The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19
A MAID FORLORN.
BY THF DUCHESS.
CHAPTER /

CHAPTER I.
But, what will your uncle say?7 asks
Mrs. Rivers, nervousIy.
My uncle viii say just what the Major
says" replies ROnnie, Struggling her
shoulders.
Wouldn't it be a comfort if the Major
| dled?" says Cecil, from her low chair in
| the chlmney-cOrner-h own special
| corner, In every house wherein she may
| go. As she makes this charitable
| speech, she sighs profoundly
My dear" says her mother in a tone
| that is meant to be full of rebuke, but
| is only fond.
! well, I know that" returns Miss
/ Cecil, saucily; Il am perfectly aware
| that am dear to you. What's the good
/ OF telling me the same thing over and
| over again? Only that it would be
naughty to ones own sweet mother,
would give you pinch for stale news"
/ Il suppose even Uncle Gregory can't
! expect us to live in London all the year
! round" remarks ROnnie, a frOwn dark
ening her pretty little baby face. 1t is
the funniest little frown, and certainly
has no right whatever to be in its pres
ent resting place. 4 suppose he can't
control our every action"
He can, however. keep us comfOrta-
bic or reduce us to absolute want-at
least, to something very near it." an
sWers Mrs. Rivers, in a trembling tone.
My mind is made up" says Cecil,
lightly. Rather than be reduced to
absolute want, l shall marry a marquis
a duke even-if -ecd he Let nobody
try to dissuade me; l shall do it, or Gil."
Then. I'm afraid you viii die" re-
turns ROnnie, who is the least bit of a
cynic.
You sha'n't discourage me-" says
Cissy, gayly. Even down in the de
serted village, where you and mother
are bent on burying yourselves, I dare
say shall meet my fairy prince"
/ hope he viii be prince worthy of
yOu." says Mrs. Rivers. somewhat wist-
fully gazing at the lovely face smiling
up at her from the chimney-cOrner, out
of its tangle of golden hair.
"YOu hope for too much" replies the
OwnerOf the golden locks merrily. The
prince was never yet born. 1 am con-
WINGED, who would be worthy of such
peerless charms as mine"
But really, mamma, when we are all
so tired Of town life, why should we
not 90 into the country, and especially
to this pretty place the Freres have
written to us about?" asks Ronnie.
"I am sure Uncle Gregory ought to
think better of US, for preferring the
dullness of a country life to all the gilt
tering dissipations Of the town." OBJ
serves Cecil laughing.
Your uncle likes nothing he doesn't
suggest himself" says Mrs. Rivers.
Then make him suggest it. Let us
go to him in a body and tell him how
we are enjoying ourselves here, and ten
to one but he viii order us into solitary
confinement, without delay. lie is such
a perverse old dear"
Cecil, you talk too much" murmurs
her mother, mildly.
I'm like the brook" says Cecil. un-
abashed; Il 90 on forever. After all, l
am better than a stupid girl who can't
talk at all. ROnnie, how silent you arel
Don't you like this country scheme?"
Yes" returns ROnnie, very deliber-
ately. "It is my greatest desire to leave
town forthwith"
As she says this, her mother raises
her soft eyes and regards her curiOusly
nay, indeed, sadly. But Ronnie's
face, whatever she herself may be think
ing, is stanch to her, and betrays moth
ing.
"Yes, yes-cOUntry air will be good
for us all" saws Mrs. Rivers. hastily.
at must be arranged. l wish the Major
could be brought TO speak to your uncle
about IT."
"If you mean that 1 am to conciliate
and play up to the Major, I simply
sha'n't," answers Cecil, with a vicious
little nod. Il detest him. 1t is my be-
lief he wants to marry that daughter OF
his-Maria. to Uncle Gregory"
"Oh, mol" says BOnnie. quickly. "He
NAV live in the fond hope that Uncle
Gregory, growing disgusted with us and
our frivolities, viii leave Maria the bulb
of his property; but l know he intends
her to marry a much younger man
Lady Marsden told me all about it the
other day. It did not interest me, so
- have forgotten the minor details, sucf
as names and places. But know thi:
Young man has been abroad for years
/ that he has a tremendous amount OF
: money; that he lives somewhere in the
r, country. in a house beautiful as {
Y dream; and that the Major was friend
/. of his fathers, and has been sort OF
g agent over his estate for years.
r You remember a great deal consider
ing vour want of interest" observes
/
this poor young man JOY of MaTla!
> "This poor young man, as You cal
: him will probably not marry to order
But the Major has quite made up hi!
a mind to il: and he is a man Of many re
:, sources"
q "How 1 should like to frustratt
a Nariap excIaims Cecil. eff ever l NEE
g. tbis misguided youth she intends claim
3 inc as her own. / shall make viOlen
So love TO him"
$ Cecil" says Mrs. Rivers again.
.r aWeU then. I shall let him make VIC
= lant love to me. Is that better?"
e @It is not amiable either way. an
sura darling. YOU would not like to in
+erfere with any other girls lover"
"Teu. fortunately, can't" says Mis-
= Cecil. in a tone of resignation, as
have made up my mind to marry duke
Therefore this excellent young squir
viii be beneath my notice"
; q think we had better go and speal
L to your Uncle Gregory about thi
move. !" remarks Mrs. Rivers, presently
u aX1ou viii both come with me, girls:"
e This is SAID SO hopefully that neithe
, Girl can find it in her heart to refuse.
q con vcs. of course, dearestl" replie
I Ronnie.
swell. do hope, mamma, hewill no
e no n,.iroed and loaded with evil thought
= of ms this time" says Cecil. DO yo1
IS remember our last Yisit-how he storm
ed and raved until Ronnie and you wer
nearly in tears, and l was in wicke
raoay And ali about a very innocen
IiffIa trip to the Kensington Museur
with SIR sydney Walcott?"
4 remember,". answers Mrs. Rivers
Rounie grows a shade paler, and beat
-, 1870 ir.,r...t inrtlN against the Il c.