Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-23


 ssHe,s a mighty poor lot, to my way of thinking.'' says MT. Massareene. in hiph dispust. Sometimes his Irish breedino makes a breach through his English edn. cation. "Don't mention his name to me II can't bear to hear it"
 CT don't believe it would cause ma much of pang were l never again to hear it myself, returns Miss Grey, who. if candor be virtue, is possessed of it to an extraordinary degree.
 After this little silence reigns be- tween them, then:
 s'Surely you are not mad enough to think you will be happy with hime" says Massareene excitedly. stHeul be the death of you. Looks like a man who would break woman's heart. After all, supposing you do quarrel with your people-what then?"
 stThen I should not only forfeit their esteem, which, after all"-with a swift glance at him from under her long lashes-"m -"means good deal to me, but I should cease to be auntie's heiress, and have my name struck out of Uncle Timo- thy's will. All that, my dear Gerald, would mean that I should be-still a lovely girl, no doubt''-with a rather constrained laugh-''but as certainly 8 penniless one.'
 She lifts her eyes resolutely as she says this, though it costs her something to do it, and looks keenly at him. If she had expected any disappointment, or blank, or awkwardness on his decidedly ugly face, she is mistaken. Gerald Massareene looks, if anything, relieved, in that now hope seems to have entered into him.
 My dearest girl, try to face that thought" he says, leaving his distant position, and once more dropping into the seat near her-much nearer this time. "I'm not Cresus; but if you could make up your mind to it, we might be able to make both ends meet"
 "You have exactly seven hundred a year," says Miss Grey, who disdains subterfuge. 1T found that out long ago by making inquiries"
 Massareene laughs.
 ''You are worth dozen of your sex in every way, but especially in one way" he says-"you never go in for de- ceit, however harmless, and you seldom beat about the bush. Yet TOO doesn't exaggerate it, and-ahem!-there is al- ways, you know, the chance of the title when my uncle-Lord Ballymore''--
 "Poufp' interrupts Mllicent, con- temptuously. "When you have slain your uncle, you mean, who is almost as young as yourself, and who is as likely as not to have an heir at any moment.''
 "Not at any moment, my dear grill The last-a third girls only fortnight old, and several moments, at all events, must elapse before the arrival of the heir. And if it shouldn't come''-
 But Miss Grey declines to listen to any such weak imaginings, and MT. Massa- reene, 8 little crushed, rather falls out of the conversation.
 Being @ young man, however, of in- domitable courage, and an unbounded supply of perseverance, he presently re- covers himself, and returns to the charge valiantly.
 1T can see am hateful to you," says he.
 "Oh, no! Certain1y''- -pohtely-"you are not that"
 "You can't endure me-"
 1T can, indeed, without the slightest trouble.''
 ''I'm an ugly fellow, I know"
 "Every one can't be as handsome as Granit," demurely.
 "Oh! to the devil with Granitr' says MT. Massareene, losing his patience.
 'sWith all my heart," replies she, amiably.
 1T don't believe he cares for you''
 My dear Gerald! What very rude speechl'
 "Well, I can't help it If I thought otherwise, even though I worship the ground you walk on, I would say noth- ing.
 'sDo you really think that?''
 "That he doesn't value you properlya Faith do.'
 'sNo. That a time could ever arrive when you could say nothing? Ahl consider the cruelty of the privation.
 s'There, now you are laughing at me as usual," says Massareene, and (for fear she'd be lonely, perhaps) he breaks into a low musical laugh also.
 ''That's 8 charming necklace you have on," says he, after little bit, that I re- gret to say was spent in kissing the hand of Granit Boyle's betrothed. "What is it?-sapphires9''
 "And diamonds-yes.
 "A gift of-his?'' tell himself how impossible it would be for him to rival such princely gift. He might give his honest love-his whole life to her service-his very life; but there is no money with him to purchase such magnificent gewgaw as this.
 ''No, silly boy! Where would Granit g0G It! uncle l1mOUny SOlemnly pre- sented it to me on the day of my presen- tation. That is quite month ago now. quick sigh-''how long ago it seems!''
 "You have spent the greater part of it with-himl''
 Mr. Massareene seems to have an un- conquerable difficulty about pronouncing his rivals name.
 ''That's exactly why," returns she, calmly. "And so you admire my bau- bles?''
 ''They are the finest things have seen this season-or any other for the matter of that" He feels quite rush of enthu- siastic admiration now he knows that Uncle Timothy and not the detested Boyle has been the donor. "And how unique in shape One could hardly for get them, having once seen them. Those little heart-shaped balls falling from the necklet shine like fire in this ight.''
 s'There is a tiara, too, and a stomacher. But didn't feel like living up to them yet. Yes, it was 8 valuable gift, but one rather too elaborate for debutante. Nevertheless, T. wear it, if only to please him''
 "You seem bent on pleasing every one, save me-"
 "And yet have pleased most of all," murmurs she, coquettishly-nay, saucily