Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-12-30
R L 7 R | B T ITO N
BY "THE DUCHESS. 81
CHAPTER XII.


from intense excitement.
Miss Grey, what terrible thing is this
i have heard? But you are well-safe?,'
He is holding her hand tightly clasped
in both his, and is gazing into her rather
pink face with an eager love and solicit
tude not to be misunderstood. He is as
oblivious to Capt. Boyle's sneering laugh
as TO Mrs. Brands glance of surprised
displeasurc, and is, indeed, deaf and
blind 10 everything but Millicent herself.
she has been in such sore danger; but
now she is here, before him, WELL beau
iful as ever.
Quite safe, as you see" says Mill
cent in n low. soft tone-the softest she
has ever used to him. She cannot but
contrast the tender vehemence of his adj
dress with the cool, unimpassiOned greet
ing accorded to her by Grant, an hour be-
fore. you must not think of me any
longer as deserving of your pity. And
have you forgotten auntie?'
Is there the faintest pressure of her
cool little hand as she brings him thus
back to a sense of his duty?
..How dye do, Mr.. Massareene?' says
Mrs Brand, a slight touch of asperity in
her tone.
There is something about this big,
ugly young Irishman, with his musical
brogue, and his wonderful eyes, and his
impetuosity. that labels him dangerous.
Il beg Your pardOnn' he eXclaims now,
Sliding across the room and clasping Mrs.
Brands iewcled hand in n grasp warm
as though he considered himself her
prime favorite, rather than Il bette nOir.
The grasp however, as she does not fail
TO remark, though warm, is gentle in
the extreme. and does not force the rings
against the delicate skin. After all-yes
there are some commendable points
about this young, ineligible man. Il
have been unpardonably rude, goes on
the ugly detrimental. But you will
forgive me, Mrs. Brand, when L assure
You that L didn't know whether ! was
standing on my head or my heels when
/ entered II e room. ! never got such d
shock in my life as Brandon gave me in
the Junior quarter of an hour ago.
'sYou we've on your heels That 1 can
prove to You says Mrs. Brand, smiling;
she is too good natured not to be half
amused, hall touched by the young mans
evident concern.
81 am Witness puts in Grant,, show
ing all his teeth again. 'YOu were quite
in proper trim, my dear fellow, Not a
suspicion of intOXicatiOn about you"
This laugh is replete with insolence.
In fact, the remark just made has refer
ence TO a subject that has grown sore
from rough handling. 1t has reference
to little scene in the early town life Of
Gerald Massareene, who one evening,
going IA little off his head after the ter
mination of a triumphant Derby day, took
perhaps n little more champagne than
was good for him. Some-his friends
said it was only his usual excellent
spirits raised to an excited pitch because
of his having made good thing off the
winner. Others-his acquaintance Che
had no enemies, good lad that he was)-
said it was the excellent spirits of the
club cellar. However it was, Massareene
went considerably beyond bounds, and
was in the morning thoroughly ashamed
of himself. Then came his introduction
to Millicent Grey-almost a little girl at
that time, but old enough to inthrall and
hold him with her budding beauty. And
with his growing love for her grew his
fear that this one episode (vulgar cpl
sode he called it, should be made known
to her 1t was an absurd fear, OF course,
and arose more from an apprehension
that she would regard him with disgust
than from any very moral regret for his
misconduct; but, be that as it may, Grant,
BOYLE knew of his nervous horror of its
being known-and, for the matter of that,
so did Millicent who had heard of the
little affair long time ago, and had
laughed IL good deal at several of the
smaller details concerning it. Indeed, it
had been n very innocent offense from
first TO last.
At Grants words Massareene's face
flames and q sudden fire brightenS his
eyes. At the moment it is easy to see
that there is little love lost between the
two men.
You mean:'' says Massareene, a little
sharply, taking step forward.
IL.
were eminently sober. Could I have
borne higher testimony to your charac-
ter? Miss Grey-aS you seem TO have some
doubts about the accuracy of my state
ment-will, am sure, cOrrobOrate what
have just said.''
Il refuse to give my countenance to
anything you may chance TO say, re
turns Millicent, in a low tone, but with
flashing eyes.
She has understood the drift of her
cousins remarks, and bitterly resents
them. She may not be overland always
10 Massareene, but she will permit no
one else to be uncivil to him.
''Whati' cries Boyle, gayly, arching
his brows and lifting his shoulders in
foreign fashion that either belongs to him
or has been cultivated to nicely, you
disagree with me? You really think
that our friends eXtremely-er-em-
presse manner, his hurried entrance, etc,
meant the - er-the other thing?
Really. dear Massareene, | would not
stand that if were you. You look as if
YOU would like to murder Somebody''-
with light laugh-''that is the standing
condition of your countrymen, eh? why
not call Miss Grey outE'
-.Dueling is out of fashion, and one
only horsewhips men, replies Massa-
reene, meaningly, with his eyes fixed
steadily upon his opponent.
''Oh, but duel under such conditions
that cannot be out of fashion, as it
has never yet come in. Why not set it?
Be leader of it? And a tete a tete with
Miss Grey, even under such equivocal cir
cumstances, might not be altogether
without its charm"
He throws out this last taunt quite
nirily-making even slight movement of
the hand that somehow adds to the ag-
gressive impertinence of it.
Massareene throws up his head, as
though scenting battle. and his face
pales Millicent, marking these signs of
coming storm, enters the breach hastily.
Il do think, Grant,, y she says, glancing
insolently at her cousin from beneath
half closed lids, THAT when you try to
be amusing you are the most unpardon
ably stupid person | ever met. YoUr
jokes always make me feel inclined to
weep
I'm this Instance demands he,
quickly, his face darkening and an evil
light coming into his eyes.
And in every other. One yawns
enough in all conscience as one goes
through life without being compelled to
do it by those who would fain believe
they stir our laughter. Give it up, my
dear Grant; comedy is beyond you-the
heavy business suits you better
a glance at her cousin convinces her
that she has amply revenged herself. His
brow is as black as midnight, and his
mouth has taken the old expression that
means mischief. Massareene, too, has
added TO his discontinue by breaking
into gay laugh, that rouses Mrs. Brand
from her perusal of a review, as scurril-
Gus as it is just. of book written by
friend of hers, that she finds of engross-
ing interest-the review, that is, not the
book.
s.What is it?'' asks she, looking up in
high good humor. Really, the review
has quite exceeded her expectations. ''If
it is anything amusing pray let me hear
it. / have been so put out by very
harsh criticism on dear Fanny Ellwood's
novel that require something to cheer
mo Soma LITTLE lest of yOI1rS Granits