The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-02

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through the little town, ard Fon-
taine was very indignant at fate. "If
only he had been with Miss limo.
gene, Managing wild cattle was
only trifie TO him. He would
rather have enjoyed such an encoun-
ter than otherwise. He had half a
dozen plans always ready for such
emergencies" etc. And really he
did look SO gallant and SO handsome
that most girls would have been
willing to face herd of wild buffa-
loes under his protection.
Duval felt Fontaine's bravado a
personal slight, but he did not wish
Imogene the subject of a quarrel,
and after rather unsatisfactory visit
the two men went home together. =.
However, next morning Captain
Fontaine had the most graceful lit
tie note from Miss Imogene, asking
him to bring his guitar and assist
her in entertaining few guests that
evening. Duval had also one, equal
" fiattering; for it touchingly refer
red to their mutual danger and es-
cape, and hoped he would come
prepared TO finish the exquisite poem
which had been so terribly inter-
rupted.
The evening was remarkable one
in many respects. Scarcely ever
had the ex-Governor's mansion
been so profusely decorated and so
brilliantly illuminated, and to the
magnificent feast prepared all the
I principal magnates of the neighbor
hood had been invited.
Imogene had never looked so be-
wilderingly unreal and poetic. Her
oval face, with its creamy color and
soft dark eyes, was crowned with
great waves of black hair and snowy
flowers, and her long drapery of
some soft silk tissue seemed to SHIN
| mer and glance like fairy robe, as
with winning smiles and gracious,
graceful manners she fitted To and
fro among The guests.
John Winthrop was among them.
He did not dance, and he did not
sing, and he smiled queerlv at the
very idea of his reciting Loetry;
consequently neither Duval nor
Fontain felt uneasy about his infu-
ence. Indeed, he seemed only to be
able to converse on two subjects
property and politics.
Still, he had one great advantage
he staid in the same house with
Imogene, and could see her in many
favorable moments forbidden to less
happy mortals. But Duval, who
watched him closely, was soon con-
vinced he was Indifferent to this i'm
mense favor; for Duval had found
opportunities of putting very clever
leading questions to Mr.. Winthrop,
and that gentleman had answered
them with the greatest candor.
Indeed, he was so much more po-
lite and sympathetic than he expect
ed that Duval, who really longed for
a confdant, poured out his whole
soul to him, and asked John cam
didly what was his opinion about
his own and Fontaine's chances.
Did he really think that Fontaine
would win Imogene.
John said he knew very little of
women, but he thought Fontaine |
would not win Miss Imogene.
II is comfort to have Il confdant, |
and Duval frightened so much un-
der the process OF pouring out his
hopes TO John that Fontaine MOTTO
ed the change, and began to fear that
his rival had comfort and encour-
agement of which he did not know.
He was pondering this question
very gloomily one night when he
met John Winthrop. How it hap
pened he never could tell, but in
five minutes the two men were talk
ing of Imogene, and Fontaine had
told John all his hopes and fears
with regard to her. John listened
with interest, and even encouraged
the conversation. though he tried to
moderate Fontaine's complaints of
Duval.
For" said he, sit is only right
to tell YOU that / am also Duvals
confdant. | must say the affair is
full of interest to me, and | can
partly understand how it fills and
colors all the hours of your two
lives. For me, things are different.
If | should fall in love, | could not
afford TO lose either an hours time
or an hours sleep about any wo-
man."
In this way matters went on Tor
some weeks. John was the known
confident of both men. a post not
half as difficult as it appears at first
sight. For Fontaine often wanted
to say something about Duval he
did not care TO say to Duval's face.
He therefore made the remark to
John, hoping that he would be his
and it is needless to
say that Duval followed the same
plan.
John smiled. and smoked, and
listened, and kept very quiet-a
thing easy enough to do, for both
lovers only cared to hear themselves
That they kept up so
Iong an appearance of friendship
was entirely due to Johns wise re-
.icence, and his charitable rendering
Of such scraps of conversation as he
elt obliged to report.
But smoldering fire cannot al
ways be controlled, and one night, /.
when Imogene had been very /.
naughty and cross to both Duval
md Fontaine, they unfortunately
net on the piazza of their hotel.
Duval was despondent and postrate,
Fontaine angry and scornful, and .
Duval's air uncoasciously irritated
lim.
How ill-tempered Miss Imogene )
vas tonight" he said, fretfullv,
iinging his half smoked cigar into
he street.
"Miss Iomogene is never ill-tem- :
,ered," answered Duval, warmly. !
L will not allow you to say such a /,
hing" /.
"You won't allow me? Under =