Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-24

long before it would have been danger
Gus to say anything against her whilom
enemy, Mr.. Summers. She spoke Of
him as 1.-THE essence of chivalry, THAT
brave man, - THAT noble creature. :"
She read great deal of poetry. She
sighed often and deeply. She wrote
upon the margins CT her books such re-
marks rs $50 like one l know or 'he
would have done the same whenever
the hero did something particularly
fine. Eventually l became convinced
that Victorine, for the first time in her
life, was in love, and with the man from
the north, who certainly was paying
her particular attention. in the most
formal manner.
We We're sitting by the open fire one
evening, sister and l. when she suddenly
spoke.
''Pcrsis, she said, you have been
such IL good, considerable sister that l
would not do anything to offend you
for the world. Tell NJ and speak frank
ly, would You dcspis2 me if, after all
that | havo said, | should permit a
northernc" 50 aspire to MY hand:"
mo. indeed. dear Nictorine, said.
Il should think you very sensible.
know of course that you mean Mr.
Summers. Let me congratulate YOU"
"Oh, not yet, " said Nictorine. He
has said nothing to give warrant for
that. Ny hopes may mislead me, but
he comes here often"
Yes, and he Col.2rs to see you, Vic
torine, l said decide lily.
Il am not quite sure, my half sister
said in a low, dreamy tone. "Once or
twice when have seen him looking at
you l have said: She is the object Of
his admiration 1t Is not l.. You have
many charms, Persis. You are Young,
and men of mature yeas think more OF
youth than young men do. You are
not interested, lOVe:'
In Mr.. Summers: Only as Il pros
pective brother-in-law, | said, trying
not to laugh.
Il am glad you feel as you do, said
deeply interested. She paused and put
her kerchief to her eyes.
THANK you for your confidence"
said and kissed her.
Then Nictorine got out her cmbroid-
cry, and | resolved to take Il run about
the garden, for | had been busy all day
over some sewing and needed the eX-
ercisc. l said as much to Nictorine,
who answered:
Very we'll, only, pray, do not go
outside the gate without escort and do
wrap up. Here, put on my cloak. y
She took it from the sofa, where it lay,
and wrapped it about me, pulling the
hood we'll over my head. Then away
went, walking briskly round about the
garden several times, until at last l
paused, and folding my arms upon the
palings looked ont along the road.
1t was Il beautiful night. The full
moon was just setting over the distant
hills. The whippoorwill was calling
plaintively i'll the woods. y long cared
rabbit Went Looping through the grass
and sat on its launches to look back at
me, and then, as though convinced that
| was more dangerous than he had
Thought ut first, vanished i'll haste.
How sweet and peaceful everything
was! l turned my gaze toward the sum
mers residence, and at that moment the
door opened. IL flood of rosy light rush
crossing the road. They paused, Mr..
Summers spoke to his son, l saw Harry
enter the gate, and i'll Il moment moro
there was Il rustling of steps at my side,
not Harry 5 it was Mr.. Summers who
stood there. Tho moon at this instant
gave her last dip below the hills. Il lit
tie golden haze remained and van
ished. In the starlight, the shadow
of the trees was very deep where |
stood. cannot tell what curious feel
ingS crCpt over me-a sort of fright,
though why the presence Of that most
respectable of gentlemen should have
terrified me l cannot imagine. 1t may
have been because there was something
unusual i'll his manner. He came upon
me stcalthily, yet breathlessly, and in
Il moment more and without warming
he put his arm about my waist.
Il have been seeking this opportunity
for long WHILE" he said, For once
catch you alone. for l saw Your sister $
shadow on the curtain just now. Real
ly, believe l am bashful. l ought to
be past that by my age, ought l not?
But l have no courage where you are
concerned.
All this while | had been doing my
best to escape from his arm, and now
he took it away and folded both his own
behind his back.
BE free, struggling little bird, he
said. "Certainly l am too bcld, but
perhaps before long ahem-in fact to
go straight to the point, l must tell You
that | love you; that | have loved you
ever since l took You in my arms and
bore you through the flames on that
night which l can never forget while |
exist. | have never met any one since
those past days when l courted my OK
cellent and lamCntcd wife, then Miss
Jones. My income is ample, though l
am not rich. If you will share it, if
you will be my wife, shall be the hap
piest man alive. 1 should prefer max
ing the offer upon my Bonded knees,
but the grass is damp. l am lot a
fluent speaker, but trust l express the
emotions of my heart. My dear young
lady, do not avert your face. Let me
read my answer in your splendid eyes"
here he touched my shoulder deli
cately with the tips of his fingers in
your eyes, my angel
Meanwhile had been transfxed with
horror. Here was pretty state of
things! The man had believed to be
Victorine's sutton was offering himself
to me!
knew Victorine we'll enough to be
sure that she was capable OF dying of
broken heart if she knew it; that the
remembrance that she had made those
low - I
her with modification.
Oh, this was terrible! And then
there was Harry, whom I loved-who
loved me, was sure.
What could do? What could l say?
Some girls could have got out of it
beautifully, no doubt. but I felt help
less.
Look at me" he pleaded. Well.
though l could not speak, could look.
l turned my head, my cloak hood falling