The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-07
sponsibility of the Misses Leigh; Mr..
Hunter, Miss Maury the Messrs. Herbert,
Mademoiselles Lloyd and Elliott, and
.sThat is all ;, said Mrs. Granger.

Madem0lSelleS Lloyd and Elliott and
That is all, said Mrs. Granger.
Arthur's eyes wondered over to the bow
window where the hem of black skirt was
just visible.
''There is Miss Wood.
''There will be no room"
"Why not? My wagon holds four, and
| have only Miss Tarleton and Miss Max
we'll Why not let her go and take
Valerie? You keep that child too closely
at her studies. A dip in the salt water
would do her no HARM
"Well, she might sit with John on the
barouche, and I can hold Valerie, [ sup
pose," hesitated Mrs Granger, evidently
/ surprised.
'1There is no need of that. We have
more than enough room in my wagon" -"
persisted Arthur
could not catch her reply, it was SO
low and indistinct; but [ saw vehement,
almost angry denial written on her face.
He bent his handsome head till his curls
almost brushed her forehead
For my sake" [ heard him urge.
Bessie called Belle at that moment,
''do come up stairs, there's dear, good
| Mentor. I want to talk to you about the
trimming on that gray dress"
[ looked straight at Belle, but she had
not heard a word. She and Laura Elliott
were talking over their dresses. AS [
turned away caught sight of Miss Woods
pale face looking out from the curtains,
and was absolutely electrified by its ex-
preston; such powerful emotion blazed in
her eyes and transfgured her face. Arthur
saw it, too and went hastily up to her.
"You will go?" he asked, with look
that Belle would have given her diamonds
to receive.
was vexed enough, for wanted to see
more of that unnoticed scene in the bow
window. There was some mystery there
worth my fathoming, for Miss Wood, be-
fore whom Arthur Granger bent his proud
head so humbly, was pale little person,
governess. Why did Arthur wish her to
go? Would she go? [ asked myself
again and again, while ostensibly listening
to Belle, who had grown eloquent on the
respective merits of ''frogs' and velvet.
An hour settled all my doubts. When we
went down to the piazza, shawled and
hooded for our excursion, there was Miss
Wood with Valeria Ga shy child Of 10 or l
years., shawled and hooded likewise, to my
intense chagrin, | confess; for [ had
already commenced to fear and dislike her
Before, had scarcely looked at her; but
[ studied her face line for line-the broad
brow, the large puzzling brown eyes, the
somewhat irregular features, and pale though
not sickly complexion-only to find myself
baffied and repulsed by something looking
out of her calm eyes that was past my
reading. She was and she was not beauti-
full. She lacked fullness of contour, bril-
iancy of color-I had almost said express
sion, SO absolutely still and cold was her
look, and yet that haunting, nameless grace,
that very essence of beauty that we call
"charm'' was there, compelling even my
admiration, and making me confess, low to
myself, that Belle might find in her a
formidable rival Not so, thought Belle,
however, or rather she thought nothing at
all about it. She was superb in that braid |
ed, tight-sleeved, tighter-ftting, coquettish
gray dress of hers, and little garden hat,
and she knew it. Arthur Granger, if he |
had any eyes in his head, must have known
it, too and though she did stare when
that gentleman, after helping her in, placed
Miss Wood in the driving seat, also leaving
Valerie and myself to occupy the back, she
was too good natured or too careless to
manifest any other sign of surprise, and
evidently forgot the whole matter moment
after in the far more important care of ad
justing properly her wrapper.
The morning was cool and bracing-the
drive over the white, hard sand delightful
the horses in good condition-Arthur
unusually devoted; and these elements
being properly mixed with little self-de-
ception, Belle drank off such draughts of
that frothy stuff called happiness that her
spirits presently rose to the frolicsome de-
gree; and throwing off all affectation she
came out in her most charming phase
that of a careless, mirth-loving child Not
SO [, sitting stif1y erect, and grim as Me-
dusa herself Through the aid of my
newly-acquired spectacles of jealousy saw
that, though Arthur talked to Belle, he
looked at Miss Wood, who received his
glances with a composure that made me
want to box his ears. He was all ears and
tongue for Belle-all soul for the govern
ess He advised Belle to put on her
blanket shawl, as the breeze met us damp
and chill from the water; but he wrapped
Miss Woods extra cloak about her without
saying a word He stared full at Belle
,r;tl, +bo oooI ond or;+;ooI odn,;rot;oo of ~,
artist; he stole glances at Miss Wood,
seizing the moments when she looked away
to let his dark eyes wander over her face,
taking in its every detail eagerly and pas
sionately; in short, the man was in love-
and as surely as my name was Betsey and
l was confirmed old maid and always
meant to be unless the right man should
happen to come along-with that little
designing puss of a governess. 1t was too
vexatious, after all the dresses Belle had
made that season. [ really think he ought
to have been sued for "breach of promise
and made to pay for wounded affection and
stewards bills. But to return to the rem
devious for our company; an airy villa,
with light balconies and long windows,
from whence you looked out full on the
ocean-the country house, in fine, of Arthur
Granger, bachelor-the gossiping capital
for innumerable tea-tables and the most
fallacious and slippery foundation of the
biggest air-castle lever built, l have always
argued with the profound wisdom for which
1 am distinguished, "Belle is the only
young lady whom he honors with his in
tentions, and if he don't mean anything by i
it, why in the world has he built that
house?'' which, by the way, was very
much what Kate Lloyd said as she danced
up, swinging her garden hat and looking
saucy (that was her forte) to where he
stood on the steps talking to Belle, holding
Valerie by the hand and glancing as usual
at that Miss Wood.
"a very pretty cage, Mr.. Granger
L IL