The National tribune., 1882-08-05

oHt, anu young IaH biougut up III
English ways, as he has been, may feel more
embarrassed than would a Frenchman under
similar circumstances"
"Awkardness is not charming" returned
Pauline; "and shy man is hardly better
! than rude one. However, ! will give him
another chance tomorrow: but if he is not
nicer ut breakfast and luncheon than he has
| shown himself ut dinner, I win have nothing
more TO do with him. He is not the only
! husband TO be had in the world, | suppose;
and am but eighteen after all, and just as
good-looking as other girls. Good night,
dear mamma" And with parting kiss and
satisfied glance in the mirror, Pauline
passed light-hearted 10 her chamber.
But next day things wore no better an
aspect, and MademOiselIe's second denuncia-
tion Of her intended spouse was unequiv0Gal
| and decisive. Hugh, on bis part, saw reason
to congratulate himself on the course he had
adopted, and when he quilted the smoking
room at midnight he had accepted friends
invitation to leave Shireton Manor on the
| morrow for more congenial joys elsewhere.
Certainly" said this Tecalcitrant young
man, as he extinguished his candle, " have
acted wisely in getting out of this business.
should have been miserable for life if had
given in. What a monstrOuS thing it is in
this century for mans relatives TO take on
themselves the disposal of his liberty in such
an outrageous way as thisi Pauline is the
last girl i'll the world TO suit me, with her
prim aflcctation Of coyness and her ridiculous
air of Bctite rcine. | believe she has not an
idea in her mind-these FTench-bred young
women never have-and she doesn't know
how to be natural and sociable and sympa-
thetic. Whenever my time does come to
turn Benedict my wife shall be just as
unlike Mademoiselle ma cOgsiRe as pos
sible"
So there was an end of this most excellent
match, TO the infinite disgust, veXation, and
dismay of the intriguing parties. Hugh
communicated TO his grandfather IN respect
full terHs, but with firm expressions, his alb
solute Tepugnance TO the proposed alliance,
and his unalterabe resolution 10 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 contract she would be cut
in pieces or buried alive. In the face Of such
obstacles no more could be done, and after
sundry futile reprOaches and laments the
family scheme was abandoned. Hugh was
admitted to be free man, and Madame
Lestrange began to turn her thoughts TO the
pursuit Of some other eligible pGrti.
But the cousins, however widely separated
from matrimonial point of view, were
cousins still, and the unavoidable failure of
mutualIy-cherished hopes could not be per
mitted to effect an estrangement between
the two branches of the family. Early in
the spring Pauline and her mother reap
peared in London, and thither also came her
brother Jacques, but recently emancipated
from the bonds of Alma Mater. Now
Jacques was the chosen particular friend of
his cousin Hugh, and although, being the
Younger man. he had entered the University
later, they had during more than year been
fellow students ut the same Hall and insep-
arabic allies in all the pursuits and interests
OF college life. Therefore, Immediately on
his arrival in town, Jacques sought out his
cousin, and within half an hour of their
meeting the younger LestTange was in pos
session of the details of the family machina-
tions and the tiascO consequent theTeupon.
Il heard something about the affair from
home" said Jacques, but i'll such a vague
way that could make nothing of it. How
ever, we need not trouble ourselves about
the thing now, and l suppose you won't let
it make any difference to you. Are you
going to Lady Leighs on Thursday?"
Upon my word" answered Hugh medi-
tatively, I don't know. 1 was going, but
hear Pauline and your mother will be there,
and that seems awkward. doesn't it 2"
My good fellow, you don't mean to say
Won are going to cut us on account of this
untoward affair? You will have everybody
gossipping about the thing if you behave
so ridiculousIy, and you may iniure Pauline's
chances in way you don't think Of Why
should people know there has been anything
contemplated between you? All sorts of
tales will be told, a 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 dislike meeting Pauline.
There has been no regular quarrel between
you, no iilting or jealousy or anything Of
that kind; it was a simple mutual dissent
from certain views entertained for you by
older people who ought to have been wiser.
Besides it all happened four months ago, and
the entire scheme has been dropped. Were
I you, would not only go to Lady Leighs
| ball, but ] would dance with Pauline, ust to
show friendliness and dispositio ion to put
| things back on the old footing"
This discussion ended as Jacques wished.
| Hugh promised not to absent himself from
the ball in question, and he keptto his word.
| II was one of the first balls of the season,
| and was well attended. Pauline seemed to
! be 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:
! "When are you going to ask me to dance,
cousin Hugues? have just this waltz free
! if you like" Then in lower tones: Do not