River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-11-04

The music and the conversation were
interrupted at last by the opening Of
one of the FrCueh-windovs.
Here is Mary" said Miss Beaufov,
still playing. Int striking into a less
dreamy and poetical vein than she had
previously been pursuing.
Irose, ami took one look at the girl.
who was fastening the window. Ii
was very much what had seen before
She seemed TO be a slender. golden
haired girl. with face as sweet as the
voice that had struck with such COM
fort 10 my heart.
She came to me and shook hands.
Il am so glad you are able to come
down, MIR. Coplestone,' she said. We
were afraid you might be seriously in
jured.
Il think 1 ought to have been" l
said; land l ought to have apologised
before coming up TO the door in flash
of lightning. It's fortunate the cab
did not come up the drive, perhaps. !"
My uncle IS so particular about
having the gravel kept neat. We have
SO few visitors that Hardy did not use
his discretion about your cab. Thrust
have seemed dreadiGily rude.
/ was about TO defy all the claims
of veracity. and protest that thought
it the most natural and proper thing
IN the world, when Miss Beaufoy broke
in:
Hardy was perfectly right. Mary"
she said, IN the manner of an eXasper-
atiug goveruess to naughty child,
ale was Obeying orders. There is no
place for discretion in the matter"
Mary was standing close to me.
looked st her, and saw q bright spot
burning in either cheek. But she
said nothing.
felt angry. Why should she take
this kind of rcpcOof SO tamely? The
situation was little strained. l en-
deavored TO put matters on pleasant
footing by reverting To the mus c. The
ladies sang few duets, and Miss For
tesque, At my earnest request played a
little. But there was no pleasure for
me row. Miss Beaufoy was singular
ly exasperating, aud took and made
opportunities for saying unkiud and
unpleasant things in way which
aroused every feeling of chivalry with
in me 10 stand by the patient, gentle
girl. who seemed under some sort of
terrorism which prevented her resent
ing these verbal crueltics and Sights.
Once or twice Miss Beaufoy threw
out very broad hints that Miss For
teScue should betake herself TO the gar
den 10 cut fresh flowers for the vases.
But when she was about to meekly
adopt tho suggestion, | struck in with
some musical proposal which kept her
with us. till at last Miss Beaufoy, APP
parently vexed st the presence of .
third person, moved away from thg
piano, saying that she had had enough
of the instrument for that morning.
Il can go and cut flowers now, il
yOu like. GiuIia," said Mary Fortescue
apologetioaily.
Yes. it ought TO have been done be-
fore. was all the answer she received.
May | come with you. Miss For.
teseue?" | asked. "If it will not be
troubling you too much to be my guide
once more"
Il shall be very glad if You will, y
she said, so kindly and sisterly.
"Oh. Mr.. Coplestone,' sail Giulia
Il want to show you the harmonium il
| the drawing room. It's a very fine,
I toned harmOnIum, and We must have
some pianOtorte and harmonium
I duets.
( Il am afraid l must beg you TO lei
me postpone tho harmonlum, | said
i | was thoroughly annoyed by her dom
I ineering tone towards her cousin. 81
/ have Just asked Miss Fortescue to lei
y me accompany her into the garden. >
The Basilsk evidently had a temper
/ saw her flash a look of fury upon hel
cousin who seemed quite overwhelmed
( ct being pitted against her.
"Oh, never mind, she said timidly
1t docSn matter at all.
IF YOU will excuse me-" / said, 81
would rather go into the garden; the
I air will do me good.
All my distrust came back a hundred
fold. for at this verv sensible anC
moderate request Miss Beaufoy, | OBJ
served. became as hard and fierce as !
I Gorgon.
'.You are making very uncompli
mentarv choice. she half whispered L
me. That is because you are blind,
and oh, how cruelty she said il!
TO BE CONTINUED.