The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-28

| SuOulu ul5hhC mCotius L luclO ufio
been no regular quarrel between you, no
lifting or jealousy, or anything of that kind !;
it was a simple mutual dissent from certain
views entertained for you by older people
| who ought to have known better. Beside, it
| all happened four months ago, and the en-
| tire scheme has been dropped. Were you,
would not only go to Lady Leigh's ball,
| but would dance with Pauline, just to
show frendliness and disposition to put
| thi gs back on the old footing"
This discussion endedeas Jacques wished.
| Hugh promised not to absent himself from
the bali in question and he kept his word.
| 1t was one of the first balls of the season and
was we'll attended. Pauline seemed to be
| great success and danced unweariedly. But
| shortly after supper as Hugh, having handed
his last partner to her seat, stood idle mo-
ment by the doorway, his surprise was great
on being lightly tapped on the arm by Pau
| lines fan and hearing her say, as though
echoing her brothers. advice,
when are you going to ask me to dance,
cousin Hugh? have just this waltz free if
YOU like" Then in lower tones, "Do not
seem 10 avoid me; there is no need for us to
be strangers to each other on account OF
what has occurred. People will notice it,
mamma says"
What could Hugh do? Impossible to re-
| fuse; and beside, whether he danced with
| lcr now OF uOb IadbICICu uOIuihS bhOii VII
| gagement had been formally nullifed, and
no attentions he might pay her could be mis-
interpreted. After all, too, she was hand
some girl, and supportable enough asa mere
| cousin. a cousin may be tolerated and
| even danced with very agreeably, provided
one is not expected to make her ones COM
panion for life. So Hugh resolved to be
pleasant. Perhaps, indeed, poor girl, he
owed her some amends for his part in the
s.; - 60, Ataf. of a
| they stood now in no false light together,
| and, therefore, there was no reason for OBJ
| serving constrant or reserve in his man, er
| toward her. And so the next minute the
young mans arm was around Paulines
waist, and the pair were whirling together
amicably down the room.
They passed at length by conservatory,
and Hugh found his partner seat beneath
tall tree fern.
''What splendid Walter you areF, ne
| said graciouslv. "Did they teach you that
| in Paris?"
She answered pleasantly, with manner
| so unaffected and a smile SO bright, that
Hugh recalled with wonderment the stiff
prmness which had characterized her every
gesture and word when last they met. How,
he asked himself, could four short months
have brought about soistriking difference?
| Their talk flowed gayly on, for Hugh
| Ilell6Q dllu WdItHCn ulidti tAO iiihoShSN Va
| his companions gracious manner, until
| Pauline, being in request for another dance
| dismissed her cousin with parting ultima
| ton that she hoped 10 meet him the follow
| ing evening at the house of mutual friend
1--WE shall be there early" she said with
an ingenious air. eff yon like to come by
| 10 o'clock l can give you the first quadrille."
| Hugh went home beN ildered, and entering
his room in the gray of the morning twi-
| light, threw himself into an easy chair and
m+dit ted till sunrise.
One circumstance only began little by little
todisturb the peaceful eqLanimity of Hngh's
| existence. There was certain Colonel
| Spiers Gordon, a tall, handsome officer of
| the Hussars, with whom Pauline danced
| much, who rode oftea beside her in the
park, and whose presence at Nine. Les
| trange's afternoon tea was not infrequent
| 1t was. Hugh admitted to himself, supreme
| lv ridiculous to feel annoyed by such paltry
| incidents as these; for the Colonel was
mrn of the best reputation personally, and
his pedigree and fortune were all that May
| fair could desire. Hugh examined his mind
deeply on the subject, and found there moth
ing to account for the incipient mistrust
and discomfort which this acquaintance
caused him. Pauline was his cousin GER
tainly, but in the third degree only, and his
| interest in her welfare was comparatively
rGIuOLO, dlQ VI iHClCiy iliOuQiy NhoidSeS
Doubtless his uneasiness arose from the in
congruity presented to his mind by the idea
of a marriage possibly taking place between
SO Young girl and the Colonel; for the lat
| ter must certainly have attained his 10th
| year, while she was not yet 10. Hugh had
| sufficient regard for his cousin to feel some
| soicitude for her happiness as wife, and
| to wish for her husband at least more suit
able in age than this gallant Hussar. Young
r or a
iny thus satisfactorily solved the secret of
his disquietude. 1t had looked at the out
set so suspiciously like latent flame of
jealousy, that to feel assured of the harm
lessness of its true nature was most CRAFTY
ing. To have been jealous, even in the
smallest degree, would have implied the ex-
| istence of a feeling in regard to Pauline
which it was absolutely and eternally i'm
possible he should ever entertain; and he
was well acquainted with the fact that she,
on her part, held similar immutable views
in respect of himself.
One brilliant May noontide Mademoiselle
Lestrange, entering the breakfast room on
her return from her mornin ride, found
her mother apparently absorbed in medita-
ton over a letter which lay open on table
at her elbow beside cup of untasted choco--
late. When she saw Pauline she started
slightly and refolded her letter; but, OBJ
serving ueT uobuSutCi ctO uPoii ~ tVS SA1S
did so, said lightly:
s.From Col Gordon, dearest
mo bad news, hope?.' asked Pauline,
in the same tone, gathering up the folds OF
her habit, and contemplating the splashes
upon it.
"How could there be any bad news from.
him?" returned her mother, with some sur
prise.
s.Only because see it is long letter;
n; I'll 1av If ie
difficult TO conceive what he can possibly
| have to write about"
SIS it?'' said Nine. Lestrange. with pecu-
liar emphasis. ''Can you not imagine,
Pauline, that there may be some things
man would rather write than say?',
"If be says it in writiog, don't see
much difference" answered the girl with
droll air. But what is it he says-or
writes"
With smile Nine. Lestrange put the let
ter into her daughters hand.
Pauline read it hastily, the rosy color
gathering brightly over her face and throat;
then, turning again to her mother, she said
| In a low, tremulous tone:
$50 he wants me to be Nine. Spiers Cor
DOM
'sThey call it Mrs in this country" re-
piled her mother correctively, and with an
expression of playfulness.
wen, uldtuIud, Will yOo PiS"oS o'oJ AtCs
mop echoed Nine. Lestrange, asto :
ished. "Surely, my dearest, you don't
mean to refuse such an offer as this?''
''Why should accept it?" returned Pau
line. 81 do not care for him as ought to
care for husband, and it would not be
right to say Yes"
7sYou plunge me in despair, Pauline;
this is the second most excellent chance you
have had within four months. and you de-
cline both Internationally. Tell me, my
child, is there any motive for this behavior
on your part? Do you-can you be think
ing of anybody else?"
As she spoke, Madame, Lestrange rose
and took her daughters hand caressingly in
her own. But there was no emotion in
Pauline's gay rejoinder:
"Dear mamma, of course not. I don't
wan, to marry Col. Gordon, that's all. Is
it so very inexplicable?'
"And you would not marry Hugh either;
such charming, intelligent young man,
too, and exactly suited TO you in every way.
Est-elle difficile, cette chere Pauline?"
Pauline turned abruptly away, and seated
herself by the window.
II Wish Hughues had always been what he
is now," she exclaimed almost fiercely.
''Que dis-tu lap cried her mother doubt