The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-09


No, il will frighten her. | hate mas
terly inactivity. am going for her! she
remarked.
They were playing croquet on very
poor crCquet ground, with large party.
Mr.. Lee, whispered Mrs. Page, will
you walk on the beach after the game?
have something to tell you.
hope it is something agreeable, he
repl ed, disturbed by her manner.
No; it is something very disagreeable.
The new moon CLEANED uncertainty
on the water; delicious salt breezes blew
upon them as they walked up and down
upon the sands.
Mr.. Lee. have had an interview with
your daughter, Mrs. Grant-a very un-
pleasant interview. If had made up
my mind TO be her step mother, think
l think | should retract; as it is
What did you say my dear Mrs. Page?
asked Mr.. Lee with serenity he was
far from feeling.
l said very little. If she had coaxed
| should have told her how little she
had to fear.
Ali in a tone Of dsmay.
As she did very much the reverse,
was cold, diguified and non committal.
She accused me of entrapping and in
trlguing-talking of your money-Mrs
Page actually sobbed-in short, my dear
Mr.. Lee, think had better leave to
morrow morning.
And if you go, what will be the result,
so far as | am concerned! he politely in
terrogated.
If | go it will greatly Inconvenience
me, and of course my only object IN go
ing will be to end this matter.
An angry gleam shot from Mr.. Lees
eye. I'll take care, he said, that you'll
not be annoyed IN future. Mrs. Grant
shall humbly apologize, and she must
leave, not you.
My dear Mr.. Lee, promise me that you
will never speak to your daughter on
the subject. insist, entreat that you
never aIlude to me, continued the coax.
ing voice.
On one condition; that you stay, and
that what Mrs. Grant has said shall have
no effect on your conduct or decision. |
am at your mercy; you are doubtful,
hesitating, but the scales weigh a little
in my favor, do they not
Oh no. Indeed | have never thought
seriously OF marrying you; | only dis
like to refuse you.
That last is an admirable frame Of
mind; preserve 1t; and they left the
beach.
Archie and Jack appeared the next
day, summoned by an imperative tele-
gram from Mrs. Grant.
Now, boys, you must exert yourselves;
I've done all can. said their sister. She
is obstinate and odious-would not tell
me anything.
Whose turn will it be to speak first?
cried Archie. Ill throw up penny
heads win tails lose. It's mine with a
glance of despair.
Archie clung pertinaciously to Mrs.
Pages side on the piazza, sat next her
in the omnibus which took them to the
bathing beach, walked home with her
through the shady lane after the bath
ing.
She was delighted with the gay young
fellow. At length he showed little
claw Mrs. Page, we are all very much
afraid you are going 10 marry papa,
Would you not like me for step
mother and she smiled deliciousy at
him.
Ills ltIlutI ntdIl blht lUu.
who could help liking you? But and he
hesitated-we don't want step mother;
step mothers are deucedly in the way.
An involuntary smile appeared on
Mrs. Pages face; then she sighed.
The good hearted fellow felt COM
FUNCTION as he heard the sigh. Hang it!
he burst forth. Gerty set me at you
She expects me to be disagreesble, but
we shall be in love with our step
mother.
Jack, he cried to his brother a few
moments after, l made perfect mess of
it. She's an angel
She is detestable returned Jack; l
hate your purring, coaxing women. She
shall have a piece of my mind, | can tell
you.
Mrs. Page appeared to have a compre
hension of danger. for she avoided Jack
skillfully for two days. He shot fierce
glances toward her at the dinner table,
gared at her from under his bushy eye
brows in the ballroom, and when she
came up dripping frCm her bath she
could scarcely stagger past him, his sar.
castle eyes were SO Overpowering. She
avoided the piazza, and on the third day
ndu Hluutu utiStll "lsh boOh Dtuluu
a rock, when, bristling and pugnacious,
he appeared: Pardon my intrusion, but
| am exceedingly desrous of seeing you,
and alone.
She bowed stiflly.
Mrs. Page, we have been told Of my
fathers proposal, and that you think of
accepting him. The idea is very disa
greeable to all of us-in fact, we can
scarcely think well of you. 1t puts you
in a most suspicious, really odious.
light.
Mrs. Pages light brown eyes flashed
Indignantly at him.
There is but one object in marrying
my father, he resumed after moments
pause; it is transaction common
enough in Mohammedan countries. You
are purchased with million of dollars !;
think that was the sum mentioned
Her lip quiyered like a child's indig-
nation and tears strove for the mastery.
but cry she would not he never should
have that satisfaction.
MIR. Lee, she exclaimed, don't know
what goa think of your conduct; think
it is cowardly ,dastardly, You are afraid
of demonstrating with your father, but
you hurl cruel, insulting words at me, a
poor, defenceless woman. l admire your
father, / am even ford of him. but was
very far from consenting to marry him.
Now think will. What his entreaties
could not effect, your insolence has. She