The Portland daily press., 1889-07-31
FEARLESSN ESS.

BY ROSE HAWTHORNE LATHRoP.
independent
.Genevieve Chamberlain is too SILENT" re-
marked Hull Balkan. "When she comes in
to the room feel as if wanted to shake q
secret out of her perfect mouth; but, as she
is very dainty and very beautiful l don't
really do it,
The young woman who sat near him as he
spoke, painting fancy.work, and who could
not quite compete with a great beauty,
thought Balkan was showing off, being irri-
tated by Genevieve's apparent indifference,
and was trying to console himself with
grumbling at her, although he would have
been very critical of anyone else who dared
to do so. This young woman, who could re-
feet intellgently, was, nevertheless, per-
feet child in guilelessness. She could stand
In judgment over people, as child does. and
cause no antagonisms, at any rate in ma
ture as generous as her own. She was the
sort of girl who would remain sweet and
naive as an old woman.
Nellie Featherly looked round at Balkan
In moment and responded:
''Now there is nothing mysterious about
me-"
''You l should think not You are so
fearless, straightforward and amusing"
You have not quite illusion enough about
me, think" Nellie pouted over her satin
scarf, which was bursting into flower and
leaf. "You have made me out just one of
the ordinary, useful, toss-me-aside kind of
women, and, although you are right, do
hate to hear the fact repeated"
81 don't care what you think of yourself
or how you construe my appreciation of
you," answered Balkin saucily. 81 am
perfectly content with enjoying your traits
and sitting where you paint"
Nellie went on busily, with a dozen pretty
attitudes and motions and rather dissatis-
fed expression of countenance. Whether it
was her or his words which annoyed her
Balkin was not sure.
That's exquisite, and no mistake" he
went on peering over at the drawing-board
on her knee, upon which the satin was
stretched.
''Oh, please don't say pretty things"
Nellie cried. Somehow. you seem insincere
todayl"
hesitate to tell the truth, rather than prevari-
cate. To be quite honest, / would tell you
the truth about anything in the world you
could ask me; tho with Others might be as
silent as Genevieve, instead of confessing to
actualities."
"If ever want to ask you anythink will
remember this" the young amateur rejoined.
with the incest of smiles in Balkans earnest
face.
Cecil Morton sauntered across the room
during the little pause ensuing, and said that
the day was to good for staying in the house.
Why not go to walk before dinner? The
young people, eight when all told, were visit
ing some dear old country gentlefolks to
whom Nellie was nearly related, and who
had asked them out of town for week OF
sleighing and other winter fun, the snow
being in better condition than for years past.
That evening they were to go sleighing by
moonlight, and 1t was super-energetic for
Morton to talk of walking But we all
know how these restless people of energy or
and fresde luxury. Neither Nellie nor
Balkan wished to be stigmatsed as 10th to
exercise, and so they rushed out of the
parlor to find the others, and get well
wrapped up against c0olish ramble, while
Cecil Morton smiled to himself in a mirror
to think of the commOtion he could effect at
will.
Nellie and Genevieye paired off, intention
ally, as the group left the hall.door ten
minutes later. Something agitated Nelle's
beautiful friend, as the former was able to
discover through girlish intimacy, which is a
very deep thing indeed. Genevieve's face
looked calm and pale as she said in low,
rather tragic voice. to the affectionate girl
beside her:
my heart is almost breaking. l am so
wretched and so surprised. To think OF 1t!
Never have loved before, and every one al
ways on their knees to me. and now the
very one who absorbs my thought-cold,
cold, cold"
Don't be silly, Gen. You're so fired up at
finding any one you can become romantic
over that you are as blind as hickory-nut,
besides being dredfully awkward when he's
around Moreover, Hall Balkan is perfectly
splendid-so handsome and so manlyl /
don't wonder you like lin tremendously.
And the idea of his not coming under your
spell! As for me. just know he thinks you
are irresistible. | know you are in his
mind
"You love me, and try to think me van
quisher OF all hearts, no matter how brave
aud free" murmured Genevieve. "But my
former conquests have not been all-convinc-
ing, because Mr.. Balkan is really the only
true, fine person of enviable position and
means whom ever met in our set. There
seem to be a thousand foolish bachelors to
ole downright hero"
II think Hall is a fine fellow" Nellie
again admitted, softly. TRUSTING her little
hand upon Geneveve's arm for few steps,
and then stopping her arbitrarily, and letting
the others catch up with them How faT
am sure the Arctic Sea Is over that hill OF
pines by the meadow. Ribbons of white
cloud and this exhilarating atmosphere make
me feel as If were somebody else Oh, we
are explorers. Is that polar bear or snow
drift?,' she concluded. pointing to white
banked gate-post by the cattle lane.
Cecil Morton tried to shuttle the little party
in such way that be would come next to
Geneyieve but she eyaded him, by sheer
force of desperation. And, as luck would
have II. Hall Balkan came up to her with his
fine, hearty coed cheer, and asked her to
walk with him as far as wide-spreadlng
elm at considerable distance down the high
road; and Nellie Feathery heard him. say it
A damask flush all over Genevieve,s lace
made Balkan glance around to see II the sun
set had begun yet but the west was as gray
as fagstone. Geneveve was willing and
they started off at huge pace, which the
rest tried to initiate; but not too well, as
every one Of the girls thought that Balkan
wanted to propose to his companion and de-
termined to let him have a chance.
At last the two figures in advance stopped
under the delicate tracery of the great, bare
elm tree, and seemed to be talking earnestly
Then cry went up from Nellie Featherly.
for Genevieve had sunk to the ground, evil
IDENTIFY in faint, and Balkan kneeled at her
side
INC walk was 700 Tdplu JOT nef, tA-
claimed Nellie, off-hand "Oh, Mr.. Morton,
why must you always be asking us to go for
constltutionals; they'll be the death OF us!'
And Nellie, whom no one had ever seen
really provoked before, gave him a cross
glance; and then went on a run. accom-
panied by the reproved Morton, toward her
friend, while the others followed, more or
less ardently.
AS faithful Nellie ran, she discerned a
strange, black cloud rolling toward them ali
down the snowy road. Soon the motion of
two prancing horses became apparent; and
as Nellie reached Genevieve's PROSTATE form
in the middle of the road, over which Balkan
was bending in absorbed dismay, the plucky
girl realized IT, at a runaway team was in full
swing at few yards distance, and quite un-
observed by any one but herself and Cecil
Morton, who shouted to Nellie to have care
and jump aside.
But this Nellie never thought of doing.
On she ran, beyond Geneveve, whose dan
ger was SO imminent-and what could she do
20 avert the danger? In her muff, was
ball of snow, which had been reduced by
careful manipulation (under Morton's in
structions) to an icy consistency; capable, as