Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-28

Waa ceurte0usiy unwilling w uissoio
the Major in the agonies Of pootical
comnosition. When he had taken his
leave he whispered to Cyril, on his way
other wager if you like-we shall see
Miss Mabel still on the terrace" And
they did see her.
She was seated, with her closed book
on her lap, deep in thought.
Hesitaiing between her two lovers,
she had decided at first in favor OF
Cyril ; he had youth on his side, he was
handsome, he was modest and amisble'
If he had happened to appear on the ter
race ut that moment he would have
been the man preferred. But he was
indoors in attendance on his friend, and
he left Mabel time to remember that
there was weak side to his character.
In Cyril's place would Sir John have
consulted another man and have
brought him to visit her without once
suspecting that he might be a rival in
disguise? Mabel was already leaning
TO the side Of Sir John when she heard
footsteps on the walk, and, looking up,
saw the man himself approaching her
alone.
In the present state of her inclina-
tons she was disposed, as an accom-
plished firt, to begin by flirting with
him. He saw her intention in the
bright malice Of her eyes, and put an
obstacle in her way. Taking the book
off her lap, he assumed to be interested
in her reading.
"Tired of poetry, Miss Mabel?"
"Never tired Of it, Sir john"
"You read a great deal Of poetry"
Il believe Ihave read all the English
poets"
Including the Major? Do you find
him equal to the others?"
"My uncle reminds me of the 9TH
ers-always pleasantly"
Sir John opened the book at that
part Of it in which a mark had been left
and read the title of the poem" The
Rival Minstrels A Contest in Verse"
is it very intereSting?" he asked.
His tone irritated Mabel. at is per-
fectly charming" she answered, land
reminds me of Walter Scott. Two
minstrels are in love with the same fair
lady she challenges them TO an exhi-
bition Of their art they are each to
address her in verse, and she offers her
hand to the poet whose lines she most
admires. All, what position women
occupied in those days "
You would like to have been that
fair lady, suppose?"
81 should, indeed Especially"
she added, with saucy smile, " if you
were a minstrel"
81 never wrote anything in my life
except letters. \ proprietor Of news
paper, Miss Mabel, leaves prose and
verse to his editor and his contributors.
Are you looking for anything"
-" am looking for Mr.. Corydon.
" Where is he?" Mabel asked, with
an appearance of the deepest interest.
Sir John determined to stop the COM
ing Irritation in another way.
" Staying in the house, he answered
grayely, "by my advice"
"And why does he want your ad-
vice."
" Because he is under my protection.
I feel the tIuest regard for him and the
sincerest sympathy with him in his
present trying situation
Sir John knew his young lady well.
His object was to puzzle her by pre-.
senting himself in an angry and jealous
character entirely new to her expert
ence--to keep her Eighty mind by this
means employed in trying to under
stand him when he was obliged to
leave her-to return the next day, and
by means Of humble excuses and ar
dent entreaties for a reconciliation to
place poor Cyril's mild and modest
fidelity in a light of comparison which
it would be little likely to endure.
Thus far he had succeeded. Mabel
listened and looked at him, and said
II don't understand you"
- will make myself understood"
Sir John rejoined. Have you forgot
ten the offer Of marriage which ! VEN
tured to address to you in London?
You didn't say No; you told me you
wished for time to consider. ! called
again to hear what your decision might
be, and found that you had not only
gone away into the country without a
word of apology, but had left strict in
structions that the place ofyour retreat
was not TO be mentioned to anybody. If
this was not deliberate insult it was
something extremely like it. When !
told you Just now that Mr.. Corydon
was under my protection, meant that
| would not allow that excellent young
man to be treated as you have treated
me-
Mabel's indignation was equal to the
one possible reply to this.
"Make your mind easy" she said;
MIR. Cory don is in no danger of being
treated as have treated you"
Il sincerely hope for my young
friends sake" Sir John answered,
that you really mean what you say"
Mabel got more and more angry.
MIR. Cory don is charming" she burst
out. mir. Corydon is young man
whom | esteem and admire :"
ALLOW me to thank you, Miss Ma
bel, for your candor. You relieve me
from the anxiety that / have been feel
ing on my friends account. II you
will only say 20 him what you have
just said to me | shall retire, happy in
the conviction that my intercession in
Mr.. Corydon's favor has been crowned
with success. Good morning."
V.
Left by herself, Mabel felt the COM
posing influence Of solitude. Little by
little her cheeks recovered their every
day delicacy Of color; her eyebrows
took their proper places on her fore
bead, and her pulse returned to the GUS
tomary moderation of its beat. She was
able to listen to the gentle promptings
Of her own vanity, and, as a matter of
course, she began to look at Sir Johns
insOlence from new point of view.
lie, the seli.possessed man Of the world,
1. IL. Il e. L