Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-27
MISS VICTORINE.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.
Copyright, 1873, BY American Press Associa-
CHAPTER VII.


a walk. Lest | should see one of the
summers at their door, l avoided the
road and went out by the kitchen way
into a green lane that ran between
our place and the next plantation as
good place 10 pace up and down in as
any other. As | came to the melon
patch paused and looked over the
fence. There was the spot where Mr..
Summers. i'll his pursuit OF me, had fall
len fiat. What a strange, weird mem
OIy it was. Why did | run: Why did
he run: 1t was SO unlike him 10 do so.
Why before | could ask myself anoth
tr question the sound of feet smote my
ear. | looked up. y gentleman with
tall hat ON. eyeglasses and neat
gray vandykc beard WAS coming up the
lane At great pace-Mr. Summers
himself and no other. Again terror of
an interview possessed me. Again |
turned and ran. He ran after me
The race WIS swift and rapid.
This time did not double. hut kept
straight ON. Away went my hat, Us
did John GiIpin's in his famous ride
Had ! worn wig, it must have fol
lowed As it WAS. my great she'll hair
pin came ont. and my hair. of which ]
had quantity, streamed down my
back. Still kept on until, In ducking
under low lough, | met with Absa-
Iom' fate and was held fast by my
floating locks. To free myself was i'm
possible. and pcrforce stood still. In
moment more Mr.. Summers faced me-
His first speech WAS fendish.
Il never WAS 81 glad of anything in
my life. h, said.
| scurufUllv regarded him in silence.
Miss Pyr>i> he went ON, some
time ago made You al offer of mar
riaGc. and Won. without answering,
rushed away. Am to understand that
you intend 10 accept or reject my Offer
OF course | reject it. - | said fierce
lv tie lreathed Il great sigh, apparent
~ Of relief,
1t WAS my duty Ia ask that, he
said. Il should have held 10 my offer
if yru had accepted it. of course, but
uow want To tell Won that | made it
under an utter misrepresentation. In
fact. | miStuuk You for your sister. You
wory her rod cloak. and had lett my
glasses ut homc-yuu know l am near
sighted Until You turned | did not
know Won. and then yuu would not let
me speak " Then he paused Il moment
and gan To Wtangle my hair. Dis
parity in wears. great disparity, he
went on.a~ he carefully freed my tresses,
ull,. at a time. lis an obstacle to happi-
;.,~S in iage-hold that piece of
hair. please regard You as little
girl. an obstinate little girl, but Your
half sister catch that piece-lovely
Miss Nic;"rinr. simply adore. You
take very liJtl, notice for Your age if
Won never >aw that for Yourself. There,
yuu ar,. ire. if You want to run away
again
oh. MIR. Summers" gasped. L
have been such an idiot. might have
known, | am 81 ashamed of myself
Yuu have done mo a great injury.
You have robbed my life of happiness,
he ~..id. 60 suppose yuu told Your story
{. Miss Nictorluc: She turns from me
with >,orn and evidently detrsts me.
Shv has strong feelings. Miss Persis. y
girl IF Your age and temperament can
Uut comprehend an attachment which
c,uli conquer. as regards each other,
such strong sectional prejudices as We're
ours
Say anything, Mr.. Summers. l de-
serve il. said. but l have never told
Nictorine anything. and | will undo
the consequences Of my folly. am
sure il will not he difficult. -
All. | am afraid it will, Mr.. Sum
ruyrS replied. turning dejectedly away.
As for me, fairly skipped home
again. feeling that after all might hope
to make Nictorinc happy.
ran into the room where she sat and
knelt down beside her and flung my
arms about her waist.
''Nicky. darling. gasped, all out
Of breath. 1T WAS a mistake. He took
me for you. l had on your red cloak,
Won know. and he had left his glasses
1T home. and l ran away. and he tum-
tl,d down in tho watermelon patch,
and his been trying To- explain ever
since and Ee''--
"What under the blue canopy do You
mean. sister Prrsie:" said Nictorine.
Who Is he"
Mr.. Summers loves You. and Won
only. Nicturinc. l went on.
Il never daubt,d'it. She said
"Th.n what does your conduct
m"an:" | inquired.
Can You ask" she responded re-
proaChfully. when man has been pay
lnE devoted attention to IA lady and sud
denly. from pure fickleneSs, proposes to
her sister: Could that sister. if pos
s,.~~cd Of a spark of loyalty do anything
bat break with the whole family at ANY
cost to herself?"
But he did not, Victorine. l said.
1t was a mistake. "
Sister, | am compelled to defend
myself. - said VictOrine. Older. plain
er. less attractive than you. doing,
VOW. nothing to bring it about. never
fancying that | could charm so young
a man as Harry Summers and glad to
believe that he loved you, fancy my
horror when | discovered that it was
he who had knelt beside my chair and
kissed nv hand-he and not the one of
whom | dreamed. When | arose from
my chair. a letter which he had placed
there fell from my lap. Since you
fancy me the victim of my magma
ton. read it" And Victorine put forth
her arm, drew her letter case, which
lay upon the table, toward her and ex-
tracing an envelope handed it to me.
\ moment more and was reading this,
in Harry's handwriting:
DEAREST. Mosr BEAUTIFUL-How often have
/ tried to speak. but l grow coward on the
instant, and / grow tongue tied. You are so
dear to me, so dear-you know that, am sure,
but do not know your heart, and so shall
find opportunity this evening to give you this
I Eote. VIII you be my wife, angel? Will you
write me just n little word to tell me that have
rot deluded myself with false hopes, or even if
! have | could bear to hear it thus far better
than to read it in your eyes. Yours forever, nc
matter what may come, HARRY SUMMERS.
And what did you reply?" que
| ried.