Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-03-06

CHAPTER XlE-COntinued.
Bellenden was now, she told herself,
less than nothing to her. She c, u c
| meet him on the most perfectly easy
and equal footing, and so far from he.
ing dazzled by his pcriections. and
painting for his notice, she could now
ooolly re 5oice in any opportunity which
oiferci for disconcerting and perpleN
ing her childish hero.
She had hardly hoped to have me-
| With one at her aunt's. l. had been q
surprise to her when he had walked
in, and a still greater one when he mad
offered her his arm. oh, what that
Der would once have meant.
Now, she had risen, as self-pOssesse6
as any woman there, and had rippled
forward across the room, and down the
broad staircase, looking her pretriest,
and smiling her gayest, and laughing
within herself at the merry time she
meant to have of it.
For she could see that he was grave
and rather anxious. That meant that
he would be sure to stumble on to
aangero ground presently, and then
and then she would lead him gaily
on, willy, witching WilI-o-the-wispt that
she was!-until she had got him fast in
TO a quagmire, hopelessly fast AMI
bound, when she would mock him to
his face, leaving nothing but darkness
behind
She could blde her time, she woul6
not hurry anybody.
Very demurciy passed the first
courses.
Miss Campbell was engaged with her
soup, her fish, the pretty flowers on
the table, the heat OF the evening,
the Forthcoming reception at the for.
eign embassy, the concert she had
been to in the afternoon.
Sir Frederick was quietly listening,
and when nc essary responding. So
far he had not afforded any sport
NCr did he by any means seek to en-
gross her, as she had somehow fancied
he would have done; on the contrary,
he allowed long intervals to elapse
without speaking at all, and when
these were 81 ed upon and made use Of
by Geraldine's garrulous neighbor on
the other side, she was provoked to
find how Indifferent he seemel to be
towards taking up the reins again.
But one thing he neglected utterly,
and this. of which he himself seemed
absolutely unconscious. was taken no.
tice by her at once he entirely omit
ted the necessary civilties towards the
lady on his other hand. Ii addre ssed
by her, he would rouse himself with q
start, as though unaware OF the pres
ence Of any one so near, and when he
had replied to her overture, he would
drop the subject. At length she gave
over taking notice of him, and Geral.
dine marked this also.
II wonder, very much wonder W hat
ne is thinking about?" quote the little
cat to herself at last.
Now perhaps Bellenden hardly knew
himself.
Almost from the first moment, from
his first sight of her on her presenta-
ton day he had been conscious OF q
new feeling about this lovely girl.
Tnere had been burst OF recollection,
of tenderness, and OF resolve.
He would renew the old friendship,
make up for the past, and make his
way in the future.
Then he had been thrown back on
the very threshold of the pretty castle
in the air, and had found himself shut
out from entering at every point. Had
she been one whit less teautiful, less
charming. less tantalizipg, he would
have turned his back and been off,
struggling his shoulders: but Geraldine
had played, and was still playing her
part too well. She was never quite
cold enough to drive him from her.
She never was gentler than when she
was lOveliest, and most sought after.
And. at times, now and again it had SO
happened that when with velvet hand
she had delt the little stab, the wound
which had been meant to rankle and
tester presently. and had seen him
turn from her t. bite his lip, and flush
NIT cd c1,
heart had so smOte her for the light.
cruel Jest, that she had sought him
out, and set to work to undo what had
been done so humbly and wistfully that
for the moment he had almost beer
happy enough to believe anything.
For he was now in love with Geral
dine. and knew 1t. -.
at is because 1 know that she is
as good and true as she is beautiful, "
he would sigh with regret all unavail
ing. THE woman whom marry must
be unspoiled by all the folly and heart
lessnesS OF this miserable world OF
fashion. What is it to a man that his
wife knows how to dress, and dine, and
parade herself from house to house, il
she cares nothing for him, nor her
home and children, and the things that
good women love? Who wants fashI
ion plate for his daily companion and
the mother OF his little ones? l am
sick Of seeing girl after girl brought
simpering out. and instructed how to
dance, and chatter, and show OF her
points, and trot out her accomplish
ments. One is exactly like another.
They all dote on country life, on gar
dening, and riding, and old women's
cottages, and the next moment 1t
slips out that there in dreadful fright
lest papa should hurry them home be-
fore the season Is quite over, aud that
they thought it so cruel of him to stop
down in the shires so long at Easter
and Whitsuntide. Not one but would
country home with glee
for HOmburg. or Monte Carlo, or
or Scarborough. But l
knew once girl different to that
would say, with animation,
when with some intimate on whom
such revilings had been vented, II
knew one child = she is a woman now
who, If she be not utterly changed /.
Pshaw She is not for me. l should
have but a poor chance. even il !
meant to GO in for one. tell YOU. And
don't mean it. But the man " no wins
her" and the speaker would here
break off abruptly, and his auditor
would know what to think with tOler. |
lble accuracy
He would tell the next person he |
net that Bellenden was hit at last, and
that the poor fellow was very far gone,
but would give no hint in what direc-
tiOn.
Had the speaker been present at
Lady RaymOnd's Thursday dinner