Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-02
CHAPTER Ii.

Every day and all day long there is
nothing but rehearSing. In every corner
two OF more may be seen studying to-
gether the parts they have to play.
Florence Delmaine alone refuses to re-
hearSe her part except in full company,
though Mr.. DyneCOurt has made many
attempts to induce her to favor him
with a private reading of those scenes
in which he and she must act together.
He had even appealed to Dora Talbot
to help him in this matter, which she
is only too willing to do, as she is
secretly DESTROYS of fiinging the girl as
much in his way as possible. Indeed
anything that would Keep Florence out
of Sir Adrian's sight would be welcome
to her; so that she listens kindly to Ar
thur Dynecourt when he solicits her
assistance.
"She evidently Shuns me-" he says in
an aggrieyed tone to her one evening,
sinking into the seat beside hers. "EX-
cept devotion to her that is singular
~ sincere, [ know of nothing about me
that can be regarded by her as an Of
Tense. Yet it appears to me that she
diSlikeS me-"
There [ am sure you are wrong" de-
clareS the widow, tapping his arm
lightly with fan. 'She is but a girl
she hardly knows her own mind"
'EShe seems to know it pretty well
when Adrian addresses her." he says,
with a sullen glance.
AT this Mrs. Talbot can not repress a
start; she grows little pale, ana then
tries to hide her confusion by a smile.
But the smile is forced, and Arthur
DynecOurt, watching her, reads her
heart as easily as if it were an open
book.
Il don't suppose Adrian cares for
her." he goes on quietly. AT least"-
here he drops his eyes" / believe,
with little judiciOus management, his
thoughts might have been easily divert
ed into another channel"
"You think SOP" asks Mrs. Talbot
family, trifling with her fan. II can
not say have noticed that his atten-
tions to her have been in any way par
Sicular."
mot as yet" agrees Dynecourt, study
ing her attentively; "and if l might be
open with yOu," he adds, breaking off
abruptly and assuming an air of anX-
iety-"We might perhaps mutually help
each other"
Help each other?"
Dear Mrs. Talbot" says DynecOurt
softly, "has it never occurred to you
how safe a thing it would be for my
cousin Sir Adrian to marry a sensible
woman-a woman who understands
the world and its ways-a woman
young and beautiful certainly, but yet
converSant with the c0oUendnceS of So
ciety? Such woman would rescue Ad-
rian from the shoals and quickSandS
that surround him in the form of mer-
cenary friends and scheming mothers.
Such a woman might surely be found.
Nay, [ think [ myself could put my
hand upon her, if [ dared, at this mo-
!. ment."
Mrs. Talbot trembles slightly, and
bushes good deal, but says nothing.
HE is my nearest of kim" goes on
DynecOurt, in the same low impressive
voice. Naturally | am interested in
him, and my interest on this point is
surely without motive; as, were he
never to marry, were he to leave no
heir, were he to die some Suddendeath"
here a remarkable change oyerSpreadS
his featureS-'I should inherit all the
land you see around you, and the title
besides"
Mrs. Talbot is still silent. She mere
ly bows her head in assent.
Then, you see, [ mean kindly to-
ward him when / suggest that he
should marry some one calculated to
sustain his rank in the world" contin-
ued Dynecourt. "As I have said be-
fore, L know one who would fill the 20
sition charmingly, if she would deign
to do So"
"And who?" falters Dora Talbot ner-
vously.
May I say to whom 1 allude?" he
murmurs. Mrs. Talbot, pardon me il
have been impertinent in thinking OF
you as that woman"
A little Pickering smile adorns Dora's
lips for moment, then, suddenly re.
Numbering that smiles do not become
her, she relapses into her former calm
"You fatter me-" she says sweetly.
81 never fatter," he responds, with
telling emphasis. "But, 1 can see you
are not angry, and so [ am emboldene(