Milford chronicle., 1889-08-02

fine lace ruffies at throat and wrist BE
leant on a gold headed cane and tapped a
snuff box as he talked There were crowds
Of courtly men talking to elegant women,
whose Dyes glanced all tho brighter for their
powder and rouge. At ono end two couples
were gliding through 3 minuet, with many
bow and sweeping courtesy. As / grew
more accustomed to the brilliant scene
seemed to know instinctively who some Of
the people were Those two old danes on
the settee In the corner arc kinswonlen Of
the host, and their tongues have not ceased
since came in. No doubt they are discuss
ing some dainty dish Of scandal That tall,
stern man moving about with an air of au-
thority must surely be the son and heir.
But there is a couple that more than all the
rest excites my curiosity. The man is small
and slight and fax; he Is dressed In the ex-
IRENE Of fashion, In pale pink satin, with
diamond buckles on his shoes. His rapier has
a jeweled hilt, and through it Is drawn an
embroidered handkerchief. He stands near
| the top OF the room, and Is evidently guest
Of Importance, for the host pauses now and
again to smile and say few words, which
the young man answers carelessly in thin,
bored voice. his partner is a much more in
teresting study. She Is very young-not
more than 17-and has q delicate, fragile
look Her hair Is piled loosely on the top Of
her head, and a blue ribbon runs through it
Il Is the only bit of color about her. Her
white silk sacque falls In full, graceful folds
from her shoulders; she holds a dropping
cluster Of white roses in her hands, which
nervOusly arrange and rearrange the flowers;
her face is very colorless, and her deep blue
eyes have a strained, nervous look. The two
do not seem at ease In each others company;
from time to time the gentleman pays the
lady vapid compliment, to which she re-
spends family or not at all
Now there Is general move toward the
top Of the room. and the musicians cease.
The company gathers round a square oak
table; on it are pens, ink and several large
sheets Of paper. A man in plain black gar
ments, evidently notary, takes seat
Father and son stand near each other, and
on the farther side the young couple who have
so interested me; then see the Likeness be-
tween the girl and the two men opposite, and
it flashes across my mind that am assisting
at that betrothal scene had heard Of few
days before. The notary begins to read, the
document tells Of the dover Of the bride and
the settlements made by the bridegroom,
calling forth many ordinations Of wonder
and signs Of envy from the assembled guests.
The father and son listen with stern satisfac-
tion; the bridegroom pretends to pay no at
tention; the bride, poor little thing, gets
paler and more nervous
Now the reading has come to an end, and
amidst the buzz Of conversation the host
rises and signs the papers. The witnesses on
bis side follow, then the bridegroom and his |
witnesses. The notary turns to the bride.
and smiling, offers her the pen. With trem- |
bling fingers she takes it, then hesitates
Her great sad eyes are lifted appealngly to |
her brother, and seeing no hope there she /
looks at her father, and piteous murmur |
that Is half a sob breaks from her; "Fatherw /
But no softness comes over the stern face. |
ut Is your turn to sign, my daughterln Is |
all the response she gets. Despairingly she
bends over the table and her name is added
10 the rest.
The business being over, the ladies crowd
round her with congratulations on the splen-
did match, and surrounded by them she
moves away. Presently she begs them to
leave her by the window. She feels a little
faint, she says, but a few moments quiet will
5oon put her right, and they leave her in the
deep embrasure Once alone she rises, and,
her opportunity, slips out into the
night J. too, step through my window, and
zee her dit across the terrace in the noon
light. At the foot Of the steps a man starts
put Of the shadow with low "At last, sweet
leartl" and catches the slender figure in his
arms for a moment. Wrapping a large.
lark cloak over her white garments he draws
ler arm through his and leads her a few
iteps, when he is stopped by hand placed
uddenly on his shoulder Turning, he sees
he dark face OF his lady's brother.
With q cry the girl starts from him and
iings herself between the two men. Her
brother thrusts her aside. "Stand backl 1
nave to deal with him, not youp But she
'lings TO him, and, sinking on her knees,
promises anything IT, he will only let her
over 60 safe. He shakes himself free, and in
mother moment the clash of swords brings a
wondering crowd to the windows. No one in
erferes or attempts to go to the poor child
folding the back Of a seat to keep herself up
light Presently heavy fall and a shrek
rom the girl tells what the end is. The white
Igure flies to the PROSTATE man and the little
lands try to lift the heavy head kiss me,
weetheart," murmurs the dying man; II
wish could have saved you," and then all is
till
For few minutes no one moves. The
overs lie as il both, instead Of one, were
cad; the guests gaze at them with pale,
cared faces, and midway between the two
roups half way up the steps, father and son
peak In low whisper. The moon sheds her
aim, silvery light ever all, as she would were
he scene she nIumined happy instead Of a
lost tragic one. Suddenly sec the giTl aft
er head; noiselessly she rises 10 her knees,
hen to her feet The two men on the steps
office nothing, 50 deep are they In their
ghispered conference With q swift
healthy movement she glides down to the
7aters edge, and before her father
nd brother, warned by a cry from
heir guests, can stop her, she has
5epped into a light pleasure boat meored
here, and has pushed on into the lake. In
ain are the cries to her to return She floats
owly away In the moonlight, and as solemn
ush comes over the spectators the sound Of a {
w crOoned song comes across the water. !
hen it stops and the white figure rises to its 4
set, sobbing cry reaches us, and with lifted
rms and upturned face, il sinks-sinks-and
isappearA A scream bursts from some one I
l the crowd-Rnd the figures vanish.
was sitting alone among the roses, the old {
ouss stood silent and deserted behind me- {
he crazy boat was quietly moored at the
tie landing stage, but the moon had disap- }
cared and an owl in the trees near by was s
,nding forth his melancholy cry on the stin
ight air.-London Society '