The Globe-republican., 1891-11-19


try gentleman.
MADAM. your son is q genius, Edgar
Arden says" remarked Inchcape, d
poet and q musician. He will lose
nothing by q seasons retirement in q
happy home with a mother who compre-
bends him." and he pointed the compli-
ment by a courtier bow.
THE boys no signing milk-sop, either,
cried the jolly squire, chuckling. ~I'll
lay my head against q penny you'll find
him IS game . hunter as any humping
turnip squire among US all >"
"His fathers son could be nothing
less than . thoroughbred English gen.
tleman." returned Lord Inchcape, with
that softer look which he always gave
to bluff Hal Crecy. ~And what of your
fair daughter, madame?" added he,
addressing Mrs. Dellamere. els she not
a grown-up young lady now?"
This is her first presentation to so.
ciety," answered Mrs Dellamere; "she
is now seventeen and as tall Is she
means to be-which, however, Is not up
to my shoulder"
II remember her as little witch in
short frocks and long golden curls, the
inseparable playmate Of Auberon Crecy, I"
said Inchcape dreamily. ~They used to
come to the Fosse for Viva; what q pic
ture the little group made. We used to
watch them from the windows
As he spoke he turned his gloomy gaze
upon the ground, and gnawed his lips.
In those days which he had inadvertent-
ly recalled. his fair wife Engelonde was
by his side when he watched the pretty
trio.
"Loveday affects to have outgrown
her early sentiment for Auberon, 4"
now crave a fema.e companion Of her
your daughter when she returns to you.
Is not her education nearly finished now,
and may we not soon look for hef?"
Mrs Dellamere was enc OF the most
graceful of society queens, and possess
ed infinite tact, and she would no more
have presumed to k thee Questions
into the fire. IL she had known what q
wound she was probing.
Lord Inchcape's face hardened into
stone, and as she unwittngly caught his
eye she met such whitening look Of
derision that she withdrew her own with
precipitation. utterly abashed.
IL
to Stafford for some time," said my
lord, co.dly; then with reSolute change
of subject he went on to say: as that
see yOnder? 1t is, indeed, and seeming
ly as vivac Gus as she was eighty years
ago."
ladies, and folding his arms, relapsed
int ell <ho friD ~ wis
anthrope.
Mrs. Crecy's hand stole toward Mrs.
Dellamere'S under their cashmereS, and
press ed it meaningly.
Perhaps they knew just little more
than did the world Of the tragedy which
had spoiled the life of proud Inchcape.
Meanwhile an adjacent group Of ladies
were discussing an alb orbing theme.
ooh, l assure you it's quite settled
thing!" declared the aged Duchess of
Carisbrooke in her deepest tones. "Mrs
Crecy and Mrs. Dellamere have been fast
friends and allies ever since Mrs. Della
mere came to Stafford fifteen years ago,
when she was newly emancipated from
an old brute of a millionaire whom she
had no business to marry" What mer-
CHESS calendars old women are.)
"Auberon Crecy and Loveday Della
mere have been playmates in their child
hood, companions spirits in their youth,
and they will now be lovers, my word for
it," and she nodded her silver head.
81 don't know that, your grace" OBJ
jected Lady MerriOn Rae, Scotch belle
of twenty; "Loveday Dellamere is as
merry as kitten, and Auberon Crecy is
something between the poet and the
prophet-where's the affinity? Besides,
blonde doesn't magnetic blonde as
rule. Ha! my Lady Carisbrooke, me-
thinks my intuitions see clearer than
your experience"
And her own dark loveliness glowed
more triumphantly as she spoke.
The surrounding gosSips exchanged
laughing and significant glances IS they
listened to bonny Merrion's defiant
declaration: and her grace. an imperi-
Gus autocrat regarding her own opinions,
fastened her lusterless old eyes upon the
charming rebels bluShing face as she
retorted:
sNobody on earth need take the
trouble to fall in love with Auberon
Crecy. LOveday Dellamere was born
for him, and he for her. They will
marry, and l shall live to see it :"
And having so propheSied, the oracle
nodded her head a dozen times, and
turned toward the rising curtain.
The scene was bit of fairyland A
grassy ring silvered by moonlight lay in
front; mimic forest encircled it. and in
the background rose the crystal outlines
of fairy palace.
The act opened with the entrance of a
Traveller wrapped in his cloak, musing as
he wandered among the trees with his
eyes on the grounp and his thoughts far
away.
The music expressed in long, wistful
notes the sadness Of his reverie, and the
loneliness of his situation.
Observing nothing, he advanced to the
center Of the fairy-ring, an0 was sud-
denly siruck mot!Onless, riveted by
spell to the magic spot upon which he
had uncOnsciously intruded
A shower Of spark ing notes indicated
his establishment and alarm; he then re-
signed himself to the will Of his invisi
bic captors, and dofing his plumed hat,
reve emily kne.t in duplication for re-
lease.
This was Auberon Crecy.
The youth was rapturously beautiful.
He was slight straight and graceful as