New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-11
A POTENT PHILTER.
BY
vi.

known to certain vocabuaries as good time the
Canadian ladies at the hotel might be found dis
posed upon the portico. This structure was broad
platform adjoining the face of the buildings, duly
laticed as to its squat front and descending to the
planked esplanadei before it by meagre series of
steps Ii commanded a superb prospect of the St.
Lawrence and one of the deusions of the ladies was
that the prospect drew them TO the poItlco.
"What do you think. Mrs CamfOrdT band
of women Of various ages but of curious unanimity
a, 10 occupation. which was the creation of form
of fancy work then in vogue, bent over their labor
on the piazza in the late afternoon with apparently
a single eve for its progress. But they were much
occupied in watching the movements of two persons
whose backs were toward them and who were at the
moment disappearing within the wood.
40 I'm not an authority" returned the lady
addressed.
awell. you are. Miss Mortboy. What do you say y
the questioner persisted.
Yes" assented Miss MortbOy serenely, II don't
know but am" She delivered herself of this die
tum with rondescensiOn, and one could not help
feeling obliged by her bengnant acceptance OF the
epithot offered to her use. like TO watch them
It's jolly. Oh, it is. you knowqute," she insisted.
assertion. Her voice one of those rich thrOaty
organs which so magnify all sentiments conveyed
through their medium that II is not easy to say Why
there seems TO have been nothing SAID when the
conversation is mentally rehearsed ~ fahncy I've
looked ahfter them good deal now come to think
ii over. DR.. Fletcher Is very interesting; he 5
awfully good fun. don't pretend TO understand
what he means or why he treats her Just So you
know. but any one with eyes can see it,
He treats rahther oddly. think" eentured
one.
what would have been a hOunce if she had been
standing il takes two TO treat one oddly, fahncy
one to treat and the other to acknowledge he ts
treated, don't you know" -,
81 would see what could do II were You,
neaniDgly suggested far girl IN her teens who
was effectively posing her costume of light blue
against the weather stained pine of the hotel front
The interested band caught its breath as one
woman with credita6le timltaton, OF the ne feeling
stion If each had not been upon the point OF
making it herself
platively. u don't know" she observed with
weight and though after this the topic was not ap-
preached directly il was obvlous that each tar
breast had taken 1t home to itself as fascinating
problem. They talked lauguidly of other things
Tor some minutes: but when a long pause fell:
ado you think they are engaged y proposed
Pshaw p exclaimed Miss Mortboy loftily, and
rose She swept a conteinptuous look which was
the eye only included the glOup, and moved down
The p0rtico and into the hotel door with majesty.
Her graceful sh9pideIs 1ne Ien IL ass 80 81 nm
were equally admirable and quarrelled I'D the be-
holders mind for precedence But as she vanished
s How does she coil that hair Carrie = demanded
ono of the ladies.
Il is an interesting fact taken in its proper con-
nectipn, that as Fletcher returning early next
morning from a bath, assembled the stairs winch
dropped in multitude of angles from the esplanade
before the hotel 10 the beach, Miss Mortboy unused
upon the rail above, looking at the farther bank
OF the river. backward, to either sde-anywhere
but down
her parasol with an incident mutton when Fletcher
absently perceived her He paused TO rest on the
last landing before attempting the mai star ana
after a moment went on. Presently an OBJECT
arened the air and fell with faint rattle outside
the stairway. II slid short distance Oh the III
cline of loose gravel and stopped: lie saw that 1t
was ladys sun-umbrella and without looking up
ouIckly pushed under the low rail of the stair and
made his way to it. AS he recovered 1t he glanced
often seen about the hotel. He raised his hat with
article in its owners hands.
GPm sure il was awfully stupid" And she paused
casting down her eyes with the fantest, not TO say
.he n,nst charming, blush IN the world fietcherS
stand that the young lady before him was ready TO
be engaged in conversation and, with some hurried
words which sounded like an apology tor his polite
{ But his intercourse with Miss Blanche Mortboy
was continued She bowed to him with one OF her
magn ifcent smiles in their chance meetings that
day and on the morrow an introduction was ac-
Complished between them in regular form Ivy
sweet woman who had claimed Fletchers courtesy
early after his arrival by the announcement OF an
ancient acquaintance with his mother.
There were straightway so many things to DO
which could evidently be done IN no way 50 suCCeSS
fully as when Fletcher and Miss MOrtboy We're
together concerned in them, that II may nave
seemed pity to the Jealous company VINO Watched
that any other two persons should nave before at
tempted them. Miss Mortboy discovered mar
yellous liking for crbbage; for dranghts she had a
passion while backgammon was her aGordtlon L;
for croquet, In which admirable game she caused
Fletcher to strive with her upon the mountainous
region al the rear of the hotel used as ground IL
was a wretched croquet lawn, of course, " but
then" as Mss MortbOy triumphantly assured
Fletcher " il was full English measurement"
All this was surely cheap enough device, ana rs
cO0ucy Fletcher must have felt II sadly coarse ana
ptiful If he had not owned at this time a certain
attitude toward all facts and events " hich, what
ever other character it may have claimed, was at
least not keenly discriminating.
He became from day 10 day more painfully DIS
tnrbod touching his relation 10 Miss bailey IL
scanned 10 him in geniously tOrturng. That it was
inevitable not saving rejection lis manner
ing between them TO the next, ana resolved lIseii
into series of advances and retreats whleil sreiea
20 him more Getestable than anything Wltn NLich
he was familiar in his mental history. lie oIteh IN
Ouired of himself what he meant and at rare tunes
he found q certain absurd humor IN IL an one
conviction persistently yexed nm nc I ougIiff
10 find some degree of satisfaction IN re-
manning. No sense of proprlety need de-
tain him now. and the time set Tor nus hoIqa LAY
go. II unlike him to hesitate and DEFER ana
consider in this fashion. His actions were usually
sharp and clear cut they felt purpose Dehihu
them. -.
But often after discussing the matter thus with
himself, he would encounter Virginia IN the
grounds about the hotel, and such cOlloquy
would succeed as caused HIM to forget that any
question need hsrass him. Their meetings did
not at all times. however, fructify sgreeably,
and on these occasions the misery of his ndecslon
end his contempt for il and for his whole at titude
here became unbearabe. 1t was ut such moment
as this that one afternoon. having for the time
found his feeling touching Miss Bailey irrepres-
sible, and having left her III unenviable mood.
he encountered the peerless Miss MOrtboy on the
esplanade. An insane determination suddenly
seized him TO go up to her and invite her to take
row with him IL was true that he detested row.
Ing and that as 10 Miss Mortboy he had merely
suffered with indifference her endeavors Of the past
few days; but An immense desire TO do some