Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-30
A Rash Engagement.

you.'
9tsMy dear aunt. said Gerard Fay,
taking her hand and looking in her
sparkling face with intense gravity,
'sdo nothing of the sort. protest
against it. You have inveigled me
to your country seat with perfumed
notes and honeyed batteries. yield;
for who but a madman could struggle
against destiny in such shape? But
encroach no further. / consent to be
ornamental-to adorn our barouche,
to accompany you to church and to
stare down the loungers at the door
but / utterly and entirely refuse to be
useful / will not fan plethoric
dowagers I will not waltz with
boarding school misses, nor sing du-
cts, nor bring shawls, nor clasp
1braceicts. nar-hy Joye, who's thai p
Mrs L'Aymar smiled mischiev-
ously.
''Nellie Parker, the clergyman's
daughter. Shall I introduce you?'
s'By no means! It is lovely
high-bred face, though-clear cut as
a cameo, and those soft, unfathoma-
BILE eyes! Do you remember Domi-
ME Cheno's Sybil?''
| "Welcome to Maplewood," said
gay voice behind him.
"Why did you not tell me Kate r.
win was here?" he said in a vexed
undertone to his aunt, but Mrs.
L'Aymar had glided away, and there
was nothing for it but to seat himself
resignedly by the lady-a dashing
brunette, becomingly arrayed in mus
lin dress and garden hat, who was
watching Mr.. Fay with a somewhat
amused smile.
"Again / say, welcome to Maple
wood" she repeated. sit was vast
ly kind of Mrs. L'Aymar to send for
you. The country is such bore,
and perhaps you can amuse me; you
did not use to be quite SO stupid as
the rest in town"
"Cool, that thought Gerard.
Then aloud: ''I should be most hap
| py to be amusing to Miss Irwin had l
not entered a most solemn protest
against anything of the sort. l came
here to be entertained. So, to COM
mence, who is here p
"Why do you ask, since the villa
is the inevitable rechauffee of the
town house? Mrs. Poplin is here
with Desdemona, Araminta and
Amanda.
"You should see how they take to
innocence, white muslin and new
laid eggs. Desdemona, who was 8
young lady when l was in short
clothes, sits on a low stool and wears
baby waists, and Amanda has got 8
kitten and puts up her hair in cur
papers regularly. Then there's Ads
Golback, the blue, and Gotham, who
waltzes SO divinely; and that fasci
mating little Mrs. Temple Stowe, anC
Captain Gresham, whom everybody
is crazy about, and your humble ser
want. That's all, l believe"
, "Who is that young lady?" asked
Gerard, pointing to Miss Parker, wht
still sat at the window.
II really don't know" coldly an
swered Miss Irwin; but she look
| stupid enough, however, to be tn
daughter of some country magnat
whom your polite aunt conceives i
her duty to propitiate. There's tn
dressing bell"
"Thank heaven! !" calculated Ge
rard, aloud, as Miss Irwin swept from
t the room. ''Now that the woman
kind are safe for at least an hour,
e may get nap. What bore thi
gallantry is, to be sure! Why coul
:. I not have said to that consummat
coquette, I'm confoundedly sleepy
If you'll permit me, I'll go an
4 dream of your eyes,"
Q All the while he was leisurely ex
e tending himself ON light settee tina
he had drawn up before one of tn
;, deep bay windows, every now an
;. then making sally at an impert
nent mosquito, who hummed an
buzzed in his ear with irritating pei
, sistency.
e Through the waving curtains b
al could dimly see the level, slopin
l. lawn, the trees motionless in the moo
heat, the COWS standing in the pom
e beneath the shade the low plash Q
r, the water, the shrill song of the grass
= hoppers grew fainter and fainter o
= his ear, his eyes closed-"buzz
"hum'- there was that mosquit
5 again
is "Confound the rascal! !" he e1
)" claimed, jumping up in rage, g
he hasn't bitten my nose He is
!" greater torment than a woman, an
that So
= He stopped short in dismay, fol
a from the recess of the window issue
c. a peal of clear, ringing laughter, an
i'd before him stood the young lady VIII
he had already attracted his attention.
''Don't be alarmed, sir she sale
= still laughing. s'It is only the la'
- of the swomankind' whom you acc
m dentally made prisoner, and WI
lie promises not to betray all the treaso
I'd you have uttered against her sex
ne you will permit her to retire.
EsNot till I have convinced yc
q.