Litchfield enquirer., 1881-07-21
CHAPTER II.

nannels for hls ordinary clothes-light gray trousers and a ceat of gray velveteen. He certainly, as he sauntered down the Hlgh- street at Blankhampton. merited the homage which was paid to his personal appearance when his brother officers spoke of him as the handsomest man in the service The only fault in his face was it's extreme coldness cold classic features cold blonde hair, ire proachahly parted down the middle, and brushed away behind his ears without a hair being out of place; cold hazel eyes, large and beautiful in themselves; and cold smile, like the f1lckering of feeble Winter sun over snow tipped mountains An utterly cold manner, too-which to women seemed irresist. ible-and perhaps the most cutting caustic wit that had ever made itself felt in the mess room of the Blankhampton Barracks. Swag- gering leisurely down the High-street, he met with Dickson, who, as a matter of course. stopped.
 "Where have you been?'
 "Tve been for pull The rivers awfully jolly to-day, and--by the bye, Dickson plunging at once into the subject uppermost in his thoughts-''can you tell me who that girl IS Sinclair goes about wlth-tall girl with golden hair?" .-N
 'I don't know her name. I believe sin- clairs going to marry her."
 1
 ''l really don't know. She's a very hand. some girl" remarked Dickson carelessly. ''Uncommonly," Mantagu replied, with what, for him, was great warmth. 'sAnd SO Sinclair's serieus2"
 70, quite sol" adding with laugh, s'has she taken you rather? No use; she's awfully in love with Sinclair"
 ''Pooh, I'll cut him out in a week." cried Montagu, confidently.
 '1 don't believe she'll look at you"
 Wont snef We'll, you'll see;" and then the two men parted and went their respective ways, neither of them in the least aware that the subject of their conversation was just within the door of the shop behind them and had heard their whole conversation. with proud scorn filing her violet eyes and utter contempt on her imperious mouth.
 Bryan Montagu did not find the task he had set himself altogether easy to accomplish, for he could not succeed in making a start. In the first place, he did not know who she was. nor where she lived; and since he never met her anywhere, he could not obtain an intro duction. However, at last he happened to meet her with Sinclair in a shop, and asked boldly to be introduced.
 Miss St. George was very gracious to him. She smiled so enchantingly that Jack straight way went of into towering rage and scold- ed her all the way home, at which she laugh ed more heartily than he had ever heard her laugh in his life. To add to his wrath, Mon. tagu informed him during dinner that evening that Miss St. George was really very decent. looking land l believe passed you on the river one day last week, he ended.
 Yes, and you turned and stared at her as if she'd been some little milliner-girl," Jack returned sulkiy
 .s'Tthn mona nf hooufy v,ou 1oor oI,o laughed Montagu lightly. 'sNow I assure you I'm so accustomed to be ogled that l should feel quite uncomfortable with people who didn't admire ne. ' 7.f'c
 Miss St. George didn't admire. you, at all events, ' retorted Jack, with short laugh, flor she said she never saw such screw in her life'"
 At which Bryan Montagu, who was really very pretty oar, though, perhaps, with a slight tendency to ''screw' was for once, taken aback, and registered an inward VOW that before many days were over he would pay Miss St George out with interest for that unflattering remark. And pay her out, how AS he had made many another girl suffer be- fore-broken- hearted for the cold hazel eyes which for her had been wont to have no cold ness in their clear depths; for the straight featured classic face which had made itself her heaven; for the sound of the smooth per suasive voice which would fall upon her ears never more, or, if pc chance it did 80, fraught only with slight indifference more hard to- bear than silence. That was the plan Mr. Bryan Montagu marked out as Miss St. George's punishment.
 Accordingly the following afternoon, in- stead of betaking himself to the club, or his more favorite river. he turned in the direction of the village in which Mrs. St. Georges lit- tie house was, and, as luck would have it, just as he passed the Cotherstone's house he saw Miss St. George emerge from the gate of her cottage, and turn down the lane leading to the river. He followed instantly, and reached her just as she was about to pass through the little gate which opened into the River Fields
 Mir. Montagu lifted his hat with his most fascinating smile. Miss St. George blushed becomingY, and half dropped her splendid eyes Mr. Mentagu thought he had never be- fore beheld so lovely face Miss St. George she looked as if she found her self in Arcadia. s.if5t 'sYDu are going for a walk ?" he asked
 Well no. lam going to sit by the edge of the river aud read, 7 she replied
 May come with you and talk instead ?" he asked, imploringly. 4l4
 ''Oh yes, if you like," she replied calmly.
 
 was safely out of the road. being on duty that day. 6
 Any one who could have heard their con versation that afternoon must have laughed, even if ii had been Jack Sinclair himself; they were so awfully polite, to begin with. Each seemed to be trying how fascinating he or she could be. Each seemed 80 desperately anxious to make the other pleased. They got along like house on fire, which is, as every one knows, tolerably rapid rate. In fact, they got on so we'll that Mir. Montagu had al. ready advanced as. far as personal compli- ments, ere Miss St. George found out she real ly must be going home, with all emphasis on the "must, by which she evidently intended to convey to him the fact that only stern ne-s cessity compelled her to move at all. But they got still further before they reached the gate of Mrs St. Georges cottage, for, after a lttle circumlocution, she promised to meet him at the same time and place the following afternoon. All the same, she raised but very little objection before she consented, and Mr..