Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-01
HE CONQUERED HER.

HoiJ oe"iu Wv" A1N6SAAS' AA0
cally.
II won't take the wager I don't
want to rob you, Edgerly."
"You think you are proof against
any amount of attractions after bear
ing assault and battery from West
Point bellies for five years and up
wards" Edgerly answered, laughing
ly, as he glanced at tho handsome
bronzed face of his friend, as they
drove over the high road leading
from Carmen station to Hurlton 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 un-
conditionally."
'fYou seem to forget that | am not
an impressionable school boy" Lieut.
Fleetwell answered, with scornful
smile curling his lip under his heavy
mustache II have seen hundreds Of
women handsomer and more charm
ing than Miss Viner, / dare say, and
have escaped heart whole, fortunate
ly," he added with sarcastic curl of
the lip, which escaped his friends no
tice.
fortunately and why fortunately
Surely when man is good looking,
wealthy and in the army he ought to
marry and give hostages to fortune"
"Perhaps he ought, if he can" said
Lieut. Fleetwell, carelessly.
eff he canl That can't apply to you,
Fleetwell. There is hardly woman
In five hundred who would refuse
you"
'Is there nota Why"
Because you are rich and hand
some, In the army, and-and eligi-
ble."
Excellent reasons for woman to
marry me-" said Lieut.. Fleetwell, a
trifle bitterly, "and equally excellent
ones to keep me from matrimony," he
added, as they turned in at the park
gates and drove up the avenue to the
old Hurlton mansion. 1t was a fine
day, toward the latter part of Septem-
Der, bright and cheerful and sun
shiny, and the grand, stately old
brown stone building was looking its
best in the haze of golden sunlight
1t was upward of five years since
Lieut.. Fleetwell had seen his cousins
stately old mansion, and his handsome
dark eyes frightened as they dwelt
upon it, and frightened yet more
when they fell upon q lady in a pic
turesque 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 l am"
she said, as Lieut.. Fleetwell took the
little hands in his, and bending, kiss
ed them with graceful, Old World
courtesy which was pleasant to see.
Frank is fishing, of course, but he
will be back early What an age it is
since we met"
ut is long time indeed" Jerome
answered in his low, rich voice,
''but looking at you, Florence, am
inclined to think it is five months,
and not five years, that have elapsed
since l went to West Point"
"Wait till you see my boys" she
said, laughing, as she turned to greet
the young collegian with pleasant,
cordial courtesy-and the two gentle
men followed her into the hall,
stately apartment 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 towards one of the many
doors which opened into the hall;
Miss Viner and are alone. Mr.. Ed
gerly, l have good news for you; Miss
Dusan is coming tomorrow"
AS she spoke she pushed open a
door leading into a pretty, dainty,
rather aesthetic looking room, where
tea was waiting, and which at first
seemed to be unoccupied, but as the
door opened lady who was standing
by the open window turned slowly
round, and came toward them, hold
ing out her hand to Mr.. Edgerly, with
q smile, which did not blind him to
the sudden CLEAN of intense eager ad-
miration which flashed into Lieut..
Fleetwells 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 material, which fell around
her in soft folds, showed the beauty
of q figure which was nothing less
than perfect.
'Leut. Fleetwell - Miss Viner,"
said Mrs. Hurlton, quietly, and Miss
Viner bowed slightly, while the faint
est tinge of pink rose in her fair face
as she met Lieut.. Fleetwood's eager,
dark, admiring eyes.
Hurlton Top was one of the very
pleasantest houses in the country to
stay at, for the hostess exercised the
greatest discretion and judgment In
the choice of her guests, and spared
no pains to make their visit an enjoy
able one. Mrs. Hurlton was hke
many another happy wife, a match
maker 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 ire
trievably in love his friend had fallen
with Miss Viner before many days
had elapsed
September drifted into October. On
a smooth lake some little distance
from the house an idle boat with idle
oars was floating down with the cur
rent. The moonlight played at will
on the placid breast of the lake.
Such the picture had one been
mere spectator to the mimic scene
but to the two actors surroundings
were lost sight of-they thought only
of themselves.
Mocking the silver moon when they
glanced upward, they see could across
the lake and through tho trees the
twinkling lights of Hutton Top and
hear the merry voices and gay laugh
ter Of the group on the bank from
which they had just escaped Arch
smiles had passed between its mem
bers as they saw Dorothy Viner and