The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-16

: before them. Both looked at it silently
d for some time At last he spoke. s'This Is
d very sudden. l am not quite ready to
J. | leave yet"
g II did not know you were permanent
b attachment to US" with laugh that some
: how had no mirth in it.
o MARY" looking her full in the face, 81
a | wonder il you care any thing about me!''
/ She flushed hotly. How dare you i'm
. ply such a thing!"
5 Il wonder" he continued, 'sif were to
4 throw aside all preconceived ideals and
: ask you TO marry me whether you would
| do it!
'.Did you bring me out here to make
3 tentative proposals TO mes"
t mo, for did not mean to make any pro-
posal to you. But'-a long pause-''will
you marry men
} NO" she answered, the sharpness of pain
in her voice; do you think l don't know
how you disapprove of me; that 1 can
scarcely open my mouth or take a step
without doing something that is objection
, able to yOu!'
1T is true" he answered, "yet / love
you!"
"Do you think don't know that you
would try to reconstruct me, and, finding
it impossible, would be dissatisfied and dis
appointed in me! No, no, it is not love you
feel for me it is only a temporary attrac-
ton Let US talk of il no more" And ne,
having spoken against his better judg-
ment, and feeling the Justice of her words,
sadly held his peace.
Mr.. Greville left goodbye for you,
Nora" Mary said, when she returned to
their apartment: and that was all that
passed between them on the subject.
Two months went By in wanderings
through Switzerland, and October found
our travellers in Florence, where they
proposed remaining for a time ere
a warm, bright afternoon, the air was soft
and balmy. and they SAT on the Viole del
Coli watching the purple glow of the sun
set which hung over the fair city.
| mora, | wonder if we shall ever want to
go home" Mary said dreamily. She had
been restless and fitful all through their
| wanderings in Switzerland, but since they
had reached Florence a calmer mood had
| succeeded.
Honora did not answer she was intently
studying the figure of a man who was
slowly coming up the hill toward them. At
| last she said, almost in frightened tone:
| MARY, think that is Mr.. Greville. What
shall we do, sit still or hurry On.'
A tide of crimson color surged over Mary
| SeymOur'S face and then SubSided, leaving
her quite pale. But she answered. "Why
should we run away from him.' and again
her eye rested on the lovely scene before
her.
Two months separation, he thought, had |
taught Murray Greville the folly of a
temporary infatuation, and when he saw
the names of the two ladies on the list of |
visitors in Florence, he determined to seek |
them out. So the accidental meeting was |
less of a surprise to him than TO them.
May join you as of yore!" he said, as |
both held out a hand OF greeting. do mo |
mischief if you can"
Mary Seymour's eyes spoke with a flash |
of defiance in them as they met his.
Il am not afraid OF your
Nor | of you,'' was his mute acceptance |
Of the challenge.
An. lovely Florence Who that had wan
dered among her galleries, or climbed the |
hill-sdes of her environs and Toasted his |
eyes on the charming panorama before him |
can ever forget it.
You are going to be kind and take me |
back as companion i'll your rambleS, are |
you nOt!" Murray said, as he walked down |
the hill beside them.
''On the terms on which our judges retain |
their seat on the bench, during good be-
havior." was Mary Seymour's smiling re-
sponse.
Il would rather you should say for life = |
To expect man to be on his good behavior
all the time is too much OF a tax on his
weak powers"
4 suppose you think it is l who should
retain your companionShip during good
behavior but really we have been quite
proper and well-conducted this summon
for Bedouins. Have we not, Nora! When
l get to Rome shall probably feel less dis
posed to decorum."
1t was lovely autumn, with succession
of warm, bright days that seemed to speed
away only too quickly in aunterings
through the galleries of the Pitt and U fiji
or in perhaps still more charming excur-
sions to San Miniato al Monte, Fiesole
Vallombrosa, or other points.
Mary" Honora said one day, take
carep'
Nora dear, 1 wish you and his Holiness
would fall in love with each other. think
you would be a better subject for training
than l. More easily transformed from a
wild into a civilized state"
Has he been trying to train you" Hon
ora said quietly.
No, either 1 have improved very much,
or he has deteriorated, for seem to shock
him so seldom. 1t has all been very peace
full and-very pleasant " she added, with
pause and something like sigh.
''Ah, am almost sorry to move on to
Rome, dearly as l love it. have feeling
that the atmosphere there will not be so
pacific
Without question the three took their
journey to Rome together, where the
ladies soon established themselves in an
apartment on the Via Condotti, and Mr.
Greville took rooms at hotel near. But
Mary Seymour's prediction seemed to come
true. They had spent the winter before in
Rome, and had quite q circle OF English
and American acquaintanceS, besides a
few Italians. Both the cousins spoke that
language with ease and huency and en-
joyed making acquaintances who obliged
or enabled them to converse in that
tongue. So it came to pass tnat social en-
gagements began to occupy more of their
time. They had pleasant little afternoon
teas in their own apartment and went not |
infrequently to larger entertainments.
Mr.. Greyille was still much with them, but
was no longer their sole companion and, |
as his knowledge of Italian was limited to
the mere vocabulary which expressed his |
absolute needs, he could take no part in |
their conversation with their Itali asso- ,
ciates To one of these, an Italian officer ,
and special favorite of Mary Seymour's he
took a decided dislike, which caused a re- | ;
newal between that young lady and him
the beginning of their &C (
quaintance.
A large ball was to be given at the t
English Embassy, to waich he conducted {;
the ladies. Honoras rich black satin and $
diamonds gave her an unusually dignihed :
and elegant appearance, while Mary had {
never looked more charming than in her
pink silk and pearls. En- route, Mr. !
Greville expressed his objection to so much I
dancing at so large and public an enter !
of dancing every dance, and be- '
ing met by her friends Count Scotti and l
Grecci, at the door, besides one t
or two English acquaintances, soon had ?
her card quite full, leaving room only on 1
il for the one dance that Mr.. Greville had
az once claimed. 5
Your Highness objected to dancing, 1
thought" she said, in reply to protest on Z
his part besides you have been very dila- I;
tory in asking. could not wait all night
for you to decide whether you wished to '
dance with me.n
And with Isl sicino, Alberto Mo-" f
took the proffered arm of Lieutenant >
Grecci for third waltz and whirled away
1t was a very pale set face that looked '
yloomily after her and awaited her return
''Let US take a turn in the corridor he
said and without a word she went with ;,