The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-07-22
COUNTESS BEAUREPAIRE.

COUNTESS BEAUREPAIRE.
Goodness only knows what took DO.
session of MIR. Vincent Maurice on th
tirst time that he ever saw Kate Rivers
He was one of the stateliest young ger
tlemen that ever stepped, welded to a.
the properties and conventionalities
with precision of manner that woul,
have been priggish had he not been O
such stature and shape that it becam
almost majestic it not been for hi
beauty of countenance, and for an intel
igence more than common. OF an oil,
family, of moderate wealth, with goot
legal practice, and with fine politica
outlook, what fate, asked the gossips O
the air, led him to the side of Kate Riv
ers
For Kate Rivers was the very opposite
OF Mr.. Maurice in all respects; Young
child-like, everybody's friend, with NJ
perception of difference of rank or de-
gree, full of mischief and gayety and
light good humor-a nature utterly in
compatible with that of the naughty
young gentleman who stepped on the
earth as if he made it.
One would naturally have supposed
that it would needs be something quite
the antipodes of this that would have
attracted Mr.. Maurice, something cold,
chiseled, with manners having the calm
glitter OF the iceberg; and one could
only premise trouble if such incongruous
elements as these came together. That
she should have admired him was not
at all remarkable; but whatin the world
did he see in her?
He saw-on the bright May day that
he went into the country to call on his
step-mother, who was visiting there, and
sauntering over the grounds of his
hostess, found himself in those of
the next place-he saw q child asleep
upon bank of violets, a rosy young
girl, exquisite as beautifully carved
piece of marble, with one arm tossed
above her head, rising round and lovely
from its purple pillow, the nut-brown
hair blowing all about the ivory brow
and bosom. He seated himself on an
old uncovered tree trunk and sur
veyed her; and the more he gazed, the
more ineffaceably that sleeping face was
stamped on heart and brain; and he was
just becoming aware that he was taking
an enormous liberty, when she opened q
large pair of half-affrayed blue ewes,
and he felt that the time in which he
had gazed was long enough to give him
something like familiar acquaintance.
Scan you tell me-" he said, in his
most reassuring manner, son whose
grounds l am trespassing?''
son mine, sir,'' said the young thing,
half rising.
You are then"
skate Rivers. And I suppose you
are my cousin Francis. I heard Won
were coming. Mrs. Stanton said she
should bring you over"
"Fate did me that kindness first. -
'aid Mr.. Maurice, gravely. "But-n
"Ah, WE'LL" she said, quickly, ssit
Doesn't matter, so long as you are here.
Mrs. Stanton said you would be so in
crested in the old manor, it has so many |
If your ancestors portraits on the walls, |
Is well as mine.'' And she rose, and |
before he quite understood it thew were
Walking on together. evil YOU come
,p?" she said. elbow stupid of me not
o have asked for your family! Are
hey with you? Is your wife well?
ell haven't any wife, said Mr..
7incent Maurice.
"No wife! What do you meanp
surely" But here. probably lest he
night have lost his wife, and her words
re recalling painful memories, she ston-
ed herself, and ran after a flower she
spied. "There!" she exclaimed. 81
new there must be some left still!n
oming back presently with her hands
I'LL of straw-bells. ssDon't YOU love
hemp" she said. eThey don't know
neither they are flowers or grass, and
hey are so shy about it. They seem to ,
he to be full of all the happiness that
lere is to be in summer" +,
81 suppose you find q great deal of |
appiness in summer, then?"
"Oh. always! The days are not half 9
'ng enough. Are they for you?' 6
" l don't know. Sometimes, perhaps,
70 long"
" All, now, you don't mean to say G
ou're like that Mr.. Vincent Maurice '
no Is coming to visit Mrs. Stanton" a
May l. ask what is the matter with s
r. Vincent Mauricep''
His name, 1 guess. Vincent, con- u
lering-and he signs for more worlds"
Presently they were deep in a discus y
On OF favorite ideas and theories, all of
hich the pretty creature had evidently (,
ought for herself, whether wise or a
dish, in her loneliness, for she was n
o young to have read or studied much V
ID all the time that they were talking n
e was darling off in pursuit of leaf or le
tterfy, or of the greyhound that had d
med them, and returning to his side Il
q confding way that Mr.. Vincent IS
Rurice found indescrihahlr aureaahla 3.