The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-05
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AN ECCENTRIC HEIREss
New York Mercury

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 sea wind at
large, but it was tempered by interme-
diate spaces of sandbar and of dead
stretch of meadow grass, shriveled and
dry.
The hunt was over. The wind blew
up more keenly
ats veering to the east" said the
young man who rode at Miss Brockton's
side, and who had managed to keep near
her from start to finish. Fortunate we
had such a capital day. There'n be rain
tomorrow"
Nothing original in the remarks. But
then why expect originality? Mr.. Thomas
Ashington Revery was good looking
youth, who sat his mount well and was
quite faultless in the matter of coats and
collars, nails and hands and boots.
What more could one ask?
But Miss Geraldine Brockton appeared
to have an attitude of asking the absurd,
the impossible. Had she not owned a
million in her own right such peculiari-
ties as hers-such marked, curious ways
of looking at things and doing things
would really have seemed in questiona-
BILE form. She was even as unsuitable 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 utter
ed word or two in softer strain she
had stiffened and frozen, abruptly, I'M
approachably.
3D. the whims of womenr' said
Thomas Ashington Revery to himself.
Show is one to make Roadway with
such girl as this?"
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 doing?"
"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"
"For mel" Geraldine laughed with in
effable scorn. For my money, you
meanv'
So that was the trouble again. Mrs.
Gwynne had perceived at once that the
girl was in one of her moods"
81 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. II hate it!'
"You would hate more being without
It," observed Mrs. Gwynne, slipping her
tea.
"You think SOL said the girl coldly.
"You are mistaken"
ohC PadoeN n DuI5t
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"
"Shall | give you a cup of tea, Mr..
Severn asked Mrs. Gwynne.
tsfrhanly ..on. no ;,
He was gone with the boy. Geraldine
had not spoken. After little she
laughed:
"What model tutor it is! How we'll
he keeps to his place.
Mrs. Gwynne flushed angrily.
II wonder at you, Geraldine! There
are times when you seem lacking not
only in feeling but in good taste! Mr..
Severn is gentleman-a scholar! More
Of gentleman and undoubtedly more of
a scholar than any Gwynne of Brockton,
perhaps!"
Geraldine turned little pale.
'How very cutting! How you take
Mr.. Severn's part. Happy Mr.. Severnp
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
convulsive 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 ] am so tossed about! So
SOL
"Why-why-Ger
But the storm-or that phase of it, at
least-had passed already. Geraldine
drew herself up. She set her teeth, her
lips.
"But shall not be any longer. 1 am
resolved! l shall know what to expect"
Her eyes shone, a brilliant smile flashed
over the traces of tears. She opened the
door and vanished.
When Thomas Ashington Revery called
the next day Mrs. Gwynne was con-
strained to tell him that Miss Brockton
had gone to town.
"Whatl Already? She told me she
expected to remain out until after the
last meetr'
"Oh. she has only gone in for two or
three days." Mrs. Gwynne fastened to
explain. "She told me that she wished
to see her lawyer and her guardian"
Mrs. Gwynne smiled. "You know, she
Is creature of moods"
Full well did Tom Revery know it'll
DID one ever see clearly how one stood
with her! He departed crestfallen, in
wardly Tuning. She had seemed some.
times TO hike him well-very well, and
she was certainly very handsome girl.
and newell, he was undoubtedly in love
with her; and there was the money! II
appeared outrageous to the young man.
whose own patrimony was less ample
than he could have wished it, that a
mere girl and STRIPPING should each
have inherited such wealth. That was
the STRIPPING riding by now, and the tall,
dark fellow with him was his tutor. II
occurred to Tom Revery to wonder, in
passing, whether the tutor ever saw
much Of his pupils sister.
"Must be rather rough on the poor chap
if he's susceptible at alll'
1t was a week later, and Miss Brockton
was not only at home this time, but had
been sitting with Mr.. Revery for nearly
an hour.
There had now fallen over the room a
heavy silence. 1t lasted only few Sec
onds, but the pause seemed an endless
one. Miss Brockton had risen suddenly
and was standing with an elbow against
the mantel. AS her visitor seemed help
lessiy to tumble for the fitting word she
repeated little nervously: