The Progress., 1892-07-02


glance that / felt convinced | must il
some WAY he making 4 fool of myself
What did it all mean: | blt my lp anc
the color came into nv face from provo
cation at my own evident thick headed
ness.
"lf you had only waited little longer
il Paris" she continued. still smiling
enigmatically. perhaps We might nave
met in Il more regular way. and perhaps
then you would have let me have a look
1T your-dianonds.'
Ny diamonds! That explained the
mystery IL Il fash.
"ls your father Mr. Birchm0rc2"
IL am Miss Dlrch,uore. /! You please
sir. lou never asked me for my cart
and didn't like 10 force II on you II
was SO kind of you To- take me on trust
without making sure that | was ail right
first | thought EnglIsnmem were more
cautions and reserved.
could now JON IL the luugh against
myself with full appreciation of the ~
cellence of the Jg--t Nj Hrchmore
then. had been a married man after all
OF course he was Whv hat | not he
fore remarked the strong family like
ness between Mm and his daughter
Take her on trust, forsooth. How /
longed 70 retOrt that | was ready to TAKE
her for better. for worse then and there
if she would have me! II she were Il
fair specimen of American girls, what |
nation of hours they must he indeed |
Dut then they We're NOT all brought NJ |
in French converts. 1t was that that |
added to Miss Birchnore the last ire
sistiblc charm.
That it WAS that gave her that naivete
that innocent frankneSs, that uncon
'ciOUs frecJoln. And this lovely creature
lad actually know me py report bptore
We met. her father had told her of me
md evidently he had not gwen me h
BAD character. And this accounted fuI
he favorable change III her manner
when she saw my card. Well. IT was
Iltogether delightful. had been guided
~ happy destiny; thank fortune.
lad so conducted myaeif n. at least no;
o prejudice Miss Blrc!inOrc against me
|e11ly, good manners are never thrown
way. and moreover prlded myself (;ls
fancy most gentlemen dol on my abil
ty to detect ii true lady at glance
We now resumed our conversation on
still more confidential footing than
eretofore Miss EIrchmore related
lany amusing anecdotes of her late ex
erlente III New York. rs well ~ of hpi
lrlicr days III the convent. and ever.
Jme passages Of her child hfe previous
the latter epoch. | observed. how
yer. that ever and anon she wuuld
heck herself, seeming to pass over Ger
I'm passages IL her history III silence
nj this reminded me of the similar be
lviOr which had noted IN her father
hat secret. that mystery whatever II :
as that weighed upon hlm-had cast
; 6hadow over her young heart like ?
use. Honestly did | sympathize with
r unknown trouble, and ardcntly did =
long-all vulgar curiosity asidc-to }
I'VE the knowledge OF it impaired to [
e. Few calamities are SO heavy as ,
ut by earnest and friendly help they I
~ rot be lightencd. What could it y
I: In vain l asked myself that ques-
III. y
Here was this lovely girl, in the first >
esh bloom of existence, just beginning {.
taste with eager, uncloycd palate all
e sweet joys and novelties Of life ?
alth, youth, happy temperament y
Il ample wealth ranked on her side, Y
d yet this bitterness Of misfortune. =
t by rights her own, must need; COM >
lnicate its blighting influence to her! s
was tragical to think Of. Yes, ever
d anon cOald mark its traces in her 4
nd face and winning bearing; pass p
: gloom of sadness III those wonder 4
eyes: Il culver of apprehension about :
, lips; IN involuntary gesture Of nerv- ?
sness or lassitudc; many trihing signs, b
freely perceptiblc perhaps to n regard Z
s keen and watchful than mine had r
eady become. Already? But time ?
an acquaintance like this is not TO be D
assured by bvurs or minutes. 1t is Z
te saying. ana yet how true, that those
10 are under the influence of Il strong -
otion may live years in few heart
Its.
'Please-oh. please don't look so SOL