The Van Buren press., 1895-08-31
ELEANOR's ROMANCE.
N saAuD RrrrEnHousn.

sheet beneath heavy hand. rose from
his chair with an ejaculation that
made the very pens in their tray dance
tinklinely.
s.By jovsl this il hard luck" he re-
peated, ana he STRIDE tho length Of his
ONCE frowningly. Coming this week'
And to play the deuce with" but he
did not finish the sentence. There arc
thoughts that : man hesitates to form
into cold blooded English; and the
man who paced that Office door and
kicked defenseless rugs and chairs
from his path found it easier 10 recog-
nize In thought than In speech the
state Of af1sirs that 10 irritated him.
Old Mrs. Post, who busted his Office,
and just - vigilantly whisked all such
friendly covering from the private af-
fairs Of Millport. would have been less
squeanish. Indeed. that very morning
she had been heard to say TO her be-
capped and be-frilled ncighbor, Mrs.
Pennypecker. that there would be the
old gentleman TO pay" when Miss
Eleanor camc home; which ''old gen.
fenan." to Judge from her expression.
was eFeditov In not too high repute
for Els leniency. AN w'ether ell
break M her an marry Miss Celia, e
can't do II graceful, nor to break wi
Miss Gala an marry her, no more;" at
which lucid statement of the affair the
cap snd frills Of MIRA Pennypacksr
nodded sagsciously.
n HI
have twisted his blonde mustache with
many degrees OF added fcrceness had
he dreamed that gossipinR cronies
dared consider thus officiously matters
thst to him were as grave as they were
unmentionablc.
His engagement 70 pretty Eleanor
Eiald had been Of too long standing 70
be ignored BY any save the very one
whom he chose to have ignore it
handsome Celia Chichester. This
charming young woman, having lived
all har life abroad, had returned with
accomplishments that included q
knowledge Of all the affairs on two
continents, save, perhaps. the one very
insignificant affair Of Mr.. Graham's
engagement, which affair that gentle
man, In the triumph of his friendship
with her lofty self, was quite willing
TO relsGate to the dim and cobwebby
past.
All this had seemed delightfully."- easy
until now, when this most unwelcome
letter had informed him that Eleanor
would be home within the week. her
master In music having been called
away 1t just about the time the ex.
tremely hot weather In New York
made change very desirable on hef
own account
Harlowe Graham's care not to admit
70 his own mind the bare truth con.
eerning his contemplated course was
due to the fact that he considered him.
self q man of such fine and sterling
honor that this quality Of his could be
only equaled by the rare mental and
social elements that went to make M
his somewhat exceptional character,
hut, however he might contrive to de
ceive himself, his purpose was none
the less fixed to see Miss Chichester
before another day had passed, and de
tsrmine just how successful had beer
his attentions TO her.
Alas! that plans projected with rea
skill and diplomacy must fall SO short
OF fulfillment. In the Chichester draw
ing-roorh that evening, he found a
party Of friends from a distance en-
Pertaining Miss Celia in 80 lively 6
manner as to utterly preclude any
thing in the nature of the quiet tete-a
tete No desired. In the entire week O,
their visit he was no more fortunate
and before the end Of that time Flea
nor had returned.
Graham knew Of her arrival almos'
at once; but he considered that he had
most excellent reasons for not going
near their home until several day.
later. When, finally. he stood at the
threshold Of the little house inquirine
for her, he was informed that Eleanor
feeling indisposed, could not see him
and he never knew that the littl,
girl herself, at her window above the
fragrant rose vines, watched him ou
of sight, with throbbing head ant
eyes that were red from weeping Will
various embellishments Eleanor hat
been told by one and another the story
of Harlowe's detection, and beneath
her gentle tractableness there lay al
under stratum Of such sturdy prid,
that no power could have compelled
her to see him until she felt she coul,
control in measure the sickening dis
appointment at her heart
1t was the following morning, Will
she sat rather liAtlessly at the old
fashioned piano, that big Tom Chan
dler, their next-door neighbor, ran il
with budget Of news.
1.-THE Carriers are home again in thei
lovely place on the Petillant," he ex
claimed, and the dear madam ha
written me to bring up party TO
the Fourth. It'll be no end of fun
and of course thought of you righ
away. In fact, Mrs. Carter made
special request for you; and Mrs Car
ter, you know, takes no denials."
II want you to CO." Mrs. Field said
with gentle authority. 1T will be
most delightful rest for you as well as
pleasant visit You haven't seen tn,
Carriers for three years"
II know" Eleanor answered slowly
then, with sudden resolve: "Thanl
you very much, Tom; Twill go gladly.
And glad enough she looked on tha
brilliant m orning, sitting in the prov
of the little tug whose speed through
the waters caused the wind to whir
the faxen tendrils about her shapely
head and call up the straying color I,
her cheek. Harlowe was relieved I.
have gotten somehow through tn,
form Of greeting her, and back wher,
the white waters rinnlad from tn,