Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-12-05
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.
Outside the sun shone and the birds
were holding II perfect carnival of song
in the warm, fragrant air.
Every thing seemed so pure, so peace
ful, 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, and his eyes looked down on Ray
mond Santelle's face--a face perfect in
It's bold, manly outlines.
" 1t is the most outrageous breach Of
gentlemanly honor | ever had the mis-
fortune to know, and | ann the more as
tOnished, Mr.. Santelle, that | had al
ways, previously, held you to be 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
sion-this open-faced, presumptuous at
tempt at Irritation with guest of Mrs.
Trevelyan's, isis Extensively disgusting
to me-"
The young mans eyes blazed rs he
listened patiently to the quiet, intense
insult, and you could see how trcmen-
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 unwarrant-
able assertion, sir, which for Miss Neldt's
sake | regret-which for my own / care
as little as regard the truthfulness of
1t. AS"
Mr.. Trevelyan interrupted him by a
sudden blow of his fist on the table.
You dare tell me-you, a hired
teacher in this house, that l am a liar
that Miss -"
Santelle did not make the smallest
attempt to interrupt the tide of passion,
but there was omcthing 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 is due to a lady from Il gen
tleman that should pay an empress
of the blood royal If the occasion re-
quired it, or any other woman. You
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
yeiyan, there is no need to prolOng this
interview"
He bowed with the cold, polished
ease Of n 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.
''To think she is the first woman !
ever met who could quicken my pulses
by n glance of her bright; beautiful
cyes-and | am insulted because | dare
converse with her-I, a tutor on a
salary, she darling Of fate and for.
tune !"
Down in the library where Santele
had left him, Mr.. Iravelyan paced tc
and fro.
The insolent, independen. puppy
with his face like a gods, and his man
ner Of a prince 1t is time he took hi
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 fool | have seer
the girls magnificent eyes look at hin
with Il light in them I'd willingly give {
check for a thousand to see in then
when she laughs with my boy"
And, just within one of the deep, dusl
receSses of the library, hidden by flow
ing ,jIken drapery, as fair a girl a. eve
lived, with lustrous dark eyes all aglow
and cheeks a. pink as n morning glory
stood quiet and breathl6ss until Mr. Ire
veIyan had left the room.
The grand, glorious fellow ! Why