Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-04-02
BALKED.

Rose Annesley paused, with her hand
on her sisters chair; but Olive only
laughed merrily, and shook her h cad.
"Whatr' she replied, "when this is
Mr.. st. Clouds first visit, and you two
have not seen each other since you parted
at Mount Desert? No, Rosie dear, moth
ing would induce me to spoil the meet
ing"
''But you wouldn't spoil it," persisted
Rose, in her quiet, straightforward way.
"He understands all about you, Olive.
He knows that we two have only each
other in the world, and that you have
always been more like mother than a
sister to me. He wants to meet you
ever so much. You needn't laugh and
shake your head. He does, indeed !!
Dear Olive!" she whispered, affectionate-
ly, laying her cheek against her sisters,
"don't think that my happiness can ever
make me forget you, or love you one bit
the less"
Olive did not answer, only strol1ed the
sunny little head that nestled so close to
her own.
She was quiet, reticent girl-in fact,
society considered this elder Miss Annes-
ley, with her keen, gray eyes and slrcas-
tic manners, ''rather an eccentric young
woman
But then, society felt little vexed
that Olive Annes!ey was so utterly indif-
ferent to its claims.
The two sisters had been orphans for
several years, Mrs. Annesley having died
when Rose was quite q child her hus-
band year or two after
Those who knew Olive best, knew that
the softest spot in her heart was for the
pretty, golden-haired child who had been
left so entirely to her charge
She had tried to rouse herself, of late, to
go rather more into company, to enter
tain more extensively, for Roses sake.
But during the previous summer Rose
had gone with party of friends to Mount
Desert, and the result had been this en-
gagement to handsome BERTHE st. Cloud.
Olive had never met the young man.
He was one of the employees in large
banking house. and had been sent abroad
on some business matters, shortly after his
engagement to Rose.
He had just returned, and his first visit
was, of course, to the large Western city
which formed the home Of his fair fan
Gee.
Rose had pleaded in vain that Olive
would go down and join her in this well
come to her lover.
81 am not we'll, tonight, she said, as
ring at the door announced his arrival.
'I shall see him tomorrow and do my
best to cut you out. Perhaps I shall
succeed Who knows2" she added, with
a smile, as Rose, looking like vcritable
fairy, in her soft, blue cashmere and
creamy laces, fitted joyously from the
room.
But as the door closed behind her,
Olives face changed. She arose YEARLY,
and crossing the room, paused in front of
the mantle, where stood large and
Acknowledgements photograph.
The face which smiled back at her,
with its soft brown eyes, delicate fea-
lures, and dark moustache, was one
which few women would have had power
to resist.
"Why is it," she said, impatiently,
t'that feel such an inward distrust of
that man2 His face is simply perfect
too perfect to be true1,yet it must be my
own Jealous fears for Rose which make
me so unreasonable. He is probably no
worse than others of his class. Oh, if
could only read him aright--could only
find out what manner of man he is !"
Meanwhile, the lovers below, free from
all apprehensions of the future, were
tasting the full bliss of reunion after
long separation.
The hours few quickly by, and when
St. Cloud returned to his hotel he was
surprised to find it so late.
One of the walters met him in the cor
ridor.
"a gentleman has been asking for you,
sir" he said, ''and showed him to your
room. He has been there some time"
St. Cloud hastened up stairs, and on
opening tn door, deserted, to his great
pleasure, an old friend, whom he had
not seen for some time,
"You here, Maxl' he exclaimed,
shaking him heartily by the hand "My
dear fellow, where did you drop from at
this unreasonable hour1"
Max Hart smiled pleasantly. He was
q large, fine-looking man, with a rather
bronzed complexion, and frank, kindly
eyes.
81 am stopping here on business for
our law firm" he explained. "They
were at one time located here, and still
have a good deal of business in the city.
I saw your name on the hotel register,
and concluded to hunt you up, but have
been waiting so long my patience was
nearly exhausted. What keeps you out
so late2"
st. Cloud smiled complacently. He
had always liked Max Hart well enough,
though he considered the young LAWYER