Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-07-02
MISS FORTUNES ROMANCE,

~ was NOT Gay IN May-one Of those
early hot days that are so exhausting-
and Miss Fortune Wayland, tired with
that provoking kind of shopping that
consists in matching things" turned
into fashionable ladies' restaurant for
rest and refreshment She was a calm,
equable girl, not readily irritatcd, but it
was trilc annoying to hive her quiet
interrupted by the rustling, laughing,
and chattering of the very two giiis
whose company at that hour she woIld
most of all have deprecated.
For she was dusty and heated, and not
IN her freshest toilet, and Ida Vincent and
Kate Croye had just stepped from their
carriage in all the luStre and freshness
OF elegant spring costumes. They, of
course, could afford to be pleasant; it was
much ha der thing for Fortune to smile
and say .'Is it really you2 l am glad
TO see you."
They sat down together, and began to
eat ices, and discuss toilets and summer
plans. "We were going to Europe" {"
said Ida, with charming franknoss,
'but some one is going to the Branch,
and of course we follow in his wake.
Mamma thinks he admircs me, and | am
under orders to captivate him.
Il know whom you mean, Ida; there
IS really no need for you to affect secrecy.
1t is Ray Symington. My mamma thinks
he admires me, and am under orders to
capt;vate him also."
And pray who is Ray Symington?"
"As If you did not know, Fortune +!
Why, your father is his lawyer. He has
been back for month, and was at the
MOBILES and the billiards and
"Now | know whom you mean," said
Fortune. 'He used to come great deal
to our house before he went abroad.
That is six years since. | was only a
schoolgirl then, but from what | re-
member of Ray Symington think he will
never fall in love with any woman except
one made to order. However, he does
not concern me; have fringes on my
mind at present. So I will say good-by,
girls"
'Wait quarter of an hour, and we
will take you as far as Aitkin's.n
Thanks; | cannot wait; | am to me ct
mamma and Gertrude at Mad lma De.
cimer's Adieun
Fortune was walking down Broadway
again, and this time without the least
sense of heat or fatigue. She was calling
to remembrance some autumn days si2
years ago, when she had first seen Ray
Symington. What happy Septelnbel
and October it had been! She had come
into town carly in order to enter schoo
at the commencement of the session, anC
had been alone with her father. During
these days Ray hal been much witt
them, and she had sat listening happil,
to his travels by land and sea, and hearG
him discuss with Mr.. Wayland scientih,
subjects in which both were interested
How often had she brought them tea O.
coffee while they sat talking, and wha
pleasant words and looks he had glvel
her
Nay, there had been something more
than this, One night when Mr.. Waylauc
had been called out on business, and the
two sat alone by the little open fire tina
the chill October night made necessary
Ray had held her hand and said, sorrow
fully: Fortune, will you forget me whe
go over the sea, and never remembe
the pleasant nights we three have ha
togetherW
'If they were pleasant, why do you @
away?" she asked, softly.
''You almost tempt me to ask to sta v
buy you are so young it would be unfair
am an old man, child, Travelled and di
illusioned; it would be unfair. You mus
fbn world tipot EOcf,,nn,
and then if you remember me, ah, ho'
happy l shall be! Give me the rose {
your belt, dear child. Perhaps YOU wi
think of me till it withers."
II shall never forget you"
But Ray either misdoubted the young
inexperienced heart, or he feared to tru
the future with it. He only kissed IL
rose, aud kissed the hand that gave i
} and in an hour there was an end of Fol
J. tunes young romance.
Perhaps just in this very hour her goo
fate had turned toward her, for what 81
had failed to find and failed to do q
} morning now came easily to her hanC
: and even such straws as finding the exa,
trimming wanted may show that the CO.
, trary wind has changed and favorir
: gale sprung up. She was not conscio,
} Of reasoning in this way, but she felt
l change, and under its influence looked
l bright and happy that, when she m
D her mother and sister at Madame D
r cimers, Mrs. Wayland chose to feel irl
8 tated at it.
5 "You are so contradictions, Fortune
= she said. Here you are, looking
a fresh and happy as possible, while po
s Gertrude and are worried to death.
is too aggravatingl