Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-12-09
R E R [ B T tt @ N.
BY "THE DUCHESS
CHAPTER V.

know by this time, and 1 don't think that
is a very correct way to address a girl
who is engaged to be marriedr'
"a very correct way when she is en-
gagged to the wrong man."
$50 YOU think You are the right one?''
demands she saucily
II don't think it, know ii, says he.
such knowledge is, no doubt, full of
comfort retorts she.
Drip-drip-go the fountains indoors,
where they are sitting, behind the cool
evergreens in the largest conservatory.
Plash-plash-go the larger ones in the
illuminated gardens outside. From some
where beyond comes to them the last
dying bars of n dreamy waltz-au around
them the air is heavy with the breath of
sleeping flowers. Massareene, leaning
forward, lays his hand on hers.
/ wish you would think of it, Mill
cent he says, in low tone.
''Of WHAT My aunt's indignation? my
uncle's contempt? the combined wrath of
my entire family?"
''No. OF fiinging off the bands that
now bind you, and of love and happiness
with me-
would it be happiness?'' she signs
impatiently, and then shuts up her large
fan with an angry click. Il tell you it
is not to be thought off, she says pres
emily. Things have gone too far for any
with my cousin Grant, Boyle is as much
a fait accompi as if we had stood, he and
i, before my Lord Bishop. -
You can talk very coolly of it. 1t
can't after all, be so very displeasing to
you. this idea of marrying a man you
profess not to love-" says the young man
beside her, regarding her with affronted
eyes. He rises quickly from his seat and
gees a good way from her, leaning against
a marble pedestal that stands in one cor
ner.
Don't pose" says Miss Grey calmly;
''I'm not a photographer. And don't talk
nonsense either. / am not one of the
hysterical sort, and can certainly talk
coolly of this marriage that is being
forced upon me. / have had time to grow
calm over it, you must remember, as we
were betrothed to each other when /
was almost n little baby in white muslin
and blue ribbons. 1t was in white mus
lin them" says she with a little curious
laugh; ''nOw 1 ought to be in sackcloth
and ashes. i feel so bad
land he?'' demands her companion
with an effort.
wears his sacrificial wreaths with
quite jaunty air. I am an heiress,
would have you remember, my good sir
Grant, Boyle is wise in his own genera
ton
Hes mighty poor lot, to my way of
thinking" says Mr.. Massareene, in high
disgust. Sometimes his Irish breeding
makes breach through his English edu-
cation. Don't mention his name to me
Il can't bear to hear it.
II don't believe it would cause me
much of a pang were / never again to
hear it myself, - returns Miss Grey, who,
if candor be a virtue, is possessed of it to
an extraordinary degree.
After this a little silence reigns be-
tween them, then:
surely you are not mad enough to
think you will be happy with him?''
says MaSSareene excitedly. ''He'u be
the death of you. Looks like man who
would break a woman's heart. After
all, supposing you do quarrel with your
people-what then?''
''Then 1 should not only forfeit their
esteem, which, after all''-with a swift
glance at him from under her long
lashes-''means a good deal to me, but
i should cease to be auntie's heiress, and
have my name struck out of Uncle limo
thy's will. All that, my dear Gerald,
would mean that 1 should be-still a
lovely girl, no doubt''-with a rather
constrained 1augh-"but as certainly a
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 a Cr9sus; 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 Il found that out long ago
by making inquiries. -
Massareene laughs.
''You are worth a 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 700 doesn't
eXaggerate it, and-ahem!-therei is al
ways, you know, the chance of the title
when my uncle-Lord BallymOre"-
''Poufl'' interrupts MAlicent, 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 gill-is only fortnight
old, and several moments, at all events
heir. And if it shouldn't GOMEZ
But Miss Grey declines to listen to any
such weak imaginines, and Mr.. Massa-
reene, 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.
7 hota fT11 70
he.
''Oh, mol Certainly politely-''you
are not that
You can't endure me-
Il can, indeed, without the slightest |
trouble
I'm an ugly fellow, know"
Every one can't be as handsome as
Grant, demurely
''Oh! to the devil with Granit!' says
Mr.. Massareene, losing his patience.
with all my heart" replies she,
amiably
Il don't believe he cares for you
MY dear Gerald! What very rude
speechr'
''Well, can't help it If thought
otherwise, even though / worship the
ground you walk on, I would say moth
ing
''Do you really think thats''
THAT he doesn't value you properly? |
Faith do.'
''No. That time could ever arrive |
when you could SAY nothing? Ali |
consider the cruelty of the privation.
''There, now you are laughing at me as
usual, says 1assareene, and (for fear |
she'd he lonely, perhaps) he breaks into
a low musical laugh also.
That's charming necklace you have
on says he, after a little bit, that 1 re-
gret to say was spent in kissing the
hand of Grant, Boyle's betrothed
'What is it?-sapphires?''
"And diamonds-yes. +"
"a gift of-his?''
He looks really sorrowful now, as he
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 a magnificent gewgaw as this.
mo, silly bOyl Where would Grant, |
get it? Uncle Timothy solemnly pre-
sented it to me on the day of my presen-
tation. That is quite month ago now.
Ahr'-with quick sigh-'how long ago