The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-26

What time shall we start?" said Ida,
to create diversion.
These dangerous fencings and bitter
double meanings We're always going on
between the two men--a duel as yet
with the foils only; (but the young
heiress was beginning to fear more
serious collision, as the animosity be-
tween them was daily growing more
apparent and more extreme) How
long it would continue restrained
within the due boundaries of courtesy
remained to be seen. AS things We're,
1t continually looked as If II would
break loose like flood and carry dew
astation and destruction into the lit
tie settlement they had formed among
themselves.
Gerald looked at his watch.
BE ready in half an hour" he said,
shortly.
That will be a little too quick for
me, Mr.. Frobisher," said the princess,
again smiling as If the very soul of
sweetness We're lodged in her hand
some body If they could have read
her heart and thoughts 81 am not so
energetic as you English. ] want a
margin for deliberation."
"If your margin throws us too late
we cannot so at ALL" said Gerald, un-
pleasantly.
I'VE must not inconvenience my
mother" said the baron, with a fine air
of filial duty and conventional courtesy.
"Of course not" said Ida.
Whereupon the young Italian leaned
over to the pretty girl, and said:
THANK you, signorina" with effusion,
holding out his hand as one under the
influence of strong emotion. Looking
into the flushing face of the girl with a
world of tender meaning in his eyes, he
said, speaking to his mother but still
looking at Ida: "'The signorina always
does and says exactly the right thing
at the right moment and i'm the right
way. Is 1t not so, my mother?"
"Assuredly! She is saintr' said
the princess.
Gerald rose abruptly from the table.
Very WELL" he said. holding his
head straight and high, II will give
you a quarters grace, princess | will
order the carriage for the half hour,
when | shall expect you all to be
ready"
"1f our proceedings Inconvenience
you, my friend. I will take command of
the party" said the Italian, with n
manner suggestive of the heather Chi
nee 1t was so bland and so childlike.
Gerald disdained to reply, save by a
look that was decidedly contemptuous
AS contemptuous and as essentially
insulting as blow would have been.
Then he strodc out of the room. and
worked of "A little of his spleen on the
unoffending hall-porter, who chanced
to cross his path.
Mother and son exchanged looks.
"Our friend is not in the best of hui
mors today" laughed the baron.
Are all English gentlemen like
that" queried the princess. And yet
correcting herself-"how foolish to
ask such u question, when | know 80
much better! Who. indeed, knows 50
well as the charm of the English
character? Was not my own dear
mother an Englishwoman?"
"They are adorable" said the baron
with fervor. "Who that knows them
would not love them for the sake OF
one!' he added, In a low voice, those
velvety eyes looking into Ida's with the
love ana softness. the passion and the
prayer he knew so well to throw into
them--"for the sake of one, loving all!
Had we not better go and get
ready" said Mrs. Brand. with the fear
of Gerald Froblsher before her eyes
"Ypa Let us 20" said lda I'm a half.