Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-10-11
HE CONQUERED HER.
by WALTER I. BLAkEY.

Ii HL1AA-LN l. DA~<AHALA'
''Ten to one you'll fall in love with
her." said Fred Edgerly, energetically.
II won't take the wager. | don't want
to rob you, Edgerly."
''TOu think you are proof against any
amount of attractions after bearing as
sault and battery from West Point bellies
for five years and upward, Edgerly an
swered, laughingly, as he glanced at the
handsome brOnzed face Of his friend, as
they drove over the high road leading
from Carmen Station to HurIton Top,
where the two men were expected to join
Mrs. Hurlton's gay party. ''But you
have not seen Miss Viner yet; when you
do, prepare to surrender Internationally"
"You seem to forget that am not an
impressionable school boy" Lieutenant
FIeetweil answered, with a scornful smile
curling his lip under his heavy mustache,
II have seen hundreds of women hand
somer and more charming than Miss
Viner, dare say, and | have escaped
heart whole, fortunately" he added, as
they turned in at the park gates and
drove up the avenue leading to the old
Hurlton mansion. 1t was fine day, to-
ward the latter part of September, bright
and cheerful and sunshiny, and the
grand, stately old brown stone building
was looking it's best in the haze of golden
sunlight.
1t was upward of five years since Lieu
tenant FleetweH had seen his cousins
dark eyes frightened as they dwelt upon
it, and frightened yet more as they fell
upon a lady in picturesque tea gown
who came out on the wide stone steps
with her eager hands outstretched and
her dark eyes aglow with pleasure.
"My dear Jerome, how glad | am, :"
she said, as Lieutenant Fleetwell took
the little hands in his, and bending,
kissed them with a graceful courtesy,
which was pleasant to see. Crank is
fishing, of course, but he will be back
early. What an age it is since we met! -
cit is a long time indeeC," Jerome
answered, in his low, rich voice, ''but
looking at you, Florence, | am inclined
to think that it is five months, and not
five years, which have elapsed since I
went to West Point"
'Wait tillyo see my boys" she said,
laughing, as she turned to greet the
young collegian with pleasant, cordial
cOurtesy-and the two gentlemen fol-
lowed her into the hall, a stately apart
ment in keeping with the exterior of the
mansion. ''Most of my lady guests have
driven over to Bamby's Head" Mrs
Hurlton said, as she led the way across
the marble pavement toward one of the
many doors which opened into the hall,
Miss Viner and [ are alone. Mr..
Edgerly have good news for you; Miss
Dusan is coming tomorrow"
AS she spoke she pushed open a door
leading into pretty, dainty, rather ;es-
thetic-lOOking room, where tea was Wait
ing, and which at first seemed to be I'M
occupied, but as the door opened a lady,
who was standing by the open window,
turned slowly round, and came toward
them, holding out her hand to Mr. Ed
gerly with a smile, which did not blind
him to the sudden CLEAN of intense eager
admiration which flashed into Lieutenant
FleetwelPs eyes as they rested upon her
face
She was very beautiful-there could
hardly be two opinions upon that point.
She was small, though queen like; and
her dress of some soft cream colored ma
terial, which fell around her in soft folds.
showed the beauty of figure which was
nothing less than perfect.
Lieutenant Fleetwell-Miss Viner,"
said Mrs. Hurlton, quietly, and Miss
Viner bowed slightly, while the faintest
tinge of pink rose in her fair face as she
met Lieutenant Flectwell's eager, dark,
admiring eyes.
Hurlton Top was one of the very pleas
ATTEST houses IN the county to stay at,
for the hostess exercised the greatest dis
erection and Judgment in the choice of
her guests, and Ipared no pains to make
their visit an enjoyable one. Mrs. Hurl-
ton was, like many another happy wife,
a matchmaker at heart.
1t very soon became apparent to some
of her lady visitors that their pretty
hostess had designs against the peace of
mind Of her husbands cousin-and Fred
Edgerly smiled TO himself as he saw how
hopelessly and irretrievably in love his