The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-04
Mats Luck.

ne walked glo0mlly TO the window and
looked out-on the vivid green of the GRO
quet lawn, on white and red roses clustering
about the porch; on the old rector, tending
his favorite geraniums in the distance, amid
blaze of sunshine and glow of color. Mat
longed to be with him-the sombre room
seemed oppressive as cage.
He threw open the French windows, drew
long breath and thrust his fingers into the
pockets of his shooting-coat, falling naturally
into careless, lounging attitude peculiar to
him. The fingers came in contact with
note and idly brought it to light. 1t was
addressed, in woman's handwriting, to
"Matthew Curtis, esq.,, M. D." A grim
smile played about that gentleman's lips as
he reflected how unsuited was that formal
superscription to the jovial, reckless, good
for-naught, known to rich and poor for miles
around as young Mat Curtis.
With listless air he drew forth the brief
Enclosure. His face darkened as he perused
1t.
'sMiss Agnes Bellue would be glad to have
. few minutes conversation with Mr.. Cur.
tls."
'Lover-like-veryp commented Mat, with
sarcastic emphasis.
Another glance at the delicate paper and
the firm square handwriting, the dark look
hardening the while, until the character Of
the face seemed completely altered.
'Look at itp' quoth Mat. "Her hand
never trembled; there is not a wavering
stroke! Why, most girls would cry their
eyes out while writing such note as that to
their loversp'
He crushed the offending missive into
ball IS he spoke, and addressed few more
unapostolic expletives 10 the fair sunshine
expletives peculiarly unbefitting a clergy
mans study, or the hearing of the young
lady who noiselessly entered in time indis-
tinctly to catch them. or
Young-not more than twenty, perhaps
but with serene and queenly grace of move
ment, q gravelY beautiful face-an air Just
now of naughty disgust.
pardon me-" she says, icily; $50 inter-
esting conversation with yourself is prob
ably OF confidential nature.''
Mat turns with flaming face, quick,
deprecating gesture, courteous, apologetlc
bow and speech that somehow, in their con-
fused humility stamp him as gentleman.
81 trust, indeed. you did not hear it, I
earnestly crave forgiveness if you did,"
She contemptuously dismisses the matter
With the slightest wave of little jewelled
hand. Cold, hard, proud, she looks. and her
words have clear-cut articulation sugges-
tive of newly clipped coinss
81 sent for you"
EYES," answers Mat, defiantly. His peni.
sion is returning. "Just my luck p it seems
to repeat.
s'To beg an answer to three questions
continues Miss Belize.
Mat bows, thrusts his hands into the deep
shooting pockets once more, and resumes the
careless, louDging attitude.
"Haye you entered your name, notwith-
standing my protest, as gentleman-rider
for the autumn steeple-chases ?"
"Yes."
''Have you, in truth, gone back to the old
habit of dropping into the 'Bareycorn' two
or three nights 10 the week to [how superb
was the ring of scorn in her voice n drink
ale and smoke in company with the Doors
there?"
eyes," repeats Mat, sturdily.
SIS 1t indeed true that, on leaving that inn
last night, you involved yourself in poach-
ing ARRAY, actually knocking down keeper
and helping one of the poachers to escape ?"
"Yes," says Mat. with kind of sullen de-
spair.
Miss Bellue draws something from her
white fingers and holds it out. Mechanically
Mats hand comes out Of the shooting pocket
and grasps it. 1t is woman's engagement
ring.
They look at each other, curious contrast
In the two faces. Hers composed. calm.
hauqhtily Indifferent. His biankly aston.
ished, angry, agitated, by turns.
"Not-not that, Agnesp' be pleads husk-
The serene beauty, the quiet determination
Of her face answer him.
'Can you not make allowance p" he cried.
''can you not understand that mad young
blood like mine must find some excitement
greater than mixing pills, and powders, and
lotions, or creeping through sick rooms all
day 2"
It is pitiful to see how he watches her
while be speaks, and notes the same fixed,
mute, changeless answer.
Sat least, let me explain. can do so to
your satisfaction, I think, I hopep' he saws,
obviously. "Return it to your finger, and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT till you hear the defensep'
And he holds the ring towards her, with q
great clumsy hand that trembles somewhat.
Still no audible reply. A faint shake of the
head, look of polite incredulity-that Is all.
'sDo you not care ?" he asks.
His appealing eyes search her face. It does
not change. Beautiful, imperturbable, the
sentence written there never varies. His un-
steady fingers drop the ring; but he let's it lie,
half-buried in the feecy rug. Then with q
set, stern look, he sets his foot upon it, bows
slightly, and walks from the room.
He leaves the house, passing the window to
gain the road, and looking neither to the
right nor to the lett.
His head is erect, his hands are out of the
loose pockets. For once startling transfer
mation) young Mat Curtis looks positively
dignified.
And as he vanishes as startling a transfor-
nation takes place In the room be has quit
ted. Miss Bellue proves herself a woman.
and not queen, by series of actions essen.
TALLY feminine.
First, she rescues the bent love token from
the floor; then she kisses 1t and cries over it.
then she locks it away carefully in writing.
desk; then she PUSHES up stairs to watch her
lover out of sight from an upper window.
For quarter Of mile or so she watched
him, a retreating figure, growing smaller
and smaller In the distance. he never
once looked back; the regular march Of
his steps never faltered turn of the road
hid him from sight. Miss Bellue sat down
on the foor-a most undignified position
and cried till her pretty eyes were red and
swollen.
"Its all overp she moaned-ssall overt,
"Fire! Firev'