The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-19
COUNTESS BEAUREPAIRE.

young gentlemen that ever stepped
welded to the proprieties and con
ventionalities, with a precision G
manner that would have been prig
gish had he not been of suhc super
stature and shape that it became al
most majestic-had it not been 70
his beauty of countenance, and 70
an intellect more than common. O
an old family, of moderate wealth
with good legal practice end will
a fine political outlook, what fate
asked the gossips of the air, led hin
to the side of Kate Rivers?
For Kate Rivers was the very op
posite of Mr.. Maurice in all respects
young, child-like, everybody
friend, with no perception Of differ
ence of rank or degree, full of mis-
chief and gaiety and light good hu
mora nature utterly incompatible
with that of the naughty youn!
gentleman who stepped on the eartt
as if he made it.
One would naturally have suppos
ed that it would need be somethin,
quite the antipodes of this tha
would have attracted Mr.. Maurice
something cold, chiseled, with man
ners having the cold glitter of an ice
berg; and one could only premis,
trouble if such incongruous element
as these came together. That she
should have admired him was no
at all remarkable; but what in th'
world did he see in her?
He was-on the bright MAY da,
that he went into the county to cal
on his step-mother who was visiting
there, and sauntering over th'
ground of his hostess, found himsel
in those of the next place-he saw
a child asleep upon bank of VIC
lets, rosy young girl, exquisite a:
a beautifully carved piece of mar
BILE, with one arm tossed about he
head, rising round and lovely from
its purple pillow, the nut brown
hair blowing about the ivory brow
and bosom. He seated himself OF
an old vine covered tree trunk anC
surveyed her; and the more he gaz
ed the more eneffaceably that sleep
ing face was stamped on heart anC
brain; and he was just becoming
aware that he was taking an enor
nous liberty, when she opened a large
pair of half affrayed blue eyes, and
he felt that the time he had gazec
was long enough to have given hin
something like familiar acquaint
ance.
Can you tell me-" he said, in hi:
most reassuring manner, "on whose
grounds / am trespassing ?"
"On mine, sir" said the young
thing, half rising.
"You are then"
"Kate Rivers. And | suppose
you aro my cousin Francis.
herd you were coming. Mrs. Stan
ton said she would bring yor
over
"Fate did me that kindness first.
said Mr.. Maurice, gravely. But
"Ah. well," she said, quickly, ii
doesn't matter, so long as you art
here. Mrs. Stanton said you would
be SO interested in the old manor
it has SO many of your ancestors
portraits on the walls, as well a:
mine." And she arose, and before
he quite understood it they were
walking on together. "Will yor
come up ?" she said. "How stupid
of me not to have asked for youl
family Are they with you? l.
your wife we'll? Is"
IL haven't any wife, said Mr.
Vincent Maurice.
"No wifel What do you mean
Surely" But here, probably lest
he had lost his wife, and her word:
be recalling painful memories, she
stopped herself and ran after q
flower she espied. There" sht
exclaimed, l knew there must bt
some left stillr' coming back pres
emily with her hands full Of straw
bells. Don't you love them?" she
said. 'They don't know whether
they are flowers or grass, and
they are shy about it. They seem
to me to be full of all the happiness
that there is to be in summer.
II suppose you find great deal
of happiness in summer, them"
"Oh, always! The days are not
half long enough. Are they for
you?"
II don't know. Sometimes, per
haps too long,
"Ah, now, you don't mean TO say
you're like that Mr.. Vincent Mau
rice who is coming to visit Mrs
Stanton"
MAY / ask you what is the mat
ter with Mr.. Vincent Maurice 2"
His name, l guess. Vincent
conquering-and he sighs for more
worlds"
"Blase?n
II hate the word! How can any
body be that in so beautiful a world
as this? How does any one mar
suppose there is nothing more tc
learn or enjoy in all this universe o
beauty, of art, of the secrets of sci
ence?
And presently they were deep ii
a discussion of favorite ideas and
theories, all of which the pretty
creature had evidently thought fol
herself, whether wise or foolish il
her loneliness, for she was too young
to have read or studied much anc
all the time they were talking sh'
was darting off in pursuit of lea
or butterfly, or of the greyhound
that had just joined them, returning
to his side in a coifiding way tha
Mr.. Vincent Maurice found indie
scribably agreeable, with a swee
bright innocence that he had not me
before-and all the time so beautiful
Here they sat down on big rock
here they went leisurely strolling VI
the path, and it was all of an hou
before they reached the door of tn,
manor. "Now," she said, Il vii
introduce you to your aunts ant
uncles and grandfathers, the prett.
Priscilla in her jonquil blossom
brocade, the staid old Mrs Marga