The Dickinson press., 1895-02-16
Katherine Bl0Qnt' love.
by THE DUCHESS.
CHAPTER I.
A Wilful Girl,

CHAPTER I.
A wilful Girl.
So, for the sale of Il paltry E1O note,
l must stay away from the only ball
I ever cared to go top exclaimed Miss
Blcunt, Indignantly. We'll, must say
I think it hard-vcry hard--moce than
most girls Of my age would bear,"-
concluding her slightly m.ltinous speech
Will, hurried bitterness. and turning
aside to the window as an ominOus
rising III her throat gave warning that
1t w:lS high time her cloQunnce should
come to all end.
lit is utterly out of the question:"
interrupted her father, languidly, 80
put it out Of your head once for ALL
l could not let you have IL farthing
just now-evcn suppcsins it were IL
matter OF life or dca,ll-bcing as hard
up as I well can be; my usual condition.
ly the by. Look here, Katherine, if
Darlington calls Willie am away.
send him up to the square field, will
YOU. where l am going about those
partridges: Conc, Bel. Gallant, get
up, you lazy misunderstanding with
his foot, as lie finished speaking. two
magnificent pointers us they lay doing
beside his chair.
The coolness of the refusal, know
Ing, as she did, how idly and scltishly
her fathers money was spent, together
with his whole bearing, reused Miss
Rlount's quick temper beyond control.
ut would be better for you to give
up your hunters and dogs and dress
your daughter properly than to go on
living beyond your means in the dis
honorable way you are doing!' she
cried, passionately, her fine eyes flash
t., ing.
'That is Just one Of the many points
on which you and so totally disagree" !"
Archibald Blount answered pleasantly,
no whit moved from his usual calm
gentlemanly demeanor by his daugh-
ter's vehemence. moving indolently out
of the room as he concluded, and clos
Ing the door with almost womanly gen-
, tleness behind him.
| When he was gone the girl clinched
her small hands tightly together to
keep down the rehellious tears. and.
leaning her head back against the Shut
ter. strove hard to suppress the feelings
tEat rose SO angrily within her.
| AS she thus stood. battling hrHvcly
with her thoughts, the dazzling August
sun shonc brightly down upon her,
flushing her head and face and figure
with its gay warmth. so as literally to
frame her in It's yellow sold-and n
very beautiful little face it was to
frame, richly tinted. changcable and
passionate, expressing only too clearly
at times the secret workings of her
| heart.
Numerous were the victims who cried
| for quarter to Miss BloInt: indeed. she
had it very much her own way with
the strrner sex, few being able to With
stand her tender, wild, childish beauty,
even hardy veterans giving in hope
lessly to the little queen who thinne,l
their ranks so mercilessly. Old and
young. grave and gay. succu.nDed with
out murmur to her smiles.
With women. however. she scarcely
got on so well, her exquisite unsatisficl
face being no passport to their favor.
They could see no charm III it for their
bly, fast-barely good-looking," accord
and sought "to keep her down" with I'LL
| their might, though to 10 purpose;
for, ffter employing all the energy
the common level, they were fain to
confess that katherine needed them
not. She lived her life alone. careless
of their appreciation or the reverse. and
but for Harriet Charteris would, in
alr probability. have possessed no fe.
male friend.
Her father, Archibald Blount, was
cold, worldly, and selfish to the hearts
core. No love for his beautiful child
ever warmed or frightened the stag
nant feelings Of his breast; she was
therAbefore his eyes-the living image
of her dead mother. but to him she was
little more than an encumbrancc, the
lnMished for consequence of Il regret
ted marriage.
| 1t was small wonder the girl should,
under the circumstances, pay but little
! outward respect to his wishes or COM
mands, though i'll her inmOst heart
there lay hidden for him a lasting love,
far stronger than even she herself be-
the father who held her in such slight
estimation, and spent his time In racing
or betting. or gambling away the small
income-a remnant of his once princely
fortune-that sufficed to keep them
from utter dcstitution.
Leaning back, now, with her head
against the woodwork Of the window,
she almost sworc to herself that no
love dreams should come between her
and her hopes of earthly riches; and,
as she thought with bitter earnestness
her revery was suddenly broken in
upon by the entrance Of young man
of four-and-twenty. who. coming over
to the window. sank lazily into chair
directly opposite to her. For a moment
he gazed wOlVleringly ut the girls
half averted sorrowful face. whereor
the recent tears had left their silent
traces; after which scrutiny he inquired
without any very great regard to tho
selection of his language:
'What's up:'
"For goodness sake, why cannot yor
speak proper English?" Miss Blount
asked. pcttishly. glaacing swiftly round
from the window as she spoke. What's
up-now how am to understand wha,
you mean by that, nnless"-with 8
short laugh-"yuu meant my temper.
That is up to all intents and pur
roses, 1 allow you. Did you NEAR
it,"
.No, my dear, did not" the youns
man answered. calmly; II am only
anxious to learn what it is that has
grieved you during my absence. VIII
you tell meg"
"what is the use?'' Miss Blount in
qulred, still with the sense of injury tul
upon her. you cannot help me, and
most probably. if told you my griev
ance, would only consider me silly. Al
men consider a girl frivolous If she hap
pens to wish for little more than th'
common nec.ssaries of life.'
'eThere is an exception to every rule
SO nut me out Of that list" her com
panion answered getting up from, hi
scat and possessing himself Of one o
the little nervous hands that for tn,
past few minutes had been endeavorin,
most laudably to work hole in tn
handkerchief they held. y do not be
long to it, as could hardly think yo'
frivolous even if / tried, or-or any
thing else unpleasant, fancy; so tel
me your misfortune, and let me assis
you il I can"
"Well, 1t is all about the Tauntons