The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-07-21
HILARIE GRAENE.

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from town this fair June morning. Glare
had duly informed me Of the installation
of her orphan cousin Hilarie as a member
Of the family and a dependent upon Mr..
Berestord's bounty; aud had also de-
scribed her as an "uninterosting, odd
tempered girl of seventeen"
"Odd tempered" she might be, ] de-
c;ded, noting the naughty curve OF the
slender white throat, the stern, set ex-
preston of the delicate red lip and the
brooding passion in the large dusky eyes
of the tall, slender girl under the old
beeches; but ''uninteresting," Scarcely,
my dear Glare.
A shaft of golden sunlight through the
branches above illumined an untidy
wealth Of ripping brown hair: caressed
slender, listless hands, from which had
evidently slipped to her tiny feet the
large sun-hat she was too careless or too
idle to wear, and the immature beauty Of
the proud young face, the willowy grace
Of the slender figure in its dingy gray
gown, destitute of bow or frill or any of
the usual feminine adornments, interest
ed me strangely.
Still leaning against the tree, she lazily
watched my approach, apparently expect
ing me to pass on to the hall without be-
slowing more than passing glance upon
herself; but determined to speak with
her / made a short detour from the patti,
and, moro amused than disconnected By
the expression of mingled curiosity and
defiance which quickly overspread her
features, I said with the utmost gallantry
at my command:
Pardon me, but can you inform me if
any Of the family are at the hall to-day:
am not expected, and all seems unusu-
ally still"
Nevertheless, 3Tr. and Mrs. Beres-
ford and Glare are all within, and, though
not expected, Mr.. Forester IS sure TO be
4 welcome guest.
''You have guessed my name" re-
piled, smiling. What if l return the
compliment to Miss Hilarie Graeme?
You sec I have heard of you, too"
"Of course you would hear of the
Bercsfords' Jcfe 3.ot'," said she-oh, Sc
bitterly.
"Nay," 1 protested, ono such epithet
has been assigned you, Miss Graeme, be-
lieye me-
''Not exactly that, perhaps, but suF-
icient to let you know that 1 at least am
not welcome here"
Tor a moment CIare's expression Gun
interesting" and "oddtempered'' fitted
before me, but when would have spok-
en- Hilarie stopped me with a passionate
gesture Of disdaTn, saying
"Spare your words, Mr.. Forester,
your face tells me enough. Oh, why,
Why did come hcre?" And to my as
tonishment and dismay she burst into q
passionate invective against the misery OF
her dependent position and the coldness
and unkindness of her relatives, break
ing down at last into a paroxysm Of bit.
ter tears.
With mans utter abomination there
Of, did my best to calm the tempest ]
had unconsciously raised, and was un.
speakably relieved when at last she dried
her tearstained cheeks and said broken
ly-
Forgive me; you must think very
badly Of me, Mr.. Forester, bnt I will &c
away. ] was never very good, but now
am growing hard and bad, and am SC
wretched that in time l shall become G
hateful, wicked girl. I Will not stay
here.
4 great pity arose within me for this
lonely, high-spirited creature, little more
than child in years, and taking one Of the
nervous little hands IN mine, I reasoned
with her kindly but earnestly upon tho
. folly of tie course she would pursue
pointing ont ways and means for making
her present life at least more eudurable
and inquiring deeper into her manner q
occupying the long hours she spen
alone, found, as / suspected, she had
passed them chiefly in dasultory rambles
about the hall grounds and the neigh
boring country, ali the while broodiua
daIkly over her uucopgenial surround
ings, while she had utterly neglected
tastes and pursuits which might have
lent q charm to solitude. Finding one
If these TO be al innate love OF art, foi
which I am myself an enthusiast, [ ar.
ranged a meeting next morning for Hi.
larie and myself IN Alton Woods, min.
iature forest adjoining tie grounds OF
Beech Hall, where | engaged to initiate
her into ihe art OF crayon sketching. I
shall never forget the quick change from
sombre despondency to radiant hope and
pleasure which transformed the pale tear.
stained lace into ore Of raro brilliancy
and l1yeijness. So much does happiness
involve of beauty, that when we parted /
could scarcely recognize in the blushing,
smiling maiden before me tile pale, sad
girl Of short half-hour ago. Truly q
child's April nature had this same Hilarie
Greene.
NY subsequent meeting with Clare was
of the customary lover-like description
and her parents greeted me with their
usual warm expressions of welcome.
had always been 6 great favorite with
them, especially with stately Mrs. Beres-
ford, whose affection for me had been
mainly instrumental in bringing abou!
an engagement betwean her daughter
Clare and myself.
Clare was five years my junior, a fair,
aFlstocratic little lady of twenty summers.
Sue was extremely aayo,o1 e. ,,,o xnL;i,