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

' :
bear!'
81 wouldn care if / were you, Florian,
what she said or what she thinks, for,
after all, she's only fighty girl. Shall
we take tickets for the picnic tomorrow
Nellie told me to mention it to you
they're all going"
And he would go to convince Miss Erla
Vincent he was not the "bear" she
imagined him, and that if he took the
pains to lay siege to her heart-even if
he only did it for pastime-she would
have to capitulate.
"Saucy, conceited little creature p he
decided, as he dressed for the picnic next
morning. "I1 make her change her
mind about me, and then -
He smiled under his mustache, very
meaning smile, that if Miss Vincent, in
her room at the other end of the corridor,
had seen, would perhaps not have ap-
preciated
As it was she was very deeply engrossed
in settling tAe.hoys of her sash, while
Mrs. Marden TnHssNIrs. Dantonville, in
full picnic attire, were watching her.
! A mans footstep passed the door.
"That's King, after ALL l was afraid
he wouldn't go; indeed he said almost as
much to Frank yesterday"
-" Mr.. King must be very hard to suit
if all the entertainments we have had
lately fail to amuse him."
Mrs. Dantonville drew on her gloves
leisurely.
ooh, it isn't the entertainments Flo
rian objects to, but the society. He told
Frank there was not young lady stop
ping here capable of entertaining him."
! Erla's face crimsOned.
"The rude, unmanly fellow The
idea, and l am in the same house with
him Not capable of entertaining
him =
The tiny silver gray Lisle gloves were
being dragged on in hot, angry haste.
Mrs. Marden laughed.
"Why, Erla, any one would think you
took it as personal affront. You know
yo1l think Mr.. King is perfect bear"
The gloves were buttoned vindictively,
and Mrs. Dantonville took up her sun
shade to depart.
There was n perfect tempest of emo
ton III Erla's brain and heart, and out
Of the rioting confusion there sprung an
almost savage determination to convince
Mr.. King Of his mistake III considering
her the uninteresting BOBBY he thought
her.
She would make ljsn admire her, and
make him like her, and, wicked or not,
she would draw him on to care for her
with all his soul. and then--oh, what a
revenge she would have
She was so charming, so bewitching,
so ilTesistibly fascinating that King
came under the influence admirably, and
succeeded in creating the impression
upon her he desired to create, that he
was Rot "bear," but refined, agree
able gentleman, who conyersed, danced
and fiirted equally well.
That was a grand day for them both;
they were together all day, while Mrs.
Marden and Dantonville and his wife as
sumed reproachful looks and laughed in
their sleeves.
1t was rich little drama-this play
ing at swords points first, and then,
gradually becoming really interested, and
trying to assure themselves it was only
their good luck that made them so hap
Ply; and then to go about so devotedly
together, little dreaming that they were
reported engaged many time.
But it suddenly came to a climax-a
premeditated climax on the part of the
o-conspirators- Mrs. Marden took
the initiative by coming in upon Erla
one day as she sat alone, with a book
she had been reading.
"All alone? What wonder and what
blessing, for [ never get an opportuni-
ty of a word with you since that odious
fellow of a King hangs so continuously
around you [ do think, Erla, you
ought to be little ashamed of your
self"
The graceful figure Strengthened
suddenly.
81 ought? Really, Mrs. Marden,
you have changed your mind greatly
about Mr. King, who is scarcely the
odious fellow you take him to be. /
find him delightful -
" have changed my mind about him,
1 am happy to say. I see him now as he
is-vain, frivolous and conceited as q boy.
Erla, take my advice, and have no more
to do with him, unless, as I hope and
pray, it is only Irritation"
The lovely golden head dropped slight
ly, and Mrs Marden saw paleness on
the averted face.
She smiled and went on, as she arose
from her chair:
''Don't hate me, dear, for saying what
/ have, will you? But I am older than
you, by so many years, and / don't think
Mr.. King is fit match for you -
Then the golden head came proudly
up, and the blue eyes looked straight in
Mrs. Mardens.
"Mr. King is a fit match for a
princess of the blood royal if he chose to
SO honor her He doesn't intend to
marry me p
Then Mrs. Marden went out, laughing
all the way down the hall, until she met
Florian coming impatiently, hastily in
her direction, with determined sparkle
in his dark eyes and pale, eager anxiety
ON his handsome face.
4Will / find Er-Miss Vincent in the
parlor Is she alone ?"
She told him eyes, with grave coun-
tenance, and then went straight to her
recipe book to hunt up the directions for
the wedding cake she meant to give
them.
While Mr. King went into the lonely,
silent parlor, to find Erla crouching in a
corner of the sofa, crying softly, in the
sudden knowledge that had been forced