Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-14
"A GrieyOuS BIunder.

When Kenneth Farley reached Vi
meta, little seaside resort on the
jersey coast, it was after a rainy
drive of several miles from the rail-
road. He was quite wet through,
and was in no very gentle mood; so,
when the landlady told him he was
too late to supper, and demurred
about lighting the kitchen-fre anew
to cook him anything, he fairly lost
his temper.
ssCurse such hole," he said. 81
thought you called this hotel"
$50 it is" was the dignifed reply.
'sBut the season has not yet opened,
and our supply of help is small, as
yet. Besides we did not know you
were coming
''Well," said the young man, 'get
me something. I have come here,
because l was told there was good
sport; and didn't suppose it neces-
sary to write in advance. And as
she moved off he uttered another ex-
pletive, and, striding up to the fire.
place, where some logs were burning
brightly, gave vicious kick to one
of them.
'tDeuce take it," he said. 81
wish [ had never come to the beastly
place."
A half-uttered sigh startled him.
He had thought he was alone in the
room; but, looking around, he saw
that large deep armchair, at the
side of the fireplace, sheltered an oc-
cupant, who, up to this moment, had
been concealed from him by the back
of the chair. At the same moment,
a sweet womanly face, framed in rip
pling brown hair, glanced up at him,
with half-sad, half-shocked express
sion in the dark-violet eyes.
Kenneth turned a guilty scarlet.
Here was lady-undoubtedly, real
lady-who had caught him swear
ing in her presence. To make matters
worse-from one point of view, al
least-she was both young and pret-
ty. He stammered, pulled his nous
tache, and then began nervously to
apologize.
81 hope you will excuse me-" he
said. 81 have used language very
unbecoming i'll a gentleman; but
did not know there was lady pres
ent."
1t was lame excuse, he felt an(
he was not surprised at the result
For the dark-violet eyes were slowly
lifted to his face, with calm unfath
omable look, while a low musica
voice replied: ''If you will excus
my saying it, l think gentlemen hav
no right to use such language, eithe
in or out of lady's presence. dlt
not know that gentlemen, with al
emphasis on the word, "did it,
Kenneth turned more red than be
fore, at this sharp reproof, and go
out of the room as quickly as posi-
BILE; for, at that moment, fortunate
ly, his supper was announced, and 81
he had an excuse for leaving. HI
did not, we may well suppose, re
turn when he had finished his meal
but went to he'd Immediately. H
could not sleep, however, for lon
| while. A lovely face haunted hi
waking dreams, and he was seize
with passionate longing to max
those dark reproachful eyes look g
him with different expression,t to hea
e those calm quiet lips speak in differ
ent accents.
r Kenneth Farley had not a suscep
: ible nature. He was twenty-eighl
He was rich and good-looking bu
very few women had found eve
D passing favor in his eyes. But it ol
d ten happens that men who hav
f escaped heart-whole for years al
suddenly precipitated into the abys
of love. 1t happened so to Kennel
. now.
He had risen early, to stroll about
s for the storm was over, and the su
shone brightly; and, when he return
S ed to the house, breakfast was bein
} served. Miss Onslow-for that, 6
he had found, on looking at the ht
tel register, was the name of tt
- young lady-was already seated .
y the table; but, when he bowed some
:, what hesitatingly, she answered onl
It with a slight cold inclination of tt
head.
r Kenneth, however, was not one
" be discouraged. He was the mo
/ eager to succeed, because he was n
" in the habit of using strong la
guage, and had only been betraye
into it by his discomfort and disa]
e pointment. "Oh," he said, 'sif
e could only get her to really forgi,
me-" And, from that time, he S,
d himself to the task. There was,
D yet, but few guests at the hotel, ar
/ this threw him and Miss Onslow
good deal together; but he mad
. apparently, no progress whatever
a her good graces. In fact, Ethel, +
It membering that first night, hardent
IS her heart deliberately against him.
20 The six weeks which Kenneth hs
intended to give at the seashO
Is heightened into eight; for, by th
- time, he had become madly in low
- and he could not tear himself ava
IS Several times, he decided to go; h
at the last moment chanUp0