Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-11
He did not even look interested. sb,

, He did not even look interested. 81
kept on, excitedly:
"You should see aunt Louise 81
has utterly forgotten Thorndyke, and
in state of such complete bliss, that
she should be told that her translatio
chariot was awaiting her at the doc
she would not have the slightest desil
to occupy it.''
He smiled dismal. cynical smile.
why, Neil. you don't seem to care
bit !" she said, wonderlngly.
He did not contradict her.
II won't trouble you with any moi
news, ,"-shortly, then added: "Yo
meadow after the cattle. WHY didn
you put the bars up? 1 had half a min
to tell on you."
"Why didn't you ?"-indifferently
Because you were such q bear thi
morning, I thought if 1 did it would nc
be safe to meet yOu." Then, with he
abrupt way of changing a subject. sh
asked. "What kept you away all day
Where did you get your dinner Pr
| He had his choice between the tw
questions he preferred the latter.
II haven't had any,"
"Poor fellow, you are hungry an,
tired, no wonder you are cross. II yol
will let me down will stop blocking
your way"
But he made no effort to let her pass
only stood looking up at her with hi
weary, unhappy face. Suddenly sh,
put one hand on his shoulder, whilst Will
the other she held the lamp directly t,
his face. and looked at him curiously,
"Neil, for the last few months, hav,
hardly known you. We used to be 6
sort of Pylades and Orestes, or a David
and Jonathan now you never say q
friendly word"
He was restless under the scrutiny
there was sudden flush of color in his
dark cheeks, but with an effort he gain.
ed his self-contrOl and retorted:
"Better be nettle in the side of your
friend than his echo"
II wish you would stop quoting EN-
erson you know / detest him ]" she
began in vexed tone. then, her mood
changing, added, coaxingly: "Thorns
may do for lovers, but not for friends.
Come, Neil. let's be good!'
He stopped suddenly. and kissed the
hand upon his shoulder.
why, NeilW she exclaimed, and
blushed crimson. He stepped abruptly
aside to let her pass. She did 30. He
went up to his room without another
word, and she out to the dining.rOOm
with very hot cheeks, thinking curious
ly:
"What an odd thing for him to do; he
is such an Iceberg!"
A little later the young ladies were
entertaining the party from the hotel
on the large piazza. Neil had come
down to dinner late, and Mrs. Laurence,
with her usual consideration for his
comfort, had gone out to wait on him,
and impart the news at the same time.
She entered into all the details, and end
ed the interesting recital with very
becoming show of emotion by shedding
few tears in anticipation of the lonely
times they would have when their dear
girls were all married and gone.
"AllW
He started, and his voice sounded
harsh.
"Has Cora accepted Mr. Thorndyke ?''
"Mr. Neil, Cora is source of great
anxiety to me. She is so unlike her
amiable sisters. She treated that young
man so atrociously, that he left for the
city at once. and she talked most disre-
spectfully to me, vowing If ever said
marry to her again she would shock the
whole family by advertising for situa
ton as governess and leave home for.
ever. Neil, I wish you would use your
influence to make her better girl.
There was an odd bit of smile in his
eyes, q smile that had plan in it; and
he amazed and delighted his stepmothel
by readily consenting to do his best.
A short time after. Mrs. Laurence
went down to the hotel to call On the
older members of the party, who had
not come to the farmhouse, and Neil
joined the young people on the moonlit
piazza.
The two newly affianced couples were
strolling in the garden.
Cora was talking, in her merry, reck.
less way, to two gentleman, quite en-
chanting them by her originality and
freshness, whilst the two young ladies
whose escorts they were, stood hopeless.
ly in the background.
Neil was well acquainted with them
all and in few minutes Cora was ac-
tually mute with amazement to see him
positively exerting himself to entertain
"those stupid Merton girls" She had
been accustomed to his sole attention.
Now he did not seem to see her; and
with sense of pique utterly new to her
she lent herself to the tiresome plati
tudes of the two fops.
+
That evening was a sample of every
day and every evening for the mex
month. Cora, by that time, had fully
succeeded in bewitching Messrs. Holme.
and Norton, whilst the Merton girls fel
convinced that either one or the Othel
of them would crown the season by thu
victory of gaining this hitherto unat-
tainabIe prize-Neil Laurence.
The days were devoted to fishing
boating. and picnics; and the evenings
to moonlight rides and dances at thu
hotel.
In that month Neil and Cora hat
scarcely exchanged a civil word. A
morbid restlessness had taken posses
sion Of the usually happy girl. Sh'
seemed to herself sometimes TO be mad,
of eyes, for Neil could not make NOV,
that she did not see it, DO matter how
much attention she was giving to 9th
ers.
She said to herself a dozen times
day, He is never any other than cross
to me. hate him." and as many
times, seeming to feel that kiss on he
hand, blushed crimson.
At length day came when MI
Holmes, without word of explanation
bade his party an unceremonious good
bye, and started for the city. Every
one knew aOhy, intuitively.
He was considered very eligible, ant
Mrs. Laurence was greatly excited
though she did not dare to speak of it t,
her fractions niece; SO begged Neil t.
investigate the matter for her. He &C
quiesced instantly, with that odd smil
again.
He found Cora on the piazza alone
and, taking a chair beside her, reste,
his elbow on his knee and his chin OF
his hand, so as quite to face her.
$50 you have refused poor Holmes.
1t was coolly asserted, and she did no
deny it,
"Yet, SO far as your knowledge ex
tends, he was no fair ones cast off," h
kept on, tormentingly.
| "What is it to you whom I reject p
she retorted, angrily, though there wa
just slight mistiness in her brillian
eyes.
He smiled, but she, looking steadil,
beyond him, did not see it.
"Are you actually going to be an oil,
maid ?" he asked, quizzically.
She glanced at him, blushed, bit he
lips, and said, defiahtly
Perhaps may soon have anothe