The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-27

I'll llSell craven AT INC dulcuJIullS pau
TO MI. Duff's fGncee and Mr.. Duff
himself determined that Ehle should
not, with his consent, have another OPP
portunity of making herself ~conspicu-
Gus with Captain Verschoyle
"But, alas, poor foolish Ellie was fiat
tered Captain Versehoyle was the
swell" of the. regiment, very hand
some, very rich, and 80 fascinating that
in a miraculousiy short space of time
she succumbed to his attractions and
good honest George Duff, who could
not, because otJlis love for her, conceal
his wrath, SHOWED himself III d light TO
Efia which apparently changed her af-
lection for him into a feeling Of almost
aversion.
To a certain extent Lady Mecgregor
and Hester W. cd the state of affairs
with cOmplateSby. If Etie found she
could not 0 1 for George, 1t was as
we'll to disco, it in good time, And
by all accog Is VerSchoyle's wealth
vas ten time heater than Mr.. Duff's.
He was the i thew and heir.Dresump-
tive of an Eal,I and for Etfie to be-
come Il Counl.$ was more in accord
ance with He, rs ambition than to see
her plain Nj, fDuf of Ardloch Park.
But the m.bh II 5 heart misgaye her.
Not that s-EP disliked Captain YER
schoyle she admired him extremely
ne was certainly far more polished and
elegant than Mr., Duff. But there was
a something-Mcs. Macgregor could
hardly explain wbat-that she did not
approve about lin; and she was hon
estly grieyed and sEry when Ehie finally
Informed her, ABOUT a fortnight after
the ball, that she nd Mr.. Duff had said
goodbye to each Gher,
"He was so je.Ious, SO tiresome,
could never have been happy with him,
mamma /; beside s."
"You have seen some one you like
better, Efiie, " a ided the widow.
"Perhaps | have, mamma, She con-
fessed.
Efie did not escape censure for her
desertiOn of Mr. Inf. AT more than
one afternoon ~tea-party her conduct
was ~canyassed lard condemned. But
why should she care ? she asked herself.
Vas not Captain VerschOyle growing
more devoted, more enlpreSSe Did he
not come dashing almost daily into
Moray Place. driving his Multiplication,
with its pair of snowy chestnuts, a
smart groom sitting behind 2 Aud did
he not parade the regiment past their
windows, with hissshandsome self at its
head, all for heI sake 2 Did not the
band strike up just as they reached her
abode for her special delectation ? And
what bouquets CAME from London
Edinburgh was nor supposed to be able
to furnish suitable floral offerings for
the idol of his heart For "a brief sea-
son Efie lived in a whirl of happy ex-
pectation and excitement. George Duff
had departed there was not a cloud to
mar her enjoymsnt-st least she could
not discern one.
At last the fist bnli eame from the
blue sky. The Dragons. were ordered
to leave Edinburgh and To march forth
with to Manchester. Pale as marble,
Efie-who was now deeply in love with
Captain Observation-Disclosures to the
news. Lady MacgreE or and Hester
were rather glad. 1t would bring mat
tiers to a crisis, and be better for Ellie,
who bad never teen Very strong, and
upon whom the nwdnted excitement
had already begun TO tell. Mrs. Mac
gregor was glad too Ia way. She was
afraid she had not acted very wisely in
EAie's behalf and every day she re-
GREETED the honest heart her pretty
daughter had throvga aside. She felt
certain that Captain Verschoyle would
do his duty, that his intentions were
honorable. But was this gay butterfly
likely to make p good steady husband ?
She %pondered the question very INK
iously. If Ellie had had a father, or
even an uncle, she would have f~eltsafer,
and gone to him for counsel and sup
port. Bat the Macgregor family were
strangely devoid OF the male element.
Sir Robert had been dead for several
years, and the only surviving brother was
IN Australia. Mrs. Macgregor on her
side had no brothers.
Lady MacgregoF was very certain
that Fife would be call right''-so she
expressed herself--ani, o that Cap
toin Verschoyle's day of departure had
Deen fixed, the family might hourly TX
pect Etiie's second engagement to be
announced.
Etfie saw him at "A lower show on the
day after the receipt of tine unwelcome
tidings. She herself was the fairest
flower there, in her simple white straw
bonnet, with its wliits trimmings and
Captain Verschoyle5 at once, as was his
custom, took possession of her.
"You have heard The news, | dare
say 2" he said. I'VE are ordered off,
Elite. l may have to go Immediately"
She tried to smile. She trusted him;
she was too Innocent herself to believe
that he meant to go and forget her,
Though they we're ia acr0wded room,
no n overheard Ia syllable of their
conversation but many guessed from
her shy happy face that another crisis
was come for the belle of the season.
He explained to her why he must go
but he added that he would return,
She must promise tp remember him, to
be very true and very faithful. Could
she do it 2 Might he trust her
This had not been George Duf's WOO
ing. He had said out boldly that he
loved her, that he wanted TO make her
his wife. And there had been no talk
of indefinite departures or returns,
However. she was satisfied. He was
going away then. bat he would return.
She must be brave and trustful.
He said a fervent goodbye to her,
having escorted her home to Moray
Place, Lady Macgregor and Hester
walking in front Of them. But he re-
fused to enter the house, thing he
had never before been known to do.
He IA rather pressed for time, he said.
With a parting glance at Efie, he raised
his hat and departed.
Lady MacgregOr wondered why he
mad not come in. Hester looked anx-
iOusly at Ellie andl Ms. Macgregor,
who had seen the pa{ting at the door Eel
something like a thlrob of pain, which
however was strangely mingled with
relief.
What had Ellie toll say 2
She was all joy land chesrfulness-
;onident regarding his truth and honor.
lie had ascertained brom her all partic-
utars about her Highland home; he had
llsO made a note of her addpss, for he
,aant ~ urrffa -. M m Ia