The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-10


midnight he had accepted friends invitation
to leave Shireton Manor on the morrow for
congenial joys elsewhere.
"Certainly," said this recalcitrant young
man, as he extinguished his candle, II have
aci ed wisely in getting out of this business. |
should have been miserable for life II had
given in. What monstrous thing 1t is In
this century for mans relatives to take on
themselves the disposal of his liberty in such
an outrageous way as this Pauline 10 the
last girl in the world to suit me, with her prim
affectation of coyness and her ridiculous air
air of petite RENE / believe she has not an
idea in her mind-these French-bred young
women never have--and she doesn't know how
to be natural and sociable and sympathetic.
Whenever my time does come to turn Bene-
dick, my wife shall be just as unlike mademoi-
sele ma cousine as possible"
So there was an end of this most excellent
fch, to the infinite disgust, vexation and
dismay of the intriguing parties. Hugh com
municated to his grandfather in respectful
terms, but with firm expressions, his absolute
repugnance to the proposed alliance, and his
unalterable resolution TO undergo the worst
that might happen rather than submit to it..
And Pauline declared with immense fervor
that rather than perform her share in the con-
tract she would be cut to pieces or buried
alive. In the face of such obstacles no more
could be done, and after sundry futile re-
proaches and laments the family scheme was
uOduuOucu. I1uSu Was duuiitltu W NC d lfcc
man, and Madame Lestrange began to turn
her thoughts to the pursuit of some other
eligible part. et.
But the cousins, however widely separated
from matrimonial point of view, were cous-
ms still, and the unavoidable failure of mutu-
ally cherished hopes could not be permitted to
effect an estrangement between the two
branches of The family. Early in the spring
Pauline andher mother reappeared in London,
and thither also came her only brother Jacques,
but recently emancipated from the bonds of
Alma Mater. Now Jacques was the chosen
particular friend of his cousin Hugh, aud
although, being the younger man, he had en-
tered the University later, they had during
more than year been fellow udents at the
same Hall, and inseparable allies in all the
pursuits and interests of college life. There
fore, Immediately on his arrival in town,
Jacques sought out his cousin and within
half an hour OF their meeting, the Younger
Lestrange was in possession of the details of
the family Vaccinations and the fiasco conse-
quent thereupon.
. heard something about the affair from
home" said Jacques, but in such vague way
that could make nothing of it. However,
we need not trouble ourselves about the thing
now, and suppose you won't let it make any
diterence to You. Are you going to Lady
Leigh's on Thursday?'
Upon my word" answered Hugh, medita-
lively, Il don't know. was going, but hear
Pauline and your mother will be there, and
that seems awkward, doesn't iti''
my good fellow, you don't mean to saw YOU
are going to cut us on account of this unto
ward AFFAIR." You will have everybody gos-
siping about the thing IL YOU behave SO
ridicuiously, and you may injure Pauline's
chances in way you don't think Of Why
should people know there has been anything
contemplated between yous All sorts of tales
VIII be told, hundred times worse every one
OF them, than the truth; and nobody need
guess ANYTHING at all if only you conduct
yourself nationally and in a natural manner
And really cannot see why you should dis
like meeting Pauline. There has been no
regular quarrel between you, no jilting or
jealousy or anything of that kind: it was a
simple mutual dissent from certain views
entertained for. you byolder people who ought
to have been wiser. Besides it all happened
four months ago, and he entire scheme has
been dropped. Were / you, would not only
go to Lady Leigh's ball, but l would dance
with Pauline, just to show friendliness and a
disposition to put things back on the old
footing"
This discussion ended as Jacques wished.
Hugh promised not to absent himself from the
ball inquestion, and he kept to his word It
was one of the first balls Of the season, and
was well attended. Pauline seemed to be a
great success, and danced unweariedly. But
shortly after supper, as Hugh, having handed
his last partner to her seat, stood idle a
moment by doorway, his surprise was great
at being lightly tapped on the arm by Pauline's
fan, and hearing her say, as though echoing
her brothers advice:
cousin Hughes! l have just this waltz free ii
you like.n Then in lower tones: ''Do not
seem to avoid me; there is no need for us to
be strangers to each other ON account of what
has occurred. People will notice it. mamma
says"
What could Hugh dol Impossible to re-
fuse, and besides, whether he danced with her
now or not mattered nothing; their engage
ment had been formally nullifed, and no at
tentions he might pay her could be misinter-
preted. After all, too, she was handsome
girl, and supper able enough as mere cousin
A cousin may be tolerated and even danced
with very agreeably, provided one is not ex-
pected to make her ones companion for life.
So Hugh resolved to be pleasant. Perhaps,
indeed, poor girl, he owed her some amends
for his part in the recent failure of the family
plot; at any rate, they stood now in no false
light together, and there was therefore no
reason for observing cOnstraint or reserve in
his manner toward her. And so the next
minute the young mans arm was round Pau
lines waist, and the pair were whirling to-
gether amicably down the room:
~They paused at length by conservatory.
and Hugh found his partner seat beneath a
tall tree fern.
WHdL q bpituulI WdlbZer you are ~ ne said
graciously. :" Did they teach yen that in
Parisl' :,
She answered pleasantly, with manner so
unaffected, and smile so bright, that Hugh
recalled with wonderment the stiff primness
which had characterized her every gesture
and word when they last met. How, he asked
himself, could four short months have brought
about so striking differences
Their talk flowed gaily on, for Hugh melted
and warmed under the influence of his COM
panion's gracious manner; until Pauline,
being In request n another dance, dismissed
her cousin with a parting intimation that she
hoped to NEE him the following evening at the
house of mutual friend.
1--WE shall be. there early" said She with an
ingenious air. ''If you like to come by ten
o'clock | can give you the first quadrille.''
Hugh went home bewildered; and entering
his room in the gray morning twilight, threw
himself into an easy chair and meditated there
till sunrise.
What This girl, so mindless, SO wordless.
so prudsh, SO unsympathetic, whom mis-
taken devotion to the interests OF kinship
would have forced upon him as a wife, had sud
denly changed her whole nature, and became
genial, frank, intelligent, charmingi Hugh
could make nothing OF the mystery. It did
not occur to him that he, too, must have ap-
peared to Pauline that night under new and
very different aspect from that presented by
the gruf and unamiable young man who had
been offered her for husband. Let that have
been as it may, however, 1t is not on record
that Mademoiselle Lestrange made any obser-
walton OF this latter kind TO her mother.
Lady Leigh's ball was but the first Of a