The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-04-22

Stella turned quickly at the tap OF the
fan. Mammal" she exclaimed, chow
you startle mel" s.e
"My dear child" said Mrs. Eyre
court, "you are constitutionally indo-
lent, and you want startling. Go into
the next room directly; Mr.. Romayne is
looking for you"
Stella drew back step and eyed her
mother in blank surprise. els itpossi-
Bile that you know him2" she asked. ae
"Mr. Romayne doesn't 60 into soci-
city, or we should have met long SINCE"
Mrs. Eyrecourt replied. "He is strik.
ing person, and I noticed him when he
shook hands with you. That was quite
enough for me. I have just introduced
myself to him as your mother. He was
a little stately and stiff, but most
charming when he knew who I was. I
to find you. He was quite
/ think he took me for
your elder sister. Not the least like
each other-are we Lady Loring2 She
takes after her poor, dear father. He
was constitutionally indolent. My
sweet child, rouse yourself. You have
drawn prize in the great lottery at
last. If ever q man was in love Mr..
Romayne is that man. am q physiog-
nomist, Lady Loring, and / see the pas
sions in the face. Oh, Stella, what
vange Abbey. I once drove
that way when I was visiting in the
neighborhood. Superb. And another
fortune (eight thousand year and q
villa at Highgate) since the death of
his aunt. And my daughter may be
mistress Of this, II she only plays her
cards properly. What q compensation,
after all that we suffered through that
monster. Winterfeldl"
" Mammal Pray don't"
"Stella I will not be interrupted
when am speaking 10 you for your
own good. I don't know more pro-
vokipg person, Lady Loring, than my
daughter-on certain occasions. And
yet 1 love her. Iwould go through fire
and water for my beautiful child.
Only last week I was at q wedding, and
I thought Of Stella. The church cram.
med to the doors. A hundred at the
wedding breakfast. The brides lace
there no language can describe it.
Ten bridemaids in blue and silver.
Reminded me Of the ten virgins. Only
the proportion Of foolish ones, this time,
was certainly more than five. However,
they looked we'll. The archbishop
proposed the health of the bride and
bridegroom. So sweetly pathetic.
Some of us cried. thought of my
daughter. Oh, if I could live to see
Stella the central attraction. so ~
speak, Of such o wedding as that
Only would have twelve bridemaids
at least, and beat the blue and silver
with green and gold. Trying to the
complexion, you will say. But there
are artificial improvements. AT least I
am told SO. What house this would
be-a broad hint, isn't it, dear Lady
Loring s-what house for wedding,
with the drawing-room to assemble IN
and the picture-gallery for the break
fast. know the archbishop. My
darling. he shall marry you. Why
don't You go into the next room? All,
that constitutional Incidence. II you
only had my energy, as I used to say to
your poor father. Will You go9 Yes,
dear Lady Loring, should like glass
Of champagne and another Of those de-
licious chicken sandwiches. II you
don't go, Stella, I shall forget every
consideration Of propriety. and. big as
you are, Ishall push you out"
Stella yielded to necessity.
"Keep her quiet IL you cam" she
whispered to Lady Loring, in the mo
ment Of silence that followed. Even
Mrs. Eyrecourt was not able TO talh
while che was drinking champagne.
In the next room Stella found Ro
mayne. BE looked careworn and irri
table, but frightened directly when she
approached him.
my mother has been speaking tc
you," she said. at am afraid-"
He stopped her there.
"She Is your mother" he interposed
kindly. "Don't think that ! am IN
grateful enough to forget that"
She took his arm. and looked at hin
with all her heart in her eyes.
"Come into quieter room," sh'
whispered. Romayne led her away
Neither Of them noticed Penrose IS the,
left the room. He had not movet
since s.slls bad m9ksSRqn sa hi hiiBsorbeaa ba-E; Il
thought-and not in happy thought. a
his face would have plainly bretrayei
10 any one who had cared to look o.
him. His eyes sadly followed the 10
firing figures of Stella and Romayne
The color rose on his haggard face
Like most men who are accustomed tc
live alone he had the habit, when hs
was strongly excited, of speaking Il
himself. "No," no said, as the &C
knowledged lovers disappeared through
the door. ait is an insult to ask me to
do It'll" He turned the other way, es.
capped Lady Lorings notice in the re-
ception- room. and left the house.
Romayne and Stella passed through
the card-room and the chess room,
turned into corridor and entered the
conservatory.
For the first time the place was q
solitude. The air Of q newly-inventsd
dance, family audible through the open
windows OF the ballroom above. had
proved an irresistible temptation,
Those who knew the dance were eager
4 4 "a A n nj n I