Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-01-17
Whole No. 2S4.

would favor him with some music
She complied modestly; and b,
admired her graceful, elegant fig
ure, as she walked across the room
and took her position at the piano
She played exceedingly well.-
He then asked her to sing, and she
sang. He thought he had never
heard lovelier voice. He stood
beside her and turned her music
and finally found himself singing
duets with her, while Mrs. Barry
yawned over fashion magazine in
another part of the room.
1t was late when Mark Falconer
retired that night. Alone in his
room he thus soliloquized;
"Ons of the most charming girls
ever met evidently one Of the
superior sort and vet Kate treats
her as coolly and authoritatively as
though she were the most ordinary
Of governesses. Confound it! l
don't see how she can"
Miss Trenton was at the break
fast table with the family mkt
morning. Mark WAS glad to OBJ
serve that his suggestion had not
been entirely lost upon his sister.
So the days glided hy, and Fall
coner seemed hardly aware of their
fight. He forgot his original in
teution of spending the most of his
time while at Beechwool in the
late Reginald Barry's costly library,
poring over some OF the rare works
it contained. He seemed TO have
lost his taste for books, except the
poets, which he frequently read
loud in the drswing-room evenings.
But he conceived q fondness for
walking, and always accompanied
the children and their 60 verness
when they went out for STROLL
Even the school-room had pecu-
liar attraction for him; and al
though Miss Trenton's duties we're
light, he often elected himself as
sistant teacher, ia order to have q
reason for being there.
II Mrs. Barry observed how
matters were drifting, she kept her
own counsel, and remained very
calm. Falcoper sometimes thought
she was much more observing than
she appeared, aud furthermore,
that she wa. considerably annoyed
Ivy bis conduct; but it must be con-
fessed Of him that he did not feol
ia duty bound to mend his ways on
that account.
One night there was grand party
at Beechwood. All the wealthy
and sristocratic people OF the
neighborhood were there, besides
great many Of Mrs. Bsrry's
friends from the city. Extensive
preparations had been made for
the affair, and the grand old draw
ing-rooms were thronged with
guests.
On the day before the party
Falconer had said to his sister:
"Of course you will have Mis-.
Trenton participate in the amuse-
ments tomorrow evening I"
And hi. sister had looked sur.
prised and answered:
"Surely, Mark, you are not .eri-
Gus! You cannot expect me to
invite the governe.. to mingle with
my guests a. their equal"
"Why not y Mark had demand-
ed, slmoet angrily. at is strange
that you should be 80 blind to that
girl, excellent qualities. Why,
confound It, Kate, she's got more
intellect and refinement than half
of your upper crust bellies. never
knew more perfect lady. 1t is
her misfortune, not her fault, that
she is poor. You need never be
ashamed OF her, for although she
is only a governess, without lega-
cy, she would be an ornament to
any ones parlors."
And then rs II abashed by his
own enthusiasm, Mark had sud
denly left the room, and nothing
more had been said on the subject.
But his words their weight, for the
next evening he bad the pleasure
Of seeing Miss Trenton, in pretty
and becoming ballroom attire, enter
the drawing-room with his sister.
He thought she had never looked
so beautiful as then, for she was
flushed and smiling, and her eyes
sparkled more than usual, and her
white arps and shoulders were
~ a..