The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-30
BELLE BURGOYNE's BLUNDER.

along secluded path in the enVlrons OF
Florence, he heard some one moan. He
glanced through the bushes and saw
young girl seated on one of the rustic
benches. He head thrown back, and
there was an expression of pain on her
face. She was simply but neatly clad,
and portfolio lay on the bench beside
her.
He approached her, lifted his hat and
kindly said:
"YOu seem to be in distress. Can be
of any service to youP'
She looked up, her soft gray eyes
searching his bronzed, handsome face.
'Sir, have sprained my ankle-and
badly so, l am afraid" she said, speak
ing with considerable effort, though her
voice was none the less sweet. " did 1t
while clambering about over the rocks"
'Pn order a carriage" he said.
He hailed a public conveyance and
then gently helped her into it; He
seated himself opposite to her and tried
to engage her in conversation, but found
her disposed to be reticent; perhaps be-
cause she was suffering-more likely be-
cause he was a stranger. Once or twice
he caught her furtively scanning his face,
as if she were becoming interested in
him.
The discovery pleased him, for he was
very much impressed in her favor. She
was not very handsome, nor especially
graceful, and yet there was something
about her face that pleased, and much
about her manner that was extremely
lady-like.
When they reached the cottage in
which she lived, he assisted her out of
the carriage. She did not dare to bear
her weight upon her sprained ankle, and
so she leaned heavily upon him.
A pretty little waiting-maid came run
ming to the door, quite excited, and yet
not forgetting to courtesy to the hand
some stranger.
"Oh, Miss Burgoyne, what has hap
pened?" she cried, her hands neryously
clasped in front of her.
"Do not be alarmed" her mistress
said, 81 have merely sprained my ankle"
''Shall send you adoctor9" asked Mr..
Dubrasset.
''If you will be so kind" she softly
answered. "Also compensate the
driver" she added, as she extended her
purse.
''Never mind" said Mr.. Dubrasset,
''I'll settle with him."
"Maria, pay the driver" ordered Miss
Burgoyne. 49,,
The girl took the purse and paid the
man, who waved his hand and drove
away.
MAY 1 call to inquire how you are
getting along?" asked Mr.. Dubrasset.
"The doctor will inform you," she
sententiously said.
A piqued expression came to his
bronzed face for an instance.
'I'll help you into the house, he said.
7 ha1s pnTNlU
Her tone was firm, but not repellant
He laughed softly and said:
81 consider myself summary dis
missed"
Miss Burgoyne was already leaning on
the waiting maids arm. She turned to
the stranger, the blood flushing her
face, the gray eyes softening wOndrously.
"Do not think me rude" she said,
almost appealingly. 81 haven't even
thanked you" She paused moment,
and then added, eyes, you may call.
Mr.. Dubrasset bowed and withdrew,
while Miss Burgoyne entered the house
in laborious way, clutching Maria
tightly at every spasm of pain.
When he called the next day he found
her reclining in an easy chair, heI
bandaged foot resting on hassock. She
welcomed him with smile, and extend
ed her small, white, capable-looking
hand.
"You rested wellP" he asked, earnest
sympathHin his tone.
sob, yes" she replied. 'The doctor
says I'll be about in a few days. Pray
be seated"
The room was cosy and inviting-not
quite a boudoir, and not entirely an
atelier.
"Oh, you are an artist" he exclaimed
in pleased tone.
He walked to the easel and examined
an almost finished picture. 1t was a
market scene in Flanders. Some peasants
were chaffering with the market woman
over their purchases. 1t was in the gray
of the early morning, and candle was
spluttering on the table.
THAT is very fine" he said. "Allow
me-"
AS he spoke he picked up brush and
tipped it into the colors.
''Oh, don't, pleasep' she uneasily ex-
claimed, "unless-"
"Unless am proficientp' he supplied.
'You can trust me-"
A few touches, and the effect was sur
prising. He had simply frightened up
the faces where the candle light fell on
them.
"Ohw calculated Miss Burgoyne in
delighted surprise, 81 tried in vain to
get that effect. All, you have geniusP'
The gray eyes warmed with a glow of
appreciation. He laid down the brush
and resumed his seat AS they sat there
and talked, they inadvertently revealed
to each other glimpses of their pastlives,
and when they parted they felt as if they
had known each other for years.
''She certainly is charming" was his
mental comment. Compact, cultured,
practical. Reserved enough to be
tantalizing; confidential enough to
captiYate."
Gerald Dubrasset was a man of great
wealth. He spent his income in travel
ling, and in gratifying his taste for the
grand in art and the beautiful in nature.
He was sociable, and had mingled large
ly with the world. He had met scores
of women with rare charms of mind and
person, yet none of them had attracted
him as strongly as this quiet, self-con-
tanned, helpful American girl, whose
acquaintance he had made by the veriest
accident.
She soon got over the latter, and he
became frequent visitor at the cottage.
She was always glad to see him; if she
was not demonstrative it was because ii
was not her nature to be.
One day he noticed on her table a
pretty little clay figure of a shepherd and
as dog.