The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-05-17

81 told him that he was nv frs
love, and that he would he my last, ,
she murnured to herself al hope II,
will remember it. How very strang
il all seems. / wonder if the time viii
come when | shall regret what ha
happened this evening? hope not
am sure not"
SO saying, she went in softly, anC
silently closed the door.
"NVhat beautiful girI!'
"And what an elegant riderr'
Virginia Thornton heard the words
distinctly, and glancing carelessly
around from her seat in the saddle
she met the ardent look of admira.
ton with which they were accom-
panied. But not "A tinge of cOlOI
| stained the fairness of her cheeks
The cool, self-possessed expression OF
her eyes did not alter. The red, mo-
bile lips exhibited at that moment
only pride and beauty, betrayingnOth-
| more.
proud as Lucifer!"
She heard that, too. Still her face
did not change. Her dark eyes mere
ly glanced up and then dOTn again.
She rode out of the city with her COM
pani6ns, and, when among the green
| roads, galloped off hy herself. She
| knew the act would be noticed, per-
hapS criticized, but she did not care
She was weary Of the sound of gay
laughter and the rattle of tongues
She followed her own inclinatiOns and
escaped them. Guiding her horse
upon the fresh, springy turf, she made
him strike into an easy, even canter,
and soon the rich bloom broke through
! the cleaning fairness of her cheeks.
| The weary, Indifferent look faded out
Of her face-and she looked glad and
happy as delighted child.
| "rhis is capital" she said aloud af-
| ter awhile.
"Are you tired, Vic" Well, take
| me to the other side of that old fence,
and then you may rest. One, two,
| threeu'
"Wcll done, Miss Thornton! The
| creature might as well have attempted
! to shake off one of his ears"
She drew her painting, excited steed
in sharply, and turned in the direc-
! ton of the voice. At the sight of a
gentleman sitting on low stone wall
with riding-stick i'm his hand, she
uttered a quick exclamation of sur
prise.
"Nr. Annesley! I thought you re-
fused to Join us to-day?"
"And so did, and so l persist in
doing. | wish to ride only with Miss
Virginia Thornton, and await her per-
mission to do So"
Ata motion of his hand, his horse,
which was grazing at a little distance,
came and stood passively beside him.
With his hand grasping the reins, he
awaited. The face he looked into was
not like the one he might have seen
framed in the waves of that rich, fair
hair, Az hour before. The mouth was
tremuloUS and tender; the beautiful
eyes barren of their coldness-per-
hapS the warmth of his smile had BAN
ishCd it as sunshine dissolves ice.
"GOur presumption is remarkable,
she said; ''aId the most fitting pun
iehment will be my consent to your
request"
She motioned him to mount.
"What do you nean?" he asked,
obeying her.
"That you will find me insufterably
dull company she replied, as they
turned into Il cross road together.
He gave her a searching look.
care you low-spirited?n he said.
"No; only tired"
"1'ired of what1'
"EveTy ything."
"My dear Genie.'
The words seemed spoken impul-
siVciy. Her sudden dash of color re-
vealed that they We're unusual to her
ears.
II beg pardom," he said quickly,
observing il.
"You need not" she replied. "The
name is II favOrite one. Call me SO,
if YOU choose
"What?u
"Genie.h
but I said my dear Genie May
| call you that?o
She blUshed, but the next impulse
was to rctort saucily. Looking up at
him, however, the glance of her bright
eye quailed beneath the grave ex-
preston of his. The crimson of her
cheek deepened, her ripe mouth quiv-
cred. In that moment of exquisite
pain and pleasure she wished that she
were dead.
"HaYe | distressed your ne asked,
gently. His forhearance Wss q very
great relief to her.
"Nes,N she answered, simply, look
ing frankly into his handsome face.
"Then l will say no more on the
subject" he replied. 'I have some
thing to tell YOU" he said, after a
moments pause, for she did not speak.
"a gentleman with whom l am well
aequainted, commissioned me to de-
liver you a small package, to-day. l
have carried it in my vest pocket
since morning. Here it is"
lie handed her q little white pack
age bearing her nalle. At sight of
the handwriting, her face hlanched
suddenly, and she reeled in her sad
die as if she had been struck by a
heavy hand.
''Oh, this is cruel!' she murmured.
"Miss ThorntOn-dear Virginia,
what is it," said Hugh Annesley,
checking the horses. Then observing
the remaining pallor of her features,
lie oprang t" the srqqnd. and lited
her from her seat. :"
"What is it?" he repeated, with his
arm around her.
"Nolhing-l aq il, -" she answered,
incohCTently, and evidently struggling
to regain her possession.
"~it down here" and he placed her
gently upon a nlOssy, fallen log be-
meath g free. "NnV do not falL nv
til YOU feel better. My poor child"
The tender, plying words made her
lips !remble, Standing behind her,
he put back the rich nall of her hair,
with the gentle touch of loving wO-
man. She remained silent for a few
moments, her head resting against the
dark trunk of the tree, her lips parted
slightly, and her eyes, with their
long, dark lashes, wearily closed. At
last she looked up.
'I was i'll yesteTday-I am not well
to-day" she said, the color coming
slowly back tn her face. "otherwise
] should not lie so weak and foolish.
| am sorry that | met you, Mr.. An
Hesley, for what must you think of
mc!'f
az think that you are wronging
both yourself and me, by refusing to
trust me, Virginia." he replied, quiet
Iy. You cannot conceal from me
that you are troubled and unhappy
! Lage only the right of a friend TO
your confidence, Gq1 &oll qnqeryalue
that by your evident desire to conceal
from me the cause OF your distress"
"Hugh-NIr. Annesley" she com
menced hastily, but checked herself.
"Perhaps it would he best to tell you
after all" she said. "You are kind
hearted and clear-headed. Perhaps
you may knQQ hoR 10 ald nae. See
here
She tore from the packet its small
wrapper and then drawing pen-knife
TrpD1 in OF I1pckpt hastily put tho fast