The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-11

papS for one moment, In which
tfiogene and he once more changed
@es. The news soon spread through
'e little town, and Fontaine was
wy indignant at fate. "If only he
20 been with Miss Imogenp Man.
ing wild cattle Was trifle to him.
1e would rather have enjoyed such
a1' encounter than otherwise. He
naa half dozen plans always ready
iof such emergencies" etc. And
rxaNg he did look SO gallant and so
natN'some that most girls would have
beeq willing to fate a herd of wild
upnaIoes under his protection.
pnval felt Fontaine's bravado a
personal slight, hut he did not wish
to make IinOgene the subject of a
nnxsrel aand If er a rather unsatis-
factory visit the two men went home
/ together.
However. next morning Captain
Fontaine had the m 'st graceful little
note from Miss Imagene, asking him
10 bring hill guitar and assist her in
entertaining a few guests that even
ing. DuyaI had also one. equally
fiattering; fE it touchingiy referred
TO their mutl danger and escape,
and hoped he would come prepared
to finish the exquisite poem which
had been so terribly interrupted.
The evening vas a remarkable one
in many respects. Scarcely ever had
the ex-Goyernoi's mansion been so
profusely decorated and so brilliantly
Illuminated, and to the m ,gnificent
feast prepared all the principal mag
mates of the neighborhood 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 silky tissue seemed to simmer
and glance like fairy robe, as with
winning smiles and gracious, grace.
1ul 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 queerly at the
very idea of his reciting poetry ; con.
sequently neither Duval nor Fontaine
felt uneasy about his influence. In
deed. 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 Imo-
gene, and could see her in many
farOvable moments forbidden to less
happy mortals. But Duval, who
watched him closely, was soon con-
WINGED he was Indifferent to this great
favor; for Duval had found opportu-
nifty 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 ana sympathetic than he expect
ed that Duval, who really lOnged for
a contidant, poured out his whole
soul 10 him, and asked John candidly
what was his opinion about his own
and Fontaine's chances. Did he re-
ally think Fontaine would win Imn-
gene?
John said he knew very little of
women, hut thought FOntaine would
not win Miss Iinogene.
1t is a comfort to have c0nfidant.
and Duval frightened so much under
the process Of pouring out his hopes
to John that FOntaine noticed the
change, and began to fear that his
rival had comfort and encourage.
ment of which he did not know.
He was pondering this question
very gloOmily one ght when he
met John WinthrC How it hap
pened he meyer coul III, but in five
minutes the two men were talking of
Im0gene, and FOntaine had told John
all his hopes and fears with regard 10
her. John listened " ith interest, and
even encouraged The conversation.
though he tried to moderate FOn-
taine's complaints of Duval.
For" said he. ''it is only right to
tell you that l am also Duval's conf
lant. ! must say the affair is full OF
interest to me, and l can partly un-
derstand how it fills and colors all
the hours of your two lives. For me.
things are different. If I should fall
in loye, ! could not afford to lose
either an hours time or an hours
sleep about any woman"
In this way matters went on for
sore weeks. John was the known
confidant of both men, a post not half
50 difficult As 1t appears at first sight.
For Fontaine often wanted to say
something about Duyal that he did