The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-30
you eager to be there Z"


The voyage has been pleasant, but IL
will be nice to be on shore again,
too"
"What, or rather, who, is going TO
make it nicei Anybody in particu-
lar?"
She put the question aside with
little wave of her hand
"You are curious" she SAID, mis-
chevously.
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. "Yo ou
have made a dozen attempts to find
out Tell me why. What difference
could it make to you? If were to
tell you that l am niece of the Gov
ernor of Kentucky; mind l don't say
that am" she cautioned, as julius
made gesture of surprise. 81 say if
/ were to tell you so, and add that |
am mistress of an independent fortune,
would that enhance my value in your
eyes 7"
Julius drummed upon the arm of
his chair, and looked at her in silence
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 | am an orphan without
fortune; that had just money enough
to carry me through the conser
vatory of Paris, and that l am hoping
and expecting to make my living by
teaching music, would that lower me
in your regard ?"
Julius still remained silent, perhaps
little abashed by the results of his
own temerity.
81 see that I have embarrassed you,
she said laughing. 81 shall not insist
upon an answer. leave you to adopt
whichever hypothesis best suits you
She gathered up her shawl and book
as she spoke, and made motion TO
rise, but Julius laid a OBTAINING hand
upon her arm.
"No, no, you mustn't go yet he ex
claimed, and he fancied he perceived a
dewiness in her eyes as she turned them
toward him, which touched him mex
pressibly. Il am embarrassed, not sc
much by your hypothesis as by some
thing in myself. Since you leave mt
to choose between these hypothesis, ]
will take the latter. You are, then, ar
orphan without fortune, hoping and ex
pecting to make your living by teach
ing music. To prove to you how little
] deserve your implied reproach, l viii
confess what I should have concealed
from the Governors niece. Miss El
ton, I adore you"
"Mr. Hilder!' she exclaimed, spring
ing to her feet with flashing eyes.
"Well," he said, quietly, "you chal
lenged me-"
"You are impertinent, sir" and sh'
swept away with dignity.
She remained closely in her owl
cabin during the remainder of the af
ternoon and until quite late the mex
morning, when Julius, who had main
tained an anxious and impatient watcl
upon deck, found her in the saloon sip
ping cup of tea ard nibbling piec,
of toast, by way of breakfast.
81 hope you have forgiven me-" hi
said, taking seat beside her.
"But have not" she answered
with decision.
(Which have / offended-the Gov
ernor's neice or the orphan musi
teacher p he asked, with a sauc,
smile.
"Both. 1t was daring imperti
nence to the one, and piece of inso
lence toward the other"
"Well, l don't see what I'm to d
about it. 1t isn't the sort of thing yo
can expect man to take back
"No," she said, looking absently in
to her cup, then suddenly realizin,
that this was not ust what she shoul
have said, she hurried to add, amid
confusion of bushes, "That is, o
course, you must take it back at leas
You mustn't say anything more abou
it."
"Never?'
"Never."
"But that's impossible
} ''Mr. Hilder."
) "NIiss Elton"
81 think we've had enough of thi
1t was my fault am willing to ad
NIT that. 1t was wretched taste O
my part, and I've suffered all sorts {
things in consequence
She waved her hand toward her cal
in as she spoke, indicating that it VIZ
thus her hours Of retirement wei
spent.
"Let me go back to the first que
tion," she continued. "You asked m
whether there was anybody to make
, pleasant for me on shore. There VIZ
= no reason but my own perversity VIII
, | should not have answered at one
No, nobody that / am at all sure wi
care to make i, pleasant for me.
S have dear old uncle who has alway
been very good to me, but when |
hears how naughty / have been,
don't know what he will say to me
and she puckered up her white for
: nead INTO an expression OF compun
Q tious perplexity.
"Well,' he said, after waiting son
time for her to resume, sis that all 2"
THAT answers your question, does
not?"
= "My question as originally put-ye
: | believe it does; but it has been s
!, amplified that you can hardly expe'
1 me to be satisfied with that meagre a
, swer."
"Ampli6ed / don't understand"
"Those two ingenious hypothese
for instance-were they both pure Fl
ton, or which was the true statement
"Both pure Inventions" she retur
ed, laughing and blushing again,
am not that brilliant creature, a Cove
D nors niece, nor yet that more usef
, and respectable one, teacher of musi