The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-29

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age in this unconventional and eccen-
trio way, remained as great mystery
as it had been ON that memorable first
day. 1t was the close of the tenth
day, dating from that of his discovery.
and Julius sat beside her in that init
mate fashion bred of the isolation of
the sea.
He had been reading to her, but
the story was finished, and a silence
had ensued, she appearing to be wrap
ped in thought, and he watching her face
18th half-veiled glances.
''Three more days and we shall be
at home," she said, rousing herself.
care you eager to be there?"
mo; neither eager nor reluctant.
The voyage has been pleasant, but it
will be nice to be on shore again. too"
What, or rather who, is going to
make it nicer Anybody in particu-'
lar?''
She put the question aside with lit
tie wave of the hand.
'.You are curious" she said, mis-
chievously.
Julius bit his lip. He was curious,
and this was not the first time she had
foiled him.
''You want much to know just who
and what am," she went ON. 'You
have made a dozen attempts to find
out. Tell me why. What difference
would it make to you? If were to
tell you that am a niece of the Gov
ernor of Kentucky; mind don't say
that am." she continued, as Julius
made a gesture of surprise. 81 say if
l were to tell you SO. and add that 1 am
mistress of an Independent fortune,
would that enhance my value in your
Hyes?"
Suppose, on the contrary" she
went ON impetuously, and with a GER
tain warmth of tone that seemed to
spring from injured pride, 81 were to
tell you that l am an orphan without
fortune; that had just money enough
to carry me through the Conservatory
at Paris, and that am hoping and ex-
pecting to make my living by teaching
music, would that lower me in your
regard?"
Julius still remained silent, perhaps
a little abashed by the results of his
own temerity.
81 see that l have embarrassed you."
she said, laughing. Il shall not insist
upon al answer. l leave you to adopt
whichever hypothesis best suits you.''
She gathered up her shawl and book
as she spoke. and made a motion to
rise, but Julius laid OBTAINING hand
upon her arm.
mo- no, you mustn't 60 yet," he
exclaimed and he fancied a dewiness
in her eyes as she turned them toward
him, which touched him inexpressibly.
Il am embarrassed, not so much by
your hypothesis as by something in
myself. Since you leave me to choose
between these hypotheses, will take
the latter. You are. then, an orphan
without fortune. hoping and expecting
to make your living by teaching music.
To prove to you how little / deserve
your implied reproach. will confess
what l should have concealed from the
Governors niece. Miss Elton, adore
your
'.Mr. Hilder!" she exclaimed. spring.
ing to her feet, with flashing eyes.
.'Well," he said. quietly. '.you
I challenged me.''
.'You are impertinent, SIR" and she
swept away with dignity.
She remained closely shut in her own
cabin during the remainder of the af-
ternoon and until quite late in the
morning, when Julius, who had main
tained an anxious and impatient watch
on deck, found her in the saloon sip
ping cup of tea and nibbling piece
of toast by way of breakfast.
81 hope you have forgiven me" he
said, taking a seat beside her.
"But l have not" she answered with
decision.
(Which have 1 offended-the Gov
ernors niece or the orphan music
teacher?" he asked with q saucy smile.
'.Both. 1t was daring imperti-
nence to one and a piece of insolence
toward the other"
"Well, don't see what I'm to do
about it. 1t isn't the sort Of thing you
can expect man to take back"
NO." she said, looking absently in
to her cup, then suddenly realizing
that this was not just what she should
have said, she hurried to add, amid
confusion of bushes: ''That is, of
course, you must take it back; at least
you mustn't say anything more about
it."
s'Never?'
'.Never."
"But that's impossible" .:
'.Mr. Hilder." = GE.:
"Miss Elton"
81 think we've had enough of this.
1t WAS my fault; am willing to admit
that 1t was wretched taste on my
part, and I've suffered all sorts of
things in consequence" She waved
her hand toward her cabin as she spoke,
indicating that it WAS thus her hours
of retirement were spent. LET me go
back to the question:" she continued.
"You asked me whether there was any
body to make it pleasant for me on
shore. There was no reason but my
own perversity why ! should not have
answered at once. No, nobody that l
am at all sure will care to make it
pleasant for me. l have q dear old
uncle who has always been very good
to me; but when he hears how naughty
] have been / don't know what he will
say to me-" and she puckered up her
white forehead into an expression OF
compunctious perplexity.
Well" he said after waiting some
time for her to resume, ''is that alp"
THAT answers your question, does 1t
notp"
'.My question as originally put-yes,
l believe it does; but it has been so
amplified that you can hardly expect
me to be satisfied with that meager
answer"
"Amplifed! / don't understand"
''These two ingenious hypothesis. for
instance-were they both pure fiction,
or which was the true statement"
'Both pure Inventions" she return
ed, laughing and blushing again. Il
am not that brilliant creature. gov
ernor's niece, nor yet that more useful
and respectable one, teacher of
music. The governors niece was just
bit of f.satire. travelled q few weeks
once in company with such per-
son, and the constant iteration with
which she dwelt upon her title. and the
amount of respect it seemed to inspire
in the minds of those who heard it,
gave me the impression that 1t was the
highest rank an unmarried women
could attain in America. think the
impression must be we'll founded. too.
as | noticed it produced quite an effect
upon YOU"
'Not the effect you imagine. was
startled for Il moment. confess. but