The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-18


much from the whimsical humors Of
this spoilt child. Gertie had always re-
ceiyed marked kindness from Lord
Beauvray, who treated her as if she had
been his sister ; and she looked up to
him with admiration as the most noble
being she had ever seen. His renuncia-
ton of rank end wealth had struck
her as an act Of surprising herOism,
and she could not so much as allude to
it without tears gushing from her eyes.
Gertie Brown had a heart that beat in
unison with all that was great and
good. A shrewd merry little thing,
too, in her way. she was capable of DIS
corning the difference that existed be-
tween a genuine man of honor like
Lord Beauyray, and a mere man of
money like her uncle Moyle. When
she saw George de Vray after his
ruin" as old Moyle called it, behaving
with the same cheerful grace as usual
not seeking praise, but stunning it
giving himself no airs of a hero, but
talking and laughing simply like a man
who has done his duty without any fuss
and is glad of it-she thought her
cousin happy amongst all girls, and
sighed to reflect that Mile did not, per-
haps, appreciate her treasure as fully as
she ought.
1t was this enthusiasm of poor Gertie
Browns on poor George de Vray's be-
half which first began to make the cup
of MI. Moyle's bitterness overflow.
That worthy gentleman had taken TO
musing that there was an end now to
his chances of sitting in Parliament,
getting a baronetcy, and all that.
George de Yray might remain a pet of
society, and by means of Miles money
keep a sumptuOus town house but
this was not the same as being an earl,
with an enormous rent-roll and lniu-
ence over a whole country. Old Moyle
limited as much to his daughter and,
to make the lesson more forcible, threw
out gloomy suggestions that his own
fortune was not very secure, and that
Mile might some day find herself con-
strained to 1--we on her husbands three
hundred pounds a year. and to make
her own dresses with the sewing-ma-
chine. This lamentable prospect caused
Miles tears to burst out afresh, peev-
ishly, so that she flew at Gertie when
the latter happened to make sOme Ie-
mark in Georges praise. Mr. Moyle
also scolded his niece, and very roundly,
saying she was "a silly girl to think that
there was anything grand in throwing
ones money out Of the window, so that
all the world might talk about it. Poor
Gertie held her tongue, though her
heart throbbed wofully. She had heard
that the new Lord Beauvray, the ex-
Mr.. Timburel, had teen invited to dim
ner for that evening and she began to
suspect that her precious uncle was
forming a plan for making of this
former clerk Of his a sutton for Miles
hand.
Her intuition was not at fault. Old
Moyle had fastened 10 make peace with
his discharged clerk , and the latter,
whose vanity was Tucked by seeing his
quondam tyrant cringe before him,
gradually became a regular guest at the
bill discounter's, though he took carr
never to come at times when he vas
likely to meet George there. These
visits displeased Gertie Brown, who
could feel no admiration for the vulgar
manners and purse-proud ostentation of
Ralph de Vray. This young man was
handsome, however, and not devoid of
talent. 1t was NJ secret TO Mile that
he had aspired to win her hand at a
time when such a hope was folly ; and
he exercised over her that fascination
which C1tRaU nGaItpanaa md n hold knIff
of the CAB" ever do over girls who are
weak and giddy. One day, after he had
been talking to Mile for an hour in
his most brilliant vein, Some recollec-
tion of a droll sally of his made the
girl laugh after he was gone, and she
exclaimed !: "Heis decidedly very anus
ing"
81 find him most wearisome," n
swered Gertie drily.
"YOu are not bound to sit and listen
to him, then" said Mile, with a flash
III her eyes.
81 will withdraw, then, on another
occasion-with great pleasure" was
Gertie's reply.
That's it, dove shan't miss you.
By-the-bye, you never make yourself
scarce when Mr.. George de Vray comes
here"
"There are not the same reasons for
doing 50. MI. George is a thorough
gentleman"
And you mean that Mr.. Ralph is
not 2''
Certainly not, to my mind"
"Ah ! ah pray is it SIMPLY because
Mi. George has gwen up property that
was not his that you consider him so
superior to his cousin ? | see nothing
wonderful in that. If / found one of
your trinkets among mythings l should
restore it without Growing all over the
town about my honesty. Indeed, l
think it rather strange that Lord Beau
vray should not have discovered this
secret until he had enjoyed his property
several years it looks much to me as
if some other people had discovered it,
too, and rs if he had only acted under
compulsion.n
ION Mile, you are casting an asper-
sion on n of the most noble acts l
have ever heard of! exclaimed Gertie,
.quivering all over.
"Well, it's your fault" screamed
Miliie, exasperated 81 am sick of
hearing you always harp on The same
string. If you are so fond of Mr.. de
Vray, why don't you get him to marry
you? That will be two beggars to-
gether !"
Naturally, Gertie went to her room
to have a good cry, but from that day
she ceased speaking about George, and
became very eircumspect in her de-
meano towards him. When he called
to see Mile she left the room. George
soon noticed these tactics, for his inter-
views with Nh. Moyle's daughter were
growing more and more irksome by rea-
o of Millle's GOODNESS and irritability.
At the least thing she would snap and
sulk and one afternoon when George
i%nnocently made some inquiry about
Mss Brown, she fired up in a jealous
pet. You seem very anxious about
Miss Brown. am not obliged to show
her off in the drawing-room whenever
visitors come. She is only "A pauper
cousin, whom we have taken in from
charity"
TITS queer charity, dear, if you talk
of it IN that way" laughed George.
Il don't consider poverty a disgrace
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