The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-08

|
father as entire strangers, or as two who
had met before, but only in casual way,
and it was concluded to adopt the latter
plan.
II was only about six weeks since Stanley
snd Clara. had just met They had been
introduced at a large reception, given by a
fashionable lady at her house, for chari-
table purpose, in which Stanley took deep
interest and We're, on Stanley's request,
introduced by the hostess, who was con-
sidered the creme de la creme of "our set T"
She afterwatd said to Clary:
"Most charming man, my dear. You've
heard of him, if you pay much attention
to art. He has just come back from abroad,
where he has made great sensation. Has
travelled everywhere, my dear, and will be
q great catch for somebody. Very hand
some, isn't hep"
Clarry did think he was very handsome,
but she had never before heard any one
who could talk like Percy Stanley. 1t was
case of love at first sight; she loved him
for his mind. and he loved hex for her
beauty and innocence. To him this inno-
cence did not seem weakness of intellect
it was simply want of that knowledge
which proper line Of association imparts,
and which poor Clarry had never enjoyed
Stanley felt that he could enjoy teaching
her, as he would a child, and he felt sure
that he would have willing and an i'm
proving pupil. Clarry could chatter, too,
by the hour, about nothing, like girls of
her class, but she had that rare faculty,
which girls Of her age and class, rarely
have: she knew when to hold her tongue
without being taciturn, and she could talk
good common sense when it was wanted;
and more than that, she neter talked about
what she did not understand and was, al
all tines good listener.
That afternoon Marion Delorme left her
the appointment with Smith, at the studio.
Stanley was already there, and had been
busy painting en- an ideal portrait of Clarry,
in which Marion was deeply interested, for,
though she had never seen the original,
Stanley had told all about the beautiful
girl he had met. When she came in, Stan
ley left the easel and kissed her, then he
said, with q smile, and slight shrug:
Marion, I'm afraid have fallen into dis
grace with you.' / have thrashed your in
amorato, young Smith, this morning."
Are you in earnest. Percy?" said Marion,
gravely.
Perfectly! I have disabled him." and
then Stanley went on and told her the ad-
venture of the morning; how Fitz had
bantered him to put on the gloves, and how
he had attacked him SO tiercely, Oh the sup
position that he did not know how to box,
until he had been forced to defend himself,
and how Fitz had come off breathless, and
with swollen nose, at all of which Marion
laughed heartily, and when Stanley had
finished she said:
I'm sorry, Percy, for the little fellow.
I'm sure he can't mean any real harm. NY
instinct tells me that he's not wicked, and
| can see no reason for his animosity to-
ward you, except your attentions toward his
sister, which you say he knows nothing
about. AS to anything connecting you with
me, thereby exciting his jealousy, that, l
am sure, cannot be, for he has no possible
way of knowing about it. Mr.. Marks has
never seen you at Mrs. Dufrom's, and I
have cautioned her about speaking of you
10 anyone, especially him."
But, Marion, don't see why you wish to
keep it secret"
That 1 will explain afterward, Percy.
They say a woman acts without motive;
| that il not ao with ma.--r hava n rontiya
I like this Fitz James Augustus smith,
hot only because he is brother to your
Clara, but because 1 like his father, and l
an going to educate him."
Stanley laughed. 1t was so like his idea
with regard to Clarry, without his telling
anything about it. Then he told Marion
about what he and Clarry had agreed to in
the morning, as to their recognition when
they met in the presence of her father, and
had barely got through talking about it
when the visitors knocked at the door,
which Marion quickly opened.
Mr.. Stanley" exclaimed Clarry, with
| tooa op5 manner that prorlai cd bor q
good actress, if nothing else; and then
turning to Marion, she offered her hand,
and said, Miss Delorme?"
Marion Delorme, Miss Smith. I am
very glad to meet you, was the response
"Hoty, toity!" said Septimus, adjusting
his left ear, and looking on with symptoms
of astonishment 1T seems I'm not wanted
here. Clarry, you never told me that you
new Mr.. Stanley or Miss Delorme. Eh!
Hows this?"
PA, you never told me you knew Mr.
Stanley or Miss Delorme you never men,
toned their names, and l did not ask you.
Mr. Stanley met at Mrs. De Brique's and
elsewhere, and Miss Delorme have never
seen until to-day, though Mr.. Stanley has
often spoken of her"
"Eh! that's so." said Septimus, letting
go his left ear, and laughing. That's al
ways the way with my mysteries. They
always, somehow, come back upon myself,
which only shows, Miss Delorme, how
much better it is to have no secrets, but
ell everybody everything"
"Oh! but we must always have some lit
tie mystery, some little secret, or life would
not be worth living"
Il suppose you indorse that rule Stan
ley; you did not tell me that you knew
my daughter?"
Pardon me- Mr.. Smith," said Stanley,
laughing pleasantly; you know that in So
ciety it is not considered exactly du fat
for gentleman to boast of his acguaint-
ance with lady; it might not be pleasant
to her, and she has the privilege of first
acknowledging it"
"Ah! confound your society tactics; that's
what my wife is always throwing at me.
Now, l don't know society, and society
don't know me, and even if we were intro
duced, | doubt if we should ever be
friends"
couple of very pleasant hours they
spent together, looking at the pictures,
turning over the contents of Stanley's past
portraits, the collection of a lifetime, and
listening to description of such sketches
or photographs as attracted their attention.
Then they had music, and Stanley and
Miss Delmore, showed themselves thorough
in the only art in which Septimus really
delighted. They both had fine voices, and
sang duets, and then as finale, Stanley
produced some wine that made Septimus
smack his lips, for Stanley had brought it
himself from Spain, from the very vine-
yard where, score of years before, it had
been made, and Septimus went away feel
ing like boy again, and trying to carry
them both off to dinner. failing in which
be made an engagement that on the follow
ing Sunday they should spend the after.
noon, dine, and pass the evening
Some people have prejudice, you see,
Stanley, against visiting on Sunday, but
haven't Sunday, ! don't think of bust
ness. Sunday is quiet. To church in the
morning, and, after that, praise God by
being merry, and at peace with all the
world. Sing, even Yankee DOODLE il
you like it; eat and drink: though can't
give you as good wine as that, I'll give You
the best have, and be as happy as circum.
stances will let you be-
CHAPTER X.
THE PROGRESS OF FITZ.
Who is Miss Delorme, Clarry?" said
Septimus, after he had got into the street.
Well, pa, it strikes me as very curious
I. r.