The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-29
Mss HERMONCIEUX.
HOW I Became Engaged to an
Ho:re3s in Spite Of Myself


Hiss Her,noacieux is a great puzzle to
ms. What is she going to do: ] think
Sometimes Of asking her, but she would not
be apt to take me into her confidence.
Things have certainly reached point be-
tween II arlington and herself when she Will
b. called upon to make up her mind what
course she will pursue.
/ have certainly never seen anybody who
interested me as much. | shoald not call
her exactly pret5y-at least a stranger
might not think so. She is a creole of
=: GA twenty, tall, rather too slender, per-
baps, with brown hair worn low on the
forehead, blue eyes. and very fair COM
plcxIon. Her mouth, however, is certainly
exquisite. and she has a way of smiling
family with 4 shy side LOOK, which is really
fascinating.
Its pity she is SO great an heiress-
that chillS one. A good girl ought to be
poor, in order 70 find out who really loves
her. How can she know, when she is
worth q million?
She and her cousin, Miss Arthur, are
from Northern Alabama, and have spent
the summer with Mr.. Fenton. He is a
p-incely old merchant who has retired from
bus ness. built very beautiful villa adjoin-
ing my tumble-down place, and the young
ladies are his relatives. They came in
June, and il is now October. | believe thew
are about TO return home. Well, they will
have great deal to laugh about, as their
visit has proved something Of q comedy.
Miss Arthur told me everything. she is
small brunette, with plump figure, black
eyes, and fund of laughter which seems to
be ileXhaustible. The spirit OF frOlic and
practical joking is her great characteristic,
and on leaving Alabama she indnced her
cousin to make an absurd agreement. Miss
=
for the poor cousin, and Miss Arthur, the
poor cousin, was to pass for the heiress.
Thence arose complications. Miss Ar
thur, to her secret delight, received marked
attention from gentlemen, and Miss Her
mOIcleuX was comparatively neglected.
Mr. FentOn and his wife must have been
taken into the confidence of the young la
dies: but then the smiling old couple rarely
minSle with their gay young visitors, and
the farce thus went on until about the mid
die OF August. Then the rCSe was discov-
cred by some accident, and everybody
laughed, especially Miss Arthur, who is
accustomed TO say that all men are merce-
nary. Miss Hermoncieux grew much more
popular, and Miss Arthur's friends cooled
among the rest, Mr.. Warrington. He had
apparently been very much devoted to Miss
Arthur, and now became as devoted to her
cousin.
T. Herbert Warrington, as he signs him
self, is an elegant fellow, about thirty five
wears OF age, with light hair, curling mus
tache, and a manner full of grace and ease.
He always dresses in the height Of the fash
ion, and wears kid gloves even when he is
driving his handsome drag. As he passes
behind his glossy bays, with his liveried
groom IN rear, he has gay word for every
body, cries: 'How goes it, nv dear fell
low" and takes off his hat to the ladies he
meets with the perfection of grace. Unfor-
tunately the state of his affairs is the sub
ject of common talk. He has nearly run
through fine property, is in the condition
known as "hard up" and makes no secret
of the fact that he is looking out for rich
wife.
1t is not known whether he proposed to
Miss Arthur or not; it is certain that they
were extremely intimate. When the fact
was ascertained that Miss Hermoncieux
was the true heiress, he laughed louder
than the rest, declared the joke excellent,
remained on the best terms with Miss
Arthur, but gradually drifted in the direc-
zion of Miss HermoncieuX. As the days
went on his attentions grew more Marked
and now there is no longer any doubt. Nv
friend Warrington is going to ask the
young heiresS to marry him, and what
puzzles me is TO know what she has de-
cided to do.
This evening had quite an adventure. 1
was returning home little before sunset,
and on the country road winding through
the red foliage of body OF woods met Miss
HermoacieUx.
Sc was riding without escort, and
seemed to have lost her road, which proved
to be the fact.
Il am very glad | met you," she said,
smiling, and holding out small gauntleted
hand. II have missed my way"
And she explained that she had ridden
out for exercise, confiding in her knowledge
OF the neighborhood, but had mistaken the
road.
lit is fortunate 1 met you, as a storm is
coming" | said. ~ will escort you home
by the nearest route"
And l rode on beside her. She was quite
charming in her dark habit, and her ride
had given her what her complexion wanted.
Her cheeks were rosy and her blue eyes
bright with the healthful exercise.
You are going away soony" said;
es; l am very sorry" she replied.
-''Your visit has been pleasant, L hope:"
Very pleasant indeed"
We had left the woods and entered the
open country. On a hill to the left rose
my dilapidated establishment. A gate led
into the field in front. OF the two globes
with spiral carvings once surrounding the
posts, one had fallen. thought she noticed
II, and said, rather ruefully:
''See the consequences Of bad manage
mert. That Is my house yonder, and it is
no better than my gate"
''It is very fine old place"
cit is a very poor one and very lonely.
too. am entirely by myself there, and
can't say enjoy it,"
at is PITY
Her head dropped and she looked alb
-seltly toward the house as we passed.
Nothing was simpler than her speech, and
vet a geat throb came to my heart. Why do
women make these speeches unless they
are blind:-which do not think they are.
"A mans lot is not OF his own making"
/ said. Zone is blessed with a home circle
of smiling faces, and another is not. l. is
rather hard, but l do not complain"
Il am so sorry"
For half a second she looked sideways at
me with her faint smile and sad eyes,
Then she rode on without speaking.
l was anxious that she should reach
home. The storm which had been brewing
all the afternoon was about to burst, and
the black clouds driving eastward were
steamed by lightning flashes.
.'Yol will be drenched unless you gall
Hon." said.
Nothing would please me more" she ez-
claimed, laughing.
'"Well, a race, them"
We went on at full speed, trying to out
run the storm. 1t was impossible to do so.
Half a mile from Mr.. Fenton's villa it burst
IN all its fury, and the horse which Miss