. King only should fall
III love with you? ?"
Almost a shiver of disgust ran over
the girls slender, graceful figure.
Don't mention it, Mrs Marden. /
never was so disappointed in all my life
as when [ saw him. Why, ] hate such
saturnine visaged creatures, and he is ac-
Jually gray, too.
She tore a little cluster of daises in
pieces, to help her endure her disappoint-
ment and chagrin the better, for in truth
she had thought and dreamed of the
coming Of this Prince Charming until
had made god OF HIM.
Mrs. Marden gave q little indignant
5lamation.
."Oh, you wicked girl! Mr.. King is
one OF the most refined and cultured
gentlemen you ever met or ever will
meet. Eria, I'm ashamed of you !''
And in the soft summer silence of that
evening, later, while Miss Vincent was
waltzing, Mrs. Marden and Frank Dan
tonville compared notes with amused
astonishment.
We have made a grand mistake, Mrs.
Marden, and we must rectify it at once.
We have been too profusesin our honest
expressions of favor, one to the other.
We must stop chanting the eternal
praises Of one to the other, as Erla would
say, and try the opposite rule of con-
traries. You must pick all the flaws you
can, and criticise him to Erla-and
Will take the same course with him.
Wen arouse their pique, and convince
them that they are entirely unfit for
each other; and if it doesn't result in an
engagement, you may take my head for
football p
After that Mrs. Marden and Erla were
Off very often, and when they were at
home it seemed odd how sure it would
happen that Mr.. King and the Danton-
villes were all out yachting for the day,
and one afternoon Florian spoke of the
coincidence to Dantonville.
sWe don't see very much of that
Young lady friend of yours, Frank, ovel
whom you are 50 gushingly sentimental.
I'VE don't see much Of her, that's Ger.
tain, more's the pity. But if she takes g
prejudice, there is no reasoning her out
Of it. Cnfidentially, Florian, she doesnt
Like you; she thinks you are perfect
bear, and, being very fastidious in hel
tastes, You couldn't expect her to sacri
flee her feelings to the dictates of society
usagee. Curious girl, Erla, until yor
know her"
Mr.. Kings face flushed warmly-ht
not suited to the ''fastidiousness" of Mis-,
Erla Vincent" he notably ladies
man, and the petted darling in whatever