Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-30
From the Chicago Leger.
THE BELLS.
OR
The Midnight BetrothaI.
BY FANNY ISABEL KENNIsII.


NOR coolly studying the effect of her
new hat, whose scarlet plumes fut,
tered with every turn of the coquet.
tish little head. What did it matter
that Phillip Ashley was savagely
pulling sofa cushion TO pieces in
the parlor below, waiting impatient.
ly for a soft little football in the
hall?
sit will improve his temper Ia
wai',' Margie sollloquized, watching
her dancing plumes. He is really
growing quite savage, and it's so de.
lightful to tease him, '-giving f.
nal adjustment to her feecy scarf
Margie Gray, it must be confessed
was something of firt. She took
exquisite delight in torturing her
masculine admirers, and particularly
Phillip Ashley. She liked to see the
great, strong follow turn led and
pale like girl whenever her taper
fingers accidently touched his hand
She liked to watch the growing hope
10 his honest blue eyes. aud to see
the light dashed suddenly out of
them,as she assumed an unapproach-
able dignity, when yer the CONVEX
sation threatened TO become what
she termed sentimental. Nineteenth
century girls have been accused per-
haps trut5tully, of making boast of
their conquests, and parading the
hearts that have been laid at their
feet; but Margie took a wicked pleas
ure In declaring that she had never
had an offer of marriage. She knew
we'll, however, that she had been an
athametized by more than one pair of
mascu line lips, because, in spite of
numberess resolves TO suddenly be-
siege the well guarded heart. when
the critical moment became the sold,
old story and always resolved itself
into sundry commonplace remarks
about the weather or the last ne W
novel. Margie's great, innocent
brown eyes, sparkling in the mean
time with purely feminine delight, as
her quick sense detected the hopeless
i love you ringing it's wonderful
changes through the tame pleasant
tries of society gossip.
Margie took special delight in tor
menting Phillip Ashley, because, in
spite of all her resolutions to the
contrary, she often found herself
listening for his quick, well-known
etep, and checking sudden impulse
to rush down stairs when she heard
it, instead of waiting TO be properly
summoned. 1t required more Of an
effort to prevent scene, since she
felt in herself, a growing tendency
toward the sentimental; but she was
resolved not to be conquered, and
poor Phillip was made to endure a
| double penance.
What made you come SO early,
Phillip p was the first encouraging
question, as the little maiden tripped
derurely into the parIor.
| Because l. but Phillip did not
dare to tell the Truth. well, Miss
Margie you know We have long
ride
'Longr echoed Margie in scorn
| Twelve miles, and such sleighiDg
What horses have you got 2 and she
peered through the cloud of lace, at
the FESTIVE steeds waiting even more
impatiently than their master.
'Yes, but de-Mis Margis, it is cold
riding across the lake, and thought
we had better start early so as TO
have the warmest part of the day.
said Phillip, deliberately telling lie
for he had calculated, if possible, to
delay their returo until evening. hop-
ing much from the mysterious influ-
ences of a moonlight ride.
'Oh,' SAID Margie, in an indescrib-
able voice, that made Phillips heart
flutter uncomfortably, and brought a
dash of red across her forehead.
What's the matter p and Margie's
great eyes opened wider than ever.
She never would get used to Phil.
lips ridiculous habit of hlushing.
Nothing Shall we go now?
what q question !? As if l had
not been standing here for full ten
minutes with all my wraps on. Wait
a minute. My glove, Phillip, please.
Phillip bungled clumsily over the
dainty glove, wishing be could null
tiply its three tiny buttons by ten, it
was so delightful TO have Margie's
little hand resting quietly in his for
a moment,
Thanks am ready now
1t took long time to get started.
Phillip was so fearful lest breath of
cold air should find its way through
the pile of soft robe.
'Glass-handle with care. laughed
the little tease, as Phillip finished his
manipulations.
Phillip flushed again, and threw
himself into the cutter, glad of an
opportunity to throw eff his reckless
emotion which threatened to over
throw his carefully laid plans. Not
that it would be calamity greatly
to be feared since similar plans, quite
as carefully projected had been
thwarted at least fifty times.
The far-awsy hills rose up white
and dazzling in tho bright sunlight,
and across the wide expanse of ice
the road wound 10 and out like the
graceful undulations of a serpent.
Margie was wild with excitement
and chat ted and laughed like child
utterly oblivious to the loving glances
that were being showered down up.
on the restless little head under the
flutteripg feathers. She leased Phil
lip and laughed at him, and locked
up with her wickedly innocent eyes
in way that tempted him sorely |;
but it was as useless to attempt a Sc
rious word in the midst of Msrgie's
contagious fun, as to try to stop q
dsshing mountain brook with dash
ing brow. Msrgie had enough fem
mime tact to know that nothing will
so effectually cool q lovers ardor as
q hearty laugh and, being too thor
oughly full of fun to assume her usu-
oil role of Indifferent dignity. she car.
ried her good nature one degree be-
yond the sentimental limits, and
closed Phillips lips as effectually as