The Osceola times., 1881-10-22

he ielt as she lay at last helplessly in his
arms-a saved, thankful nymph, so
drenched and seemingly frightened that
enc much less gallant and susceptible
than he must, perforce, have said TO her
something very fattering and agreea-
bic.
That episode was the beginning Of a
charming little romance.
If my mishap be known shall only
be ridiculed," declared pretty Claudia,
automatically. whereas she had pur-
posely caused the accident. ~ have al
ways been awkward with my oars
There is q standing prediction, l believe,
that should be capsited sometime. ]
must invent some neat fiction 10 account
for these wet founees and this poor
spoiled hat"
She was turning slowly away, and her
manner would seem 10 express that her
gratitude was too great TO be uttered in
the ordinary phraseology considered
conventional ON such an occasion.
The gentleman imagined that he un-
derst0od that stimulation OF graceful
lmidly. He thought her the hand
somest, the most ingenious, and the
most charming young lady whom he
had ever met.
"Shall ! never see you again?' he
dueuCd, almost beseechingly.
Perhaps YOU may,' she returned,
with a coquetlsh smile. 81 row or ride
or walk every morning in this delightful
place. | am absurdly fond of the bride
path along the river bank, and of the
cool promenade among the willows"
"And so am ;" he asserted, quickly
and respectfully. 81 shall see you often;
but perhaps you will not think proper
TO recognize me, il We should meet?" he
supplemented, uneasily.
With seeming bashfulness she averted
her bright face and brilliant eyes; but,
as she vanished among the golden green
willows, she murmured "Au revoirw in
encouraging accent.
Claudia went slowly homeward. Her
mood was Thoughtful and speculative.
ale Is certainly interested, and per-
haps Infatuated she mused, with great
satisfaction. 81 shall meet him often,
aud long before we shall be formally
introduced / shall be the beirothed wife
of my titled millionaire, whom, most
fortunately for poor, ambitious, deceit
fnl me, ! already adore"
With all her unwomanly faults,
Claudia keenly cOmprehended that
marriage without reciprocal love Is only
an uuholy sham.
The Irritation under the willews pros
gresscd as she had predicted, and a.
iavotably as she could desire.
81 shall allow you to tell me nothing
about yourself at all. Practical details
would spoil all the romance of our pleas
ant summer dream" asseyerated Claudia
one morning. she spoke with a
semblance of that blind and absolute
faith that, she well knew, pleases and
hatters and deceives even the shrewdest
of lovers. And moreover, she presumed
herself 90 about become a modern Lady
| Burleigh, although one might doubt il
she would ever be very conscientiously
perplexed
with the burden OF an honor
Unto which she was not born"
But our romance is no summer
dream, darling" protested Hubert
Saunders. earnestly. "Yeu are TO be my
wife, You know, and before We are
married should like you TO thoroughly
understand my social and Rnancinl
rank"
81 will listen TO no prosy explana-
tons" she presisted, pressing her pretty
| hands oyer her ears. 81 love YOU and
will be dutiful wife, trying always to
make YOU happy and cur home pleasant.
Is not that sufficient"
Claudia spoke with sincerity. For love
was producing one of those beautiful
and mysterious psychological phenome-
ma that occa sionally redeem the most
! faulty souls.
as not that sufficient, llubelt2" she
| item'ed with a smile that the man who
/ loved her thought superlatively ant
] less.
Certainly it ought to be So" he al
lowed, half doubtfully, and unpleasant
! lv conscious of an indeliuable sense oil
lis utislaction. "But still think it best
aud wisest for any lady TO know thor
ouahly the prosy aud practical part Of
/ life Of the man to whose keeping she
gonsigns her freedom aud her happl-
ness
But the willlul girl would not listen.
ln her vain egori,m she imagined that
she already knew as much, or more tlan
he could possibly tell her.
That night they met a, Il garden party
"a rather recherche affair with an after
noon of croquct and tennis and an even
ing of dancing and blnqueling under Il
round, opaline moon, among magnificent
old trees OF oak and elm.
In the midst of the festlyity. while
/ Claudia was for n moment alone in n
cool, arhoreous nook, iantastcally IL
lumincd hy the pale red light of a eor.
geous paper lantern swinging from An
arch Of Tick ivy, she saw Agnes Rothsay
approaching.
Miss Rothsay wore a simple and eX-
quisite costume of darkest. richest violet
ak, with sprays OF snowy, odorous eye
lantine in her hair and corsage. She
looked very happy As she stopped be-
side her pretty cousin.
"Claudie, dear, will You congratulat
me?' she whispered bashlnlly. II am
betrothed really ailianced to the baro
Ret. One day while You were rowing
after lilies. the pastors wife brought my
Jack for formal call. He was foolish
enough TO honor me with his admiration,
aud be sent all those lovely flowers you
wondered about so much. But ] wss
never quite sure he loved me until go
day. But only u little while ago he met
me down there among the willows and
wild roses, and he told me how very
dear had become to him, and he kissed
me, Claudio and he kissed this ring be.
fore he put 1t on my finger" She flung
aside bit ot delicate lace drapery and
presented graceful, hand upon which
gliitered a magnificent ring of diamonds
aud gold. II am very happy, cousin
dear, for know that my Jack is one OF
the uohest Of all men. | should revere
INN Just the same, if he were a bri"b-
layer instead of being a blronet."
"You, Jack the baronet What do yon
! u,aap Auy.spV valpal Elaulfa