The Republican journal., 1881-09-22
Count Won Held see such a girl as Dora's


she hasn't got the money to buy that sort
of thing. She's my sisters child anyway,
and | mean to give her all the fire crack
ers she wants, and place to fire em Oft
ln." MIR. Warren was conscious of having
done but little practically for his niece,
and was tenacious Of doing something
sentimentally.
''lt's your own fault" snapped the wife,
with an energy born of her new ambi-
tions, ''if the count is disgusted with such
queer looking relations"
Barbara was dressed in some coarse
blue flannel when | last met her" said
Dora
Don't worry about the count" Mr..
Warren answered smoothly. "Tve shown
him all the mills and the Boston house.
He's no fool He won't mind Bah any
more than he minds Phil Moneys money,
my dear; moneys money!
The family (as i'll luck would have it,
were seated that evening in Il full light,
the weather being rather cool, and into
the parl0r came the dreadful Bah, dress
ed in the condemned blue flannel. 1t was
an old dress, and not very pretty nor
was Bah a very pretty girl She was
rather SMALL had warm reddish hair
dressed III two ungraceful braids; good,
fearless gray eyes skin slightly freckled;
nice dimples, little cleft chin and a
fresh childish mouth.
~ came for my fire e-crackers, uncle, -
she said.
There was d murmur of Introduction,
she bowed to Won Held, then with a
laugh, tucked the box under her arm,
and throwing some lest at her uncle who
saw her off from the front door, she ran
away across the lawn toward the village.
The next morning at breakfast Won
Held remarked "Phil and | have been
enjoying the Fourth OF July. I've been to
the village and I've fired Oft crackers
with your cousin, Niss-Miss Bah, as YOU
call her"
Mrs Warren froWled with veNation.
THAT girl is quite a trial 10 us, count.
She's 50 very queer about her dress.
Why, Dora has often sent her rich clothes
that she had done WITH and the child re-
fuses to wear them"
"les," Dora added, ''the poor girl is
very unconventional
'So,' the count responded.
That inevitable Bah came to the house
that evening again. 1t was her usual
Fourth Of July custom to fire crackers from
the end of the big piazza, with Phil for
companion.
1.-The noise is so unpleasant, let us 60"
Dora proposed, 'to the other side Of the
house.
"Oh, no." answered Won Held. Il
rather like it all. 1t is something new to
me. 1t is quite refreshing to see those
two young people absorbed in such child's
play
Soon Won lIcld's visit had ended. He
was going to travel. The Warrens would
spend September in the mountains. oc-
tobcr would see him at RocEpOrt again.
With many compliments upon his en-
tertainment, with renewed expressions of
surprise at the advance, cultivation, and
wealth he met in America, he took his
leave.
did he say anything -anythingin par
ticular?' whispered Mamma Warren to her
daughter.
"Not yet" answered Dora, in a tone
that was perfectly satisfactory.
During the visit to the mountains, Far
weather overlook the Warren family. In
October he returned with them to Rock
port Won Held they found already at
the hotel in the village. lie had been
there q month or more.
Fairweathcr muttered; "Thought he'd
be on hand in time. Didn't count on see
ING me come home with Dora" Then
FairWeather ordered the most eXtrava-
giant of bOnhonnieres sent up from New
York for Miss Warren. The fact was, he
recognized a dangerous rival, and 50
spent thousands Of dollars at once in buy
ing horses, bringing his yacht to Rock
port, bearing the expense of all kinds OF
festivities, and hunting up costly fruits
and flowers; then he scowled constantly
upon Won Held, and generally played the
desperate lover
Both men were leaning over Dora's
piano, one evening, when Mr. Warren
CHANGED to pass through the parlor. Won
Held, with hurried "EXcuse me" over
took his steps, and Fairweather could
hear these words: "May | speak to you
privately, Mr. Warren, upon an important
matter? Then the two passed out upon
the piazza together.
Fairweather felt that he understood
the purpose Of that interview, and he eX-
claimed to Dora, "If I'd known that for
eign adventurer had followed you home,
I'd have come back six months sooner"
Miss Warren rose, turned toward Fair
weather, swept him once up and down
slowly with her eyes, and walked deliber-
ately out of the room.
The suitOr felt such pang Of love fol-
l,r,, i,, l,nt hot
eral superiority to his own nature, that in
a moment he had lashed himself into a
jealous fury, and he strobe toward where
Warren and Won Held were sitting out
side on the piazza.
Coming upon them unawares from one
of the drapeL wind oWs, he heard this from
the Count.
II wish to ask your sanction for the ad-
dresses have already paid her"
"-\lready paid her" repeated Mr.. War
ren. 'I'm astonlshed."
Fairweather sprang forward, forgetting
everything but his anger
"Mr. Warren" he vOciterated, Il pro-
test against this. The man is poor,
doesn't own fifty thousand dollars n the
world He wants your daughter for hel
money. ~ warn you, and | accuse him
of base motives"
Won Held started up as if he had been
dealt blow; then, meeting the livid face
and angry eyes of his accuser, he laid his
hand quietly on the back of a chair, and
so stood at ease almost smiling.
"lIe's Il fortune hunter" Fairweathel
went on. ole spoke Of q trip to America
just as soon as spoke Of your daughter's
wealth. And moreover, he's Fair
weather staggered up very close to Won
Held-"he's a--he's a" The word
coward" was forming itself on his lips
but the quiet eyes that met him, the un-
changed color, the steady mouth, check
ed that word, and left a silence, daring
which the count resumed his seat, while
Fairweather stood quivering with unmas-
tered rage.
"Much obliged for your impertinent in
reference, young man." Warren answer
ed at last, rather dryly, "but my daugh-
ter isn't in the question at all"
'What !" exclaimed FairWeather.