Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-10


had become warmly attached to the beauti-
full. wayward. willful girl who persisted so
obstinately in refusing what she chose to
call polish"
"How will it end?' said the governess. 81
would give all have to see Pauline mistress
of Darrell Court: but fear the future"
Some of the scenes that took place between
Miss Darrell and the captain were very
amusing. She had the utmost contempt for
his somewhat dandiied airs, his graces, and
affections
81 like grand, rugged, noble man, with
the head of a hero, and the brow of a poet,
the heart of lion, and the smile of child"
she said to him one day; Il cannot endure
coxcomb.''
81 hope you may find such man, Miss
Darrell" he returned, quietly. Il have been
some time in the world, but have never
met with such character"
II think your world has been very limit
ed one," she replied, and the captain looked
angry.
He had certainly hoped and intended to
dazzle her with his worldly knowledge, if
nothing else. Yet how she despised his
knowledge, and with what contempt she
heard him speak of his various experiences!
Nothing seemed TO jar upon her and to IT.
ritate her as did his affectations. She was
looking one morning at very beautifully
veined leaf, which she passed over to Miss
Hastings.
rs it not wonderful" she asked: and the
captain, with his eye-glass, came to look at
1t.
Are you shortsighted?" she asked him,
abruptly.
Mot in the least" he replied.
rs your sight defective?" she continued.
mo, not in the least degree"
''Then why do you use that eye-glass Cap
tain Langton?'
'I--ail-why, because everybody uses one"
he replied
u thought it was only women who did
that kind of thing-followed a fashion for
fashions sake" she said with some little
contempt.
The next morning the captain descended
without his eye-glass, and Miss Hastings
smiled as she noticed it.
Another of his Alterations was pretended
inability TO pronounce his "t's'' and rs"
"Can you really not speak plainly?" she
said to him one day.
"Most decidedly l can," he replied, won
dering what was coming next.
"Then, why do you call rove 'wove' in
that absurd fashion?'
The captains face flushed.
sit is a habit l have fallen into, l sup
pose," he replied Il must break myself of
it"
"It is about the most effeminate habit a
man can fall into," said Miss Darrell. II
think that, if were soldier, | should de-
light in clear, plain speaking. l cannot I'M
derstand. why English gentlemen seem to
think fac RI nutil Lotto tbair uootbar
tongue"
There was no chance of their ever agree
ing-they never did even for one single
hour.
What are you thinking about, Pauline?'
asked Miss Hastings one day.
Her young pupil had fallen into reverie
over 1.-The History of the Peninsular War"
Il am thinking" she replied. ''that, al
though France boasts so much of her mill
tary glory England has a superior army; her
soldiers are very brave; her officers the truest
gentlemen"
Il am glad to hear that you think so. |
have often wondered if you would take our
guest as sample"
Her beautiful lips curled with unutterable
contempt.
certainly not 1 often contrast him with
the Rue GOrme, grand man with brown,
rugged face, and great brown hands Cap
tain Langton is a coxcomb-neither more
nor less, Miss Hastings'
'But he is polished, refined, elegant in his
manner and address, which, perhaps, your
friend with the brown, rugged face was not"
''We shall not agree, Miss Hastings, we
shall not agree. do not like Captain Lang
ton"
The governess, remembering all that Sir
Oswald wished, tried in vain to represent
their visitor in more favorable light. Miss
Darrell simply looked naughty and uncon-
WINGED.
II am years younger than you," she said,
at last land have seen nothing of what you
call life: but the instinct of my own heart
tells me that he is false in heart, in mind, in
soul; he has false, fattering tongue, false
lips, false principles-we will not speak of
him.
Miss Hastings looked at her sadly.
''Do you not think that in time, perhaps,
you may like him better?''
No" was The blunt reply. II do not. 1
told him that did not like him, but that 1
would take some time to consider whether
he was to be friend of mine or not; and the
conclusion have arrived at is, that 1 could
not endure lis friendship"
''When did you tell him that you did not
like him?' asked Miss Hastings, gravely.
II think it was the first night he came,"
she replied
Miss Hastings looked relieved.
did he say anything else to you, Pau
line?' she asked, gently.
NO; what should he say? He seemed
very much surprised, suppose, as he says
most people like him. But / do not, and
never Shall.''
One thing was certain, the captain was
falling most passionately in love with Miss
Darrell. Her grand beauty, her pride, her
originality, all seemed TO have an irresisti-
S.o charm i f1 lin.
CHAPTER XII.
ELINOR ROCKFORD.
II was a morning in August when gTay