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

that would fam be tender mHrmured some
thing in her ear; the spell of the moonlight
was gone, the quickly thronging poetical
fancies had all fed away, the beauty seemed
to have left even the sleeping flowers. Turn
ing round to him, she said, in clear voice,
every word sounding distinctly:
''Have the goodness, Captain Langton, not
to startle me again. l Go not like any one to
come upon ME in that unexpected manner -
II was SO happy to find you alone" he
whispered.
Il do not know why that should make you
happy. | always behave much better when
am with Miss Hastings than when / am
alone"
You are always charming" he said 81
want to ask you something, Miss Darrell. Be
kind, be patient, and listen to me-"
II am neither kind nor patient by nature"
she returned; what have you to say?''
1t was very difficult, he felt, to be senti-
mental with her, She had turned to the
window, and was looking out again at the
flowers: one little white hand played impa-
tientIy with branch OF guelder roses that
came peeping in.
81 am Jealous of those flowers" said the
captain; will you look at me instead of
them?'
She raised her beautiful eyes, and looked
at him so calmly, with so much conscious
superiority in her manner, that the captain
felt smaller" than ever.
'You are talking nonsense to me-" she
said, lOftily; land as l do not like nonsense,
will you tell me what you have to say??''
The voice was calm and cold, the tones
measured and slightly cOntemptuous; it was
very difficult under such circumstances to be
an eloquent wooer, but the recollection of
Darrell Court and its large rent-roll came to
him and restored his fast expiring courage.
81 want to ask favor of you" he said {;
and the pleading expression that he manag-
ed to throw into his face was really credit
able to him. Il want to ask you if you will
be little kinder to me. I admire you SO
much that l should be the happiest man in
all the world if you would but give me ever
SO little of your friendship
She seemed to consider his words-to pom
der them; and from her silence he took hope.
II am quite unworthy, l know; but if you
knew how all my life long have desired the
friendship of good and noble woman, you
would be kinder to me-yOu would indeedr'
do you think, then, that l am good and
nOble?' she asked.
II am sure of it; your face"
II wish,' she interrupted, shat Sir Os-
wald were of your opinion. You have lived
in what people call the world all your life,
Captain Langton, suppose?"
YES" he replied wondering what would
follow.
"You have been in society all that time yet
l am the first good and noble woman you
have met! You are hardly complimentary
to the SEX after all.''
The captain was slightly taken aback.
II did not say those exact words, Miss OAR
rel.'
'But you implied them Tell me why you
wish for my friendship more than any other.
Miss Hastings is ten thousand times more
estimable than [ am-why not make her your
friend?"
Il admire you'll like you. could say
more, but l dare not You are hard upon
me, Miss Darrell"
81 have no wish to be hard" she returned.
"Who am that | should be hard upon any
one? But, you see, am unfortunately what
people call very plain-spoken-ver truth
full"
$50 much the BETTER" said Captain Lang
ton.
rs it? Sir Oswald says not. If he does
not make me his heiress, it will be because 1
have such an abrupt manner Of speaking; he
often tells me So"
Truth in beautiful woman" began the
captain, sentimentally; but Miss Darrell
again interrupted him-she had little patience
with his platitudes.
"YOu say you wish for my friendship be-
cause you like me. Now, here is the diff
culty-I cannot give it to you, because do
not like you"
''You do not like meT' cried the captain,
hardly able to believe the evidence of his
own senses. "You cannot mean it! You
are the first person who ever said such
thingv'
"Perhaps [ am not the first who ever
thought it; but then, as l tell you, am very
apt to say what think"
"Will you tell me why you do not like
me?' asked the captain, quietly. He began
to see that nothing could be gained in any
other fashion.
Her beautiful face was raised quite calmly
to his, her dark eyes were as proudly serene
as ever, she was utterly unconscious that she
was saying anything extraordinary.
Il will tell you with pleasure" she replied.
''You seem to me wanting in truth and earn
estness; you think people are to be pleased
by flattery. You fiatter Sir Oswald, you fat
ter Miss Hastings, you fiatter me. Being
agreeable is all very well, but an honest man
does not need to flatter-does not think of it,
in fact. Then, you are either needless or
cruel-I do not know which. Why should
you kill that beautiful flower that Heaven
made to enjoy the sunshine, just for one idle
moments Wanton spOrt?'
Captain Langton's face grew perfectly
white with anger.
Upon my word of honor, he said, 81 new
er heard anything like thisp'
Miss Darrell turned carelessly away.
you see" she said, friendship between
us would be rather difficult. But 1 will not
judge too hastily; l will wait few days,
and then decide"
She had quilted the room before Captain
Langton had sufficiently recovered from his
10 apcryar