Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-05
THE EDICT OF FATE.

THE EDICT OF FATE.
The library in Mr. Trevelyan's ele-
CANT 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. I1a
f Outside the sun shone and the birds
were holding a perfect carnival of song
in the warm, fragrant air.
Everything seemed so pure, so peace
full, so strangely at variance with Mr..
Trevelyans angry, clouded face as he
stood, straight and naughty. with one
hand on the green cloth of the central
table, and his eyes looked down on Ray
mond Santelles face-a face perfect in
its bold, manly outlines. h5 re7.
g 1t is the most outrageous breach Of
gentlemanly honor | ever had the mis-
fortune to know, and [ am the more as
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 SO strong an express
sioil-this open-faced, presumptuous at
tempt at Irritation with 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 commits
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 eyes opposite
him.
"You have made most unNarrant-
able assertion, sir, which for Miss Veldt's
sake | regret-which for my own l care
as little as regard the truthfulness Of
it. as
Mr.. Trevelyan interrupted him by
sudden blow of his fist on the table
You dare tell me-you, hired
teacher in this house, that am liar
that Miss IS
Santelle did not make the smallest
attempt to interrupt the tide of passion,
but there was something in his eyes that
made the gentleman pause suddenly,
and then Santelle went on, quietly, as
before, with that unnatural quiet that
precedes terrible tempests.
"There Is no occasion 20 introduce
the .lady's name again / simply say [
have never paid her any attention be
yond what isrdue to a lady from gen
tleman that / should pay an empress
of the blood royal if the occasion re
quired it, or any. other woman. GU
have seen fit to misconstrue, and from
the moment YOU branded me as unfit
for the position of tutor to your sons,
however false the accusation was, you
ceased to be my employer Mr.. Ire
yelyan, there is no need to prolong this
interview
He bowed with the cold, polished
ease Of a soclety-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. a -a.
"To think she is the first woman
ever met who could quicken my pulses
by a glance of her bright, beautiful
eyes-and / am insulted because I dare
converse with her-I, tutor on a
salary. she darling OF tate and for
tune -F aus@.t
~ I'll
had aeft him, Mr.. Travelyan paced to
and fro.
"The insolent, Independent; puppy,
with his face like gods, and his man
ner 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 [ am not a fool; have seen
the girls magnificent eyes look at him
with a light in them I'd willingly give a
check for a 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 a morning glory,
stood quiet and breathless until Mr.. Ire
velyan had left the room.
1.-THE grand, glorious fellow. Why,
he's very prince in disguise! lwon-
der-I wonder if-oh, dear, of course it
is only chivalrous courtesy Mr.. Santelle
feels, and | won't be a fool if he has got
the most heavenly smile and the hand
soonest eyes | ever saw, but I'll see him
again before he leaves, and
But Ida Veldt did not see him again
before he left Trevelyan Park, for Mr.
Santelle did not remain over one train,
and when Ida returned from her gallop
over the breezy country roads, with her
cheeks glowing, her hair wind-blown
over her face, like mist Of spun gold.
and her bronze, dark eyes eloquent with