Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-05
Gales aud Sketthfs.
TIE BRAvESf AND IRUESf.

l declare, feel as light as bird, J"
Stella Markham observed. as she stood be-
fore the mirror, combing out her soft
brown tresses with the utmost delibera-
ton. Your Canadian air is as exhilara-
ting as champagne. Nora, winter in Eng
land means log, damp. and general disa-
greeableness. Here it is simply the per-
lection of weather. Quite too lovely, isn't
it ?''
And Stella. who had gone out to Mon
treal on visit to her uncle-General
Markham, commanding the garrison
there-only month before. gave deep
sigh of pleasure as she gazed out OF the
window at the glorious prospect before
her.
Her cousin Nora sat at the window
looking out upon the same view, with per-
haps as much admiration, but hardly the
same amount of enthusiasm, for she had
been nearly two years in Montreal. and
the novelty was of course, worn off in her
case.
..Oh. | don't know. - she said, with
covert smile of deep significance. IF
one had two lovers always in attendance,
| suppose even a desert might be made
tolerable."
A dead silence fell upon the room !;
then Stella went on placidly arranging
several rows of ringIets over her forehead,
wondering what had stan ted Nora on the
war path but venturing no remark until
her cousin said with abrupt emphasis:
What do you suppose will be the end
of all this. Stellas'
"Of what. pray? Put il in plain Eng
lish.'
You know perfectly we'll what | mean,
and YOU ought to be ashamed of Yourself
You have no right to trifle with such men
as Alan Douglas and Major Valcour.'
"My dear Nora. you are without eXcep-
ton the most absurdly inconsistent person
of nv acquaintance.
II do not deny that have had various
little affairs in my time, but never carried
Irritation beyond my bounds, as you
have DONE
.Indeed!''
Il am really in earnest, Stella. | refuse
to be a party to any such performance
and if this sort of thing is to continue, |
shall leave you to end the affair as you
see fit
Dear me what fuss about nothing.
don't think they intend to murder each
other Just yet''
"Perhaps not but you know they both
love you devotedly, and why do you keep
them lowering around? You cant marry
them both, and | doubt very much whether
you mean to marry either"
II don't know that do. 'she answered,
but the color in her cheeks deepened some
what. and she did not meet her cousins
questioning glance.
Then you are worse than thought you
were p"cried Nora with righteous wrath.
Il never would have believed you were
capable of such wickedness. Stella. Us
a sin and shame for any girl to act as
YOU have done! It's what call contempti-
bler'
as it, though ?' she answered with a
little embarrassed laugh. Don't get in
fault that can't make up nv mind. am
sure would be perfectly willing to obige
you by marrying one of the gentlemen,
but can't for the lite of me, find out
which one to prefer
You had better not nave either if
you've any doubt about it." Nora said
buntly
Now you are going back to what you
said before"
II wish you would have done with this
trifling."
Nothing was further from my thoughts. "
Stella answered, so gravely that Nora
SAID. in quite different tone:
You are not in love with either of
them, them"
"I-I don't think am. | believe like
Al-Mr. Douglas best; but the Valcour
fortune and family arms quite balance
my preference. SO you see | am in a
dilemma. All. there they are now. We
had better put on our things before we 90
down stairs. hadn't we? What a very
great swell Major Valcour's coachman is.
It's a handsome sleigh, too"
Flora went to the wardrobe and got out
her hat and furs As she put them on,
rival suitors, she vented her feelings in
the brief remark that Stella was the queer
est girl she had ever met.
The gentlemen were waiting for them
in the sleigh at the front door, and it was
not long before the robes were wrapped
about them, and they were off at rafting
pace on the road leading out of the quaint
old town
1t was clear, breezy day. but not too
cold for pleasure, and the ice-boats-
those swift-winged sleighs so common on
the Canadian rivers in winter-were skim
ming over the frozen surface of the water
like beautiful white gulls.
To see those dainty little vessels, mount
ed on runners. cutting along over the ice
at rate of 60 miles an hour, thrilled
Stella's venturesome soul with envy.
"Oh. | would give anything in the
world tor ride on one of those boats,
she cried with girlish extravaganza. and
her sparkling ewes followed the graceful
movements of the trim little ice-feet
Have you never ridden in one?" Eu-
gene Nalcour asked in surprise.
NO; but have always wanted to. |
should think it would be perfectly delight
full"
at is" Valcour answered. We have a
boat, Miss Markham. If you-'
"Ice-boating is very dangerous sport"
Alan Douglas observed sententously
You may dive into an air-hole or capsze
at any moment"
80 they say" Vanccour answered
careessly, but I've been out on the river
scores OF times and have never met with
single accident. It's all in the manage
ment OF the boat. | wouldn't be afraid
to take halt dozen of people in the Vic
torine.'
THAT a man has escaped hundred
times is no indemnity against possible ac-