Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-01-03

IcICg horDoIt tlht 6NonlnB5 lOT ever
since his friend had opened his eyes To
Maud's apparent deceit, he had been
wondering how he could best give her
to understand that she need not for the
future shower any.of her fascinations
upon him; and new, without giving him
one opportunity of snubbing her, she
entirely ignored his presence and de-
voted herself to his friend, who was as
much astonished at the aspect OF affairs
as Percy himself.
This went on fer days, till Percy, who,
in spite of all, 10 I'D her devotedly, was
driven almost i'd with jealousy, and
openly accused hAuuS q, of having pur-
posely deceived 1 regard TO her
fortune-huntiDg SEES and of
%abi0s 0Wh ost,. up tf ? further his
Meanwhile Mrs. Carlyon regarded
with dismay the evident failure of her
darling project; and, moreover, feeling
very sore at Maud's victim being her
favorite cousin, determined to take the
girl to task; so one night, on returning
to their several rooms, she followed
Maud into hers, and shutting the door,
placed her hands on the girls shoulder,
aud looked earnestly into her face.
"Maud, what is the reason of your
behavior to Percy? Why are you so
changed toward him? / did hope that
you and he we're learning to love each
other, but since Harry Liston came you
have scarcely noticed him."
Perhaps I prefer Mr.. Liston to
your cousin; l suppose there's no harm
in my doing so ?" said Maud, in a half
defiant tone, and longing to escape from
the searching eyes bent on her.
Harm ? No, certainly no harm in
your doing 80; but / must confess
don't understand your choice; for al
though Percy is my own cousin, must
say he is infinitely superior in every re-
spect to Mr.. Liston. Besides, Percy
has a handsome fortune, while the other
has not penny to bless himself with. "
"And so you, with all the rest of the
world, think l am incapable of disinter-
ested affection ? I thank you for your
good opinion of me, Mary" and with
flashing eyes and burning cheeks she
turned away.
81 don't understand you, Maud, 1"
said her friend, with sigh; "but it is
very evident that my interference only
angers you, SO I will say goodnight;
but l sincerely wish Harry Liston was
at the bottom of the sea-"
When quite certain she was alone,
Maud's overweight feelings gave way.
Very bravely had she acted her part,
but if she had succeeded in making
Percy miserable, ten thousand times
more wretched was she herself. Only
one little bit of consolation was. there
for her throughout it all, and that was
that all her flirting with Harry Liston
was doing him no harm, for, though
meeting her more than half way, she saw
that beyond the Irritation there was no
deeper feelingi in the matter. Still, how
was it all to end Her visit was fast
drawing to close, and the farewell ball
Mrs. Carlyon was giving in her honor
was to come off that night.
Maud and her hostess were lingering
over their five o'clock tea, after superin-
tending the last finishing touches to the
Ballroom, when the door opened and
Percy Herbert entered the room, look
ing very pale and with an open letter in
his hand.
"Good gracious, Percy what is the
matter ?" exclaimed his cousin. "You
are white as a sheet"
For answer he threw the letter on to
her knee.
Eagerly she took it up, but before she
had read more than a few lines she let it
drop from her hands, and turning to her
cousin with a face almost as white as his
own she said in an agitated voice:
Obi Percy, it cannot surely be true
the s. bank gomez Why, that is
the one nearly all your money is in."
"It is" he replied $50, according
to that letter, I am ruined man
ooh l.no, no; it cannot be as bad as
that there may be something saved.
Oh Percy, if not, it would be too
dreadful! " and the good-hearted little
woman's eyes filed with tears. "But
you will not leave us tonight; it is
too late for you to do anything this
evening? ?"
"No; as you say, it is too late to do
anything now; but / must leave by the
first train tomorrow morning. But,
Mary dear, keep all this quiet for to-
night, you know" he said with poor
attempt at laugh. 81 might not get
any partners if it became known was
penniless )" and turning from his
cousin he looked toward Maud, but her
chair was empty--she had flown.
Maud had escaped to her room, feel
ing utterly bewildered at the news she
had just heard and though deeply
grieved at Percy's misfortune, still she
individually felt happier than she had
felt for weeks.
Harry Liston, your reign is over, y
cried the girl, ioyously "and all l now
want is an opportunity of proving posi-
lively to Percy that Maud Hesketh is
not the little fortune-huuter his friend
described her to be-"
As she stood in her ball dress a few
hours later pleasant smile passed over
her face as she looked at herself in the
glass. Her dress was perfect-a pres.
ent from Mrs. Carlyon-and very lovely
did Maud look in it.
81 wonder if he will like it." she
murmured and if she only could have
seen the expression on his face as she
entered the room she would not have
had many doubts on the subject. Maud
had no lack of partners, for she wat
quite the belle Of the ball /; but the only
one she cared for had not even spoke1
to her, and she was beginning to fee
utterly weary and sick of the whole
thing when familiar voice at her elbow
asked her for the next dance.
"You shall have it with pleasure
Mr.. Herbert, she said, turning TO hin
with bright smile; but before she hat
time for another word her partner whirl
ed her away. The first few bars of th,
next dance had hardly begun befor,
Percy Herbert claimed her.
81 thought you did not intend asking