The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-07-24
GERALD SORTHWICK.

A long stretch of velvet lawn, bathed
in delicious golden sunshine. Foui
people finishing game of lawn-tennis,
and as many looking on with a kind Of
lazy interest. On either hand shady
strawberries, bordered with brilliant
hower-beds; at the end of the lawn a
little brook; in the distance the long
sweep of the Cotswolds.
"Fifteen," counts Captain Hall, tri-
umphantly, as vicious stroke of Ger.
aid Sorthwick's racket drives the ball
beyond bounds. Gerald has played
badly throughout, almost in silence,
with a grave face and compressed lips.
1t does not matter, for his partner,
Maud Conway, has exchanged with
Captain Hall enough merry badinage
for dozen people. The young lady is
nettled now at an ignominious defeat.
81 could wish you victor in a better
contested fight, Captain Hail."
''It is my highest ambition, Miss Con-
way" There was nothing in the words,
but the meaning, and low bow gave
them point. Maud bit her lips, and
Gerald threw down the racket, his face
little sterner than before. She turned
to him, an angry glittering in the violet
eyesi
"Your play has been wretched, MI.
Sorthwick; it was never worse. For the
future we dissolve partnership"
"Can we? can we, Maud?" He
speaks meanipgly now, and it seems
strange her name can come with such
tender infection from 80 hard and firm q
mouth.
"'Maud' TO my friends, sir, Miss
Conway to you."
He leaves her, and saunters into the
shrubbery, following a little winding
path until it reaches the brook. Then
he throws himself at full length upon
the soft moss, and thinks better things
of the girl who has befooled him. Half
an hour later there is n rustic among the
boughs, and he sees her in the act OF re.
treating.
81 am sorry disturbed your slum-
bers, Mr.. Sorthwick, thought you were
gone."
"You disturb my life, Maud, waking
and sleeping. Come here"
He spoke with such command she in
stinctively obeyed, but her whole soul
rose in rebellion. It was a novel expert
ence to the spoiled and petted beauty.
He pointed to low, rustic seat, and
she took it. AS though to measure
strength, they look into each others
faces-his pale, determined; hers pas
sionate, resentful. Then Gerald turns
his head away, lest resolution should
fail. His tone is low, but full of fierce,
suppressed energy:
"You have not played with my love
for months, Maud, without learning
what it is. It comes between me and all
other chance of happiness.
He pauses few seconds, wherein she
pIucks wild flower, and picks it tc
pieces. Sweet and pensive she looks
now, and unwontedly thoughtful; but
his eyes are on the distant hills.
"From time to time, when I would
have spoken, you silenced me, and
thought it girlish coyness. You made
me believe you cared, Maud"
If only he would look now, and sec
how the girls mobile features answer
the sorrowful walls in his voice! But he
does not.
'I saw you flirting continually, but
it was you nature, and did not mind
for I thought you gave me more. 81
you fooled me as you fooled Others"
"Fortune-hunters, all of them," sh'
broke in.
POSSIBLY" and his proud head wa
thrown back little. 8" am free from
that imputation. Rich as you are, Mis-
Conway, the Sorthwicks of Sorthwicl
are richer"
It was true, as she knew well. Gen
eral Sorthwick, the elder, had the repu
tation of being the wealthiest landowne
in the country, and he was the onl
son.
"It is time the farce were ended, IN
continued. "I have been too long th
willing slave of your caprice. Ii is nc
fitting the woman I honor above all tn
world should be on terms OF free an
easy intimacy with such man as Oal
tain Hail."
A contemptious curl of the lip emph'
sized the words.
Maud started as though they ha
stung her; her hasty temper in arm
Immediately.
"By what right do you venture
critcise my friendship, sir =
"You shall give me the right" he r