Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-24

out word of apology, but had left strict
instructions that the place of your retreat
was MOTTO be mentioned to anybody. If this
was not deliberate insult, it was something
extremely like it. When | told you lust
now that Mr.. Corydon was under my pro-
lection, l meant that would not allow that
excellent young man to be treated as you
have treated me.' IA
MabePs Indignation was equal to the one
possible reply to this.
snake your mind easy she said; "sIr
Corydon is in no donger of being treated as
have treated you"
81 sincerely hope for my young friend 8
sake," Sir John answered, ''that you really
mean what you say
Mabel got more angry. "Nlr. Corydon
is charming p she burst out. ''Mr. Cory
don is young man whom esteem and
admire p ,.-.
"Allow me to thank you, Miss Mabel, for
your candor. You relieve me from the anx-
iety have been feeling on my friends ac-
count. 1fyou will only say to him what
you have just said to me shall retire hap
py in the conviction that my intercession in
Mr.. Corydon's favor has been crowned with
success Good morning."
Left by herself, Mabel felt the composing
influence of solitude. Little bv little her
checks recovered their every DAY delicacy
of color; her eyebrows took their proper
place on her forehead; and her pulse re-
turned to the customary moderation of it's
beat. She was able to listen to the gentle
promptings of her own vanity; and, as a
matter of course, she began to look at Sir
Johns insolence from new point of view.
He, the self-possessed man of the world,
had completely forgotten himself, and there
could be but one reason for it. "Mad with
jealousy" she concluded complacently.
"How fond he must be of me p
Who was this, approaching slowly from
the house with steps that hesitated? This
was the fatal young man who was under
Sir Sohn's protection, and who had repaid
the obligation by rousing emotions of jeal-
GUS rage in Sir Johns breast. Mabel was
not sure whether she despised him OF pitied
him. In this difficulty, she took a middle
course, and only said, "What do you wants"
"May not have the happiness of speak
ing to you?''
'It depends, Mr.. Corydon, on what you
have to say. forbid you to speak of Sir
John Bosworth; won't t hearyou if you speak
of yourself; and l shall retire to my room if
you speak of me. Have you any harmless
remarks to make? Suppose you try the
weather ?''
Humble Cyril looked up at the sky.
beautiful weather." he said submissively.
Cor politics" ?" Miss Mabel continued.
conservative, Cyril answered, as if he
were saying his catechism. "Oh, Miss
Mabel, don't be so bard on poor fellow
who loves you with all his heart. I didn' t
mean any harm when l asked Sir john"
s'Be quiet ~
eff there is any sort of atonement that I
can make-if you could only tell me what a
young lady wants-I mean, what she looks
for in young man-"
"Sbe looks, Mr.. Corydon, for what she
doesn't find in you.''
"May ask what that is ?"
''Pluck !''
She looked at him with moments saucy
attention-bowed, and returned to the
house. Even Cyril discovered that she was
not positively angry this time.
Sir John Bosworth appeared again on the
next day-with an excellent reason for re-
turning so soon. He had rot yet been
shown over Oakapple hall.
On this occasion, the servant conducted
him to the music-room. Mabel was at the
piano; and Cyril was turning the leaves of
the music for her.
''What were those remarks" Sir John
asked when the music was over, ''that Mo-
zart made on the subject of melody? Cyril,
my dear fellow, have you got Kelly's Rem
iniscencss' in the library? Kelly wasl Mo-
zart's pupil. Do try to find the book
Before he complied with this request,
Cyril looked at Mabel, and received look
in return. Then, and only then, he left
the room. Sir John saw that he had not a
to lose. The door had barely closed
on his young rival, before he possessed him
self of Mabel's hand and said, ooh, forgive
mer'
She released her hand, and assumed an
icy composure. 81 confess am little
surprised to see you again." she remarked.
"You see man crushed by sorrow and
shame" Sir John proceeded. "Some devil
must have possessed me when | spoke to
you yesterday. have not had one quiet
moment since. You are literally the one
hope of my life. Try, pray try to imagine
what felt, when had every reason to
fear that l had lost you-and to what a
man p'
"a very agreeable man, Sir John"
"Torture me. if you like; have deserved
it. But don't tell me that you-with your
bright intelligence, your tact and delicacy,
your superiority to the little weaknesses
and vanities of ordinary women-can feel a
serious attachment to such a person as
Cyril Corydon. No! Despise me as you
may, Mabel; destroy all the hopes that 1
have centered in you: doom me to be a
wretched man for the rest of my life-there
is one thing you can not do; defy you to
lower yourself in my estimation. You have
been the one woman in the world to me
since l first saw you; and the one woman
you will remain to the day of my death p
He caught her by the hand again; it
trembled in his hand; her ready tongue had
literally nothing to say.
Sir Johns nonsense, admirably spoken,
had answered St. Johns purpose. Placed
between her two admirers, Mabel was not
able to determine which she really perferred.
'There's no such book in the library"
Cyril announced. ''If he wanted to get rid
of me, don't you think Miss Mabel, he
might have said so plainly?''
For the moment Sir John was thunder
struck. Was this the same confding, help
less young gentleman who had brought him
to Oakapple hall? He recovered himself
directly.
"My dear boy, is there gout in your fam
lily ?'' he asked. 81 am at loss to under
stand this extraordinary outbreak of temper
unless there is a first fit coming on, at an
unusually early age"
Cyril passed this question over without
notice. His fair complexion redeemed with
anger. Never had love wrought such a
Transformation in man since the time OF
Cymon.
81 saw you take Miss Mabel's hand just
now, when came in," he declared stoutly,
81 consider that to be liberty"
Sir Johns satirical composure was not
disturbed even by this. "May 1 inquire,
merely as matter of curiosity, whether
you claim right of property in this young
lady's hand ?'
eyes, do? have reasons to hope that
this young lady will do me theI honor Of
marrying me-"
$50 have 1 r'
II have prior claim on her, SirsJ John." "
''Nothing Of the sort. l asked Miss Ma
bel to marry me last week.
Cyril turned Indignantly to Mabel. els
that true ?"
Sir John cautioned her. "You're not
bound to answer" he said.
"Do you hear him, Mabel ?'
Sir John pointing to Cyril's flaming
cheeks. ''Do you see him, Mabel?"
She burst out laughing. This discon-
LII IL Il orxyF, Il