Middletown transcript., 1893-08-19

NY uCdt SIldllco, ohlu tHO Olu lou
at length, ''you cannot imagine whs
l. treat this is to mel have not see
such pictures as these since | was
child. How thoughtful of you to brin
me herel''
81 knew you would enjoy it, aunu
"And you are not ashamed of you
. old-fashioned relative among all thes
gay young people2"
ION the contrary, dear aunt, an
as proud as monarch while you ar
lean :ng; on my arm?"
Agatha heard it all, and she ais
heard his answer, in reply to the ga.
challenge of some companion:
"Thank you, but don't reckon upol
me as one of your party this evening
at the opera. l am going with ny
aunt, who is passionately fond of music
so you must excuse me for once"
sI told you soIo said Fitz Aubyn, in
a asotto voice tone, Struggling his should
ers. "Did you ever see such fellow
as Stanton?''
Never" was Agatha's reply, but it
was so empbatically spoken that Fitz
Aubyn started.
And that night when the courted
beauty was brushing out her luxuriant
hair, she paused many a time and fell
into thoughtful revery. ..
''Moral couragel" she murmured to
herself. 81 have somewhere read that
it is nobler far than the iron resolution
which makes men reckless in battle. l
WONDER
And then she stopped resolutely.
What a glorious, bracing day it wasi
There had been just snow enough in
the night to form a white glistening
coat over everything and affoId an ex-
cellent excuse for the merry sIeighs.
that darted hither and lhither with
streaming furs and jingling bells. All
the fashionable world was astir.
There were not many upon that day
who received more adulation than
Agatha Milne as she stood like young
empress in her splendid drawing rooms,
every mirror flashing back her lowell
ness. Her dress was very simple
pink silk, edged around the shoulders
with snowy ermine, and long sprays
Of jessamine dropping from her hair;
yet she knew that she had never been
30 beautiful as now, as she listened |
with languid smiles to the compliments
,howered upon her. 1t was nothing |
lewl
The jeweled fingers of the tiny ala
,aster clock on the mantel pointed to
i late hour. when the peal of the door
oell announced a new incursion of |
guests, and Mr.. Fitz Aubyn entered,
surrounded by a gay party of young
men.
"Good-evening, Miss Milne. Surely,
am not too latel Whom do you sup
pose l saw steering in the direction Of |
your hospitable mansion just nowp
Oh, here he comes to speak for himself |
the Chevalier Charles Stanton"
Agatha turned calmly to welcome
he newcomer, and the keenest eye |
could scarcely have discerned the
deeper shade of color that glowed on
her delicate cheek as he quitely came
forward to greet her.
Fill your glasses, gentlemen,'" ex-
claimed Fiz Aubyn, holding high above
his head glass brimming with Grim
son wine, land let US drink to the
health of our faiA hostess, Miss Milne!"
The impromptu toast was received
with general acclamations of satisfac-
ion and Filz Aubyn glanced around a
second time to see if all had follow ed
lis injunctions, ere he touched his lips
% the glass.
"Come, Stanton, no lack of chiEally
iere; where's your glass?"
II will drink Miss Milne's health in
lear iced-water with the greatest
leasure,n said Stanton, smiling; "but
never touch winel''
"Never touch wine? And, pray,
Why notp"
"Because it is against my principles,
aid Stanton, with quiet frmness.
Fitz Aubyn curled his lips in con-
emptuous silence, that was several de-
rees harder to bear than spoken oh
Dquy, but another young man leaned
onward to interpose his word.
"Offer it to him yourself, Miss Milne;
urely he cannot be so lost to all nse
f gallantry as to refuse it from your
air hand!"
Agatha had grown very pale, but
,ithout speaking, she filed one of the
iny goblets and held ittowards Charles
tanton.
Twill You not take it from me?"
Stanton looked at her with calm
ravity.
"Miss Milne, should be cownrd
ldeed did 1 allow your persuasions to
way me from the fixed principles s
'hich are the guiding stars of my .
hole life."
He bowed and withdrew. The glass i
I'll from Agalha's hand, and sllivered :
ito thousand sparkling fragments;
he bit her scarlet lips until the blood !
arted with a thrill of exultation. Had
9 wavered for an instant in his deter ..
,ination she would have despised him! :
"a very poor Investment. those horses
[ mine, and all this behavior a la-good- '