The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-19
MISS M0NKTON'S MAR
RIAGE.
By THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIREss
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER l.
LETITIA,

"Shal I tell you what / mean to do,
cousin Florindai" said Miss Monkton, as
as she sat over the fire one evening in
Christmas week. rR
"If yon please, my DEAR"
81 mean to marry an officer. Then I
shall move about with the army in spite
Of my papa. 1, have some thoughts of
Crosby, bis own aid-de-camp. Whit
would he say to that, now7 can tell
you, l have prodigious fancy for Cros
by"
Captain Crosby said Mrs. Bushe, in
cone of mild remohstrance which was all
she ever yentured ON with her charge,
Letitia. hA 4
She had been wandering softly round
the room in the freight, putting the
books straight on the table, restoring
the contents of Letitia's work-box, which
lay tumbled in a confused heap on the
sofa. Now she moved forward and stood
on the hearth-rug, pale slender woman
in black satin gown, with light hair
put plainly back. and worn delicate fea-
lures, with enough beauty lingering
about them to show that twenty years
ago she might have been as lovely as
Letitia was now.
Crosby, or any other aid-dc-camp,
ought to have felt himself honored by
Miss Monkton's fancy. She was fair as
the day, as her nurse said, with an old
fashioned bloom of roses in her cheeks,
laughing eyes, brown hair with gold
threads in it, which she wore gathered
up in mass of short curls, and grace
of movement and attitude which was net
affected even by the oddly hideous short
wasted gowns Of the time. Mrs. Bushe
and she had lived together in this old
house, thirty miles from London, for the
last ten years, while Sir George Monk
ton, her father, distinguished general
officer, had been with the army. They
had only seen him twice during that
time; but he wrote constantly to them
both, and ordered every little thing
about their household as if he had been
living mile off, Now, at the end of
December, 1915, they were expecting
him to pay them visit. He had come
over from France two or three weeks
aye; but with Sir George business always
took precedence of pleasure, alld othe
peoples business Of his own, SO that
there were all sorts of military affairs to
be settled in London before he could
take few weeks rest and see his daugh-
ter. 5H II.
"Pray don't scor;h your face, Letitia," f"
said Mrs. Bushe, moving her slow pensive
eyes from the fire to tho,e rosy cheeks in
the full glow of it. II wish your papa
to find you looking WE'LL"
"Never mind," said Letitia, smiling.
He won't bring Crosby with him."
"You astonish me-"
"Wel now, cousin Florinda, it is all
his own doing. He began three years
ago, "A fine young fellow, Crosby by
name, has joiaed the regiment lately.
He is Irish, ana I know nothing of his
antecedents; but he will make smart
officer" And you know it has gone on
ever since. Crosby here, Crosby there
dis inguishing himself over and ovel
again. know papa was only too glad
to haze him for his aid-de-camp when
poor Captain Smith was killed last June
Since then he has been his right-hand
man completely; has even addressed hi-
letters sometimes very we'll he
writes, too"
"All that may be very true, said Mrs
Bushe, looking down with the fainte a
smile Of amusement, which Letitia did
not see. "But you dom to be aware
that you are talking Of this gentleman
in a very extraordinary way. Let me
assure you that he himself would not be
flattered by it, and your papa would be
Mortified"
20, but he would be flattered. Haven't
heard you say that men are the vainest
creatures on earth? Especially officers
You detest officers, don't youw
II think they are not always to be
trusted" said cousin Florinda erayely
and coldly. "Before / was married-a1
your age-I thought very much as you
do"
'Then you can't blame me-" said
Letitia, who was leaning her chin on hel
hands and staring into the fire.
"Dear child" replied cousin Florinds
dtAcT ulOIucUJS . pduSc. tIus0 tiiCSS
ideas of yours may never lead you into un
happiness like mine"
20, no." said Letitia, and then sht
checked herself.
Major Bu,he had been the most worth
less of men; had treated his wife unkind
", spent all her money, and left her
without farthing, on the charity Of hel
relations. Still his widow, having loved
him in her young days, would 'not heal
anything said against him now; and LIE
titia, being given to thoughtless chatter
ing, often found silence the best refuge
from an almost forbidden subject. Sh,
believed in her heart that poor, pretty
gentle, old cousin Florinda would hav,
talked great deal about her past trouble
if she had been encouraged. But Letiti'
hated feelings, and any talk that wa
likely to bring them uppermost; it there
fore suited her best to suppose tina
cousin Florinda preferred living in tn
present.
They were presently disturbed by
great tramping and rattling outside, ant
the pealing of loud bell. Sir George
r,arr;aoo hod =; var, int, fb. ,,orJ IT. ~,