The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-04-17
AN ECCENTRIC HEIRESS.
BY LOIS GREY.

Over The long brown level OF the land
scape the pink coats made vivid spots.
The gray uppiled clouds parted here and
there, giving passage to silver lances OF
slanting light There was a sea wind at
large, but it was tempered by immediate
spaces of sandbar and of dead stretch Of
meadow grass, shrivcled and dry.
The hunt was over. The wind blew
up more keenly.
"It's veering to the east" said the
young man who rode at Miss Brockton's
eide and who had managed to keep near
her from start to finish. Fortunate we
had such capital day. There'll be rain
tomorrow.
Nothing original in the remarks. But
then why expect originality3 Mr.. Thomas
Ashington Revery was good-looking
youth, VINO sat his mount well and was
quite faultess in the matter of coats and
collars, nails and hands end boots. What
more could one ask?
But Miss Geraldine Brocktou appeared
to have an attitude of asking the absurd,
the impossible Had she not owned a
million in her own right such peculari
ties as hers-such marked, curious ways
of looking at things and doing things
would really have seemed in questionable
form. She WAS even as unseizable at
every point as those long rays of silver
white light that filtered through the
clouds and melted and was gone again
as YOU looked. Here, few minutes ago,
with the glad blood in her cheeks caused
by the rapid motion, she had seemed
vivid, animated, pleased with herself,
with life, with her companion, perhaps.
And now that the latter had simply ut
tered word or two in q softer strain she
had stitfened and frozen, abruptly, un-
approachably.
When Miss Brockton had dismounted
at her own door she went straight into
the pretty room where sat her chaperone,
relative and companion, Mrs. Gwynne,
making tea.
This lady glanced up, caught the look
in the girls eye and said.
"What has Mr.. Revery been doingW
"Doing?" Miss Brockton's magnificent
eyes flashed fire. "Do you suppose care
what that-creature does?"
''If you don't care for him he cares
for YOU"
-. 'sFor me,' Geraldine laughed with
ineffable scorn. "For my money you
mean. !"
So that was the trouble again. Mrs.
Gwynnc had perceived at once that the
girl was in one of her moods"
II shall advise you, Geraldine, to rid
yourself of that prepossession of yours.
You are grown morbid on the subject.
You are quite capable of being liked for
yourself, even if you are an heiress. Be
reasonable. suppose you are not pre-
pared to be an old maid? Then don't
ask too much of men"
Geraldine looked at her.
81 hate my money!" she said, with
slow, vibrant intensity. 81 hate it."
"You would hate more being without
It," observed Mrs. Gwynne, slipping her
tea.
You think so?" said the girl coldly.
"Yonrare Mistaken
She paused abruptly. 4 lad had
burst into the room, followed by young
man, tall and dark. This was Eddy,
Miss Brockton's brother and pet, and his
tutor. The boy began to chatter away
to his sister, but the tutor presently
said:
Come, my boy"
tShall l give you cup of tea, Mr..
Sovern?" asked Mrs. Gwynne.
Thank you; no."
He was gone with the boy. Geraldine
had not 81 oxen. After little while she
laughed:
.sWhat a model tutor it is How well
he keeps to his place.
Mrs. Gwynne flushed angrily.
Il wonder at you, Geraldine! There
arc times when you seem lacking not
only in feeling but in good taste! Mr..
Severn is gentlemm-a scholar! More
of gentleman and undoubtedly more of
scholar than any Gwynne or Brcckton.
PcibdlH.
Geraldine turned little pale.
How very cutting! How you take
Mr.. Sevcrn's part. Happy Mr.. Severn!"
Then, abruptly, without warning of any
sort, she bridged the space between her
self and the little Moorish stand, and
Mrs. Gwynne, in deep surprise, felt the
couvulsive clasp of two strong young
arms about her neck.
.Oh, Aunt Martha. Aunt Martha .
Aunt Martha Don't mind me! Don't
scold me! Ill am unhappy! And
in doubt! l am so tossed about? So
So
"Why-why-Gcraldirc!"
But the storm-or that phase of it, at
least-had passed already. Geraldine
drew herself up. She set her teeth; her
lips.