The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-19

| clothes he Wore.
| And Gerinaine, under the grave, yet
half-amused gravity Oh his handsome,
serious eyes, began to think she had
displayed IL very silly temper. Then
she suddenly relaxed into Il smile that
Was like warm sunshine, making her
!, beautiful eyes flash, ana tile dlmples
! coquet i'll check and chin.
''Oh, WE'LL was So awfully fright
ened! L do-perfectiy-hate dogs =
| cycling lIIeisiiy the magnificent crea-
ture standing by his masters site
''and, besides, l was i'll such deep
thought, and it came 80 suddenly, and
yes, am pretty we'll ashamed OF
myself, and-I beg your pardon"
| The charming noicete of her manner
and the graciously sweet honesty of
her words were simply the essence of
refreshInent to Leonard Burniield, to
whom ever since he could remember,
women had been SO exceedingly eXas-
perating, ,uncompromisingly sweet, and
gracious, and fawning. and-yet, eager
to please.
dts bargain. You will forgive
me, and 1 am only too happy to par
don you. And may have the pleas
ure of knowing your name?"
A tinge of warm color swept over
her face. Then she laughed ut him
frankly, looking at him seriously.
81 would rather not, please. 1t can
make no difference. You-arc n straii-
ger to me-and | am-quite sure man.
ma would ratlicr-not."
He lifted his cap almost rcvercntly.
"You and your mother are right.
Forgive me. Come, my dog"
l..
Germaine, with a heart curiously STIR
red, continued her solitary walk, but
with thoughts and emotions that for
the first time in her life were new and
strangely sweet to her.
thoughtfully on, his face full Of a IA
dance that he never thought could
again have been called there by the
sight of a woman OF the sound of her
voice.
s'The fairest face ever saw, and the
sweetest, noblest, purest soul looks
out of the tender eyes! Can it be
possible l have come home to find my
fate in the first little country girl /
happen to cross? And that, too, when
Merrivale has got that magnificent
daughter of his all cut and dried Tor
the position of mistress of Stonebank!"
He laughed, and whistlcd to the dog.
,"Colne, Lion! It's mile walk back
to Stonebank, and we are hungry,
aren't WeY G.sEO
Only, eating or drinking, waking or
sleeping, he could not get the face of
GcrInaile DE Courcy out of his mind,
nor even when, the next day, as he
sat at the open window. OF the Mcrri-
vale drawi ing room, hearing Constance
play on her grand piano for his espe-
cial delectation. bia4. aaE
"One moment, please" he said, alb
ruptly, as she paused; ''tcll Inc who
this young girl is coming towards the
house." rl 1
And Miss Merrivale looked out, and
elevated her hose ut an angle unnen-
tionablc.
"Oh, that! She is the most disagree
able, impudcnt little mink to be found
for miles around! Do you know, Mr..
Burntield, she had the ilisolence to re-
fuse to sew for NE because she could
not fix her own price,? And they are
us poor as church mice, too"
Mr.. Burnticid looked politely i'll
tcrcsted.
Indeed! Who is the family"
'sThe DE Courcys; and the imperti-
outlandish naiue-Gernlaine. uorrid,
isn't it?"
Every odd, indeed" he said, courte-
ously, but the Mlnie sounded like Il |
silver bell to him-Gerillin dc Cour- |
cy, Gernaine de Courcy, the old Nor
man name suited her us the odor OF II
lily of the valley suited its tiny vel
vety white bell. ts. .s-.-
And two hours afterward Il mounted
groom delivered at the cottage door
an invitation to Miss Gcrniaine dc
Courcy TO attend the reception ut
Stoilpb INK At which GerinaineS
eyes Iairly danced.
Isn't IL just too delicious for any,
thing, nauinia! do wonder how
they ever came to think OF us-We
don't know theul-nor they us. But
let's go mamma. PHI fix up 'thc' black
silk, AMI You c;in Wear your little bit
oil real Lace for Il cap, and III do up
my white drcss-oh, mamma, I'm just
dying to have IL good dance once
lnQrc."l .rts,. -f
And in the pleasant excitement of
preparation, GeriIaine almost forgot
the handsome stranger and his keen
eyes. Until, on the Thurs
day evening, looking like fairy in
her white dress, and natural flowers in
her hair and at her fair throat, with
her gentle, delicate mother clinging SO
proudly and so aflectionatcly to her,
somebody introduced her to-Mr.
Leonard Burnficld, the heir of Stone
band, and the gentleman she had met
OH his own premises, whom she had
spoken to so cavalierly, to whom she
would NOT rive har 1lnna
Her face suddenly paled rs he came
to greet her, smiling as hc
pronounced her name, and greeting
her mother as if she had been duch-
ess. .-.-, f
''YOu see l was not to be thwartcd,
Miss De Courcy," he said.
And then he escorted her mother to
q quiet, retired place, and introduced
her to his mother, a dear, gentle old
lady in silver putfs and silver-g gray
satin. ,.l ~ =it@t
Then he returned to open the ball
with fair Germaine. r4 t'i"- !
One little month afterwards Con-
stance Morrivale flung set of we'd
ding cards spitefully on the floor.
"The audacious little wretch! Oh.
could strangle her. To think, OF all
Germaine de Courcy should
catch Leonard Burnfield !"
And then she cried in her fury till
her face and eyes were rcd and swol-
len. s-is1 3tt r. o1ose
Only, it was not Gcrmaine who
caught Leonard Burntield.
IL told you my prince was coming"
she said to her mother, one happy
night, when her lover had lett her.
"Ycs, remember"
And Mrs. DE Gourcy smiled.
"Mannla, no treason! Leonard is
my king-ny darling-and, mamma,
he says 1 did perfectly right i'll not
making Miss Merrivale's dress"
Mrs. Dc Courcy caressed the soft,
shining hair lovingly.
AT all events, there is 10 present