The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-05-29

After that he always asked for Mrs
Morgan when he came, and she was very
kind to him, and Eugene as cold as any
iceberg. She knew that he loved her
he made no secret of it, and she was
very sorry for little Maisie and very con.
temptuous of him.
When Mrs. Morgan told her of his
brothers dangerous illness and his ex-
pectations she began to hate him, it
seemed so cruelty heartless in him to
calculate on such chances. She avoided
him as much as possible, but one even
ing, by Mrs. Morgan's aid, the girl
found herself entrapped into a tete-a-tete
with Roy.
1t was evident that he was anxious to
talk seriously about something, and she
was determined that he should not. The
moment they We're left alone she went
to the piano and ran her fingers over the
keys.
"Shall 1 sing you the last new ballad?'
she asked. And without waiting for an
answer began the prelude. She was well
aware that he did not care to hear her.
but she sang on and on, following one
song with another, until her repertoire
was nearly exhausted. She gave him
German songs, French songs, English
ballads, selectiors-f-om Italian opera,
she cared not what, SO that by singing
she silenced him. But at last he came
to her and deliberately took her hands
from the keys.
'Miss Ashton" he said, "please stop,
want to talk to you. l think you know
it. Won't yon liste. to mel"
"lG appears to me that I have NO
choice" she replied, rising.
81 know exactly what your manner
means, he said. you believe l am
treacherous to Maisie, that am betroth-
ed to her. | confess it hurts me that
you should think that suitable thing.
| am not very vain, but, really, though
know am Familiarity mentioned at the
Bunnys' as Maisies sweetheart, 1 feel
hurt Eugene lifted her eyebrows.
He went on: snow you consider me a
puppy he said. "Do let me explain. A
year ago we all thought my brother, the
earl, would recover, and we are not a.
rich family, and 1, as younger brother,
have nothing. Every body in England
who has no money is going in for trade
nowadays. 1t was suggested to me; i
was not averse to the idea, and felt 1t
would free me from the suspicion OF
waiting for dead mems shoes and the
absurdity of living on expectations, and
| was thinking of it when Bunny came
back home on visit Bunny had been
helped in his youth by my father, who
gave him few pounds to go and seek
his fortune, and it amuses us all to think
that he should be one of the American
millionaires.
"When he came over he presented
himself at Clifford House, and they con.
graduated him and all that. and when
he had zone found that he had offered
to show me how TO do as he had If |
would come to the states.
st was great offer, for, plain as you
see him. Bunny isquite at the top OF the
heap among business men.
"Well. came over, and he received
me with open arms. You would not I'M
derstand the business part of the matter,
even if it were not too tedious to go over,
Miss Ashton; but here | was in Mr..
Bunuv's place of business, favored as few
Young men ever are, and everything de-
pended on his action. Mr.. Bunny is q
sort of Napoleon in his own empire.
.Well. one day he said to me, Clifford,
Won ,ayen't hever a sweetheart across the
'errin' pond, ave you?
".Oh, no, said |.
".Honor bright said he. l laughed
and told him that as to that l would
take nv oath if he required it.
Your word will do, Clifford, he said.
Now, I've a plan for you. My wife as
a little friend we're as fond of as we
would be of a daughter. She's nota very
pretty girl, but she as the makin's of as
good wife as hever was, and I've no
kin, nor the missns either. l can make
nv will as please, and Maisie will be
an heiress. Then there is partnership
for the man that Inarries 'er. You come
ND TO my 'ouse and see 'er. Come to
dinner tomorrow