Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-09-04

as duty, for Auberon possesses Somo
pifts beyond the Tequirements of a coun-
try gehtlemSn. y
"Madam, yoaf son is genius, Edgar
Arden says" remarked lnchcapc, "a
noet aud musician He will lose
nptbina by seasons retirement in a
happy homo wlth& mother who compre-
hends him." and lIe pointed the cOmpli-
ment by courtIef bow:
aThe boys no osighing mlk-sop, either, "
cried the oily squire. chuckling. "Ill
lay my head against q penny you'll find
him as gam6 8 Annter as any humping
turnip squire among us all"
"His fathers son cou'd bc nothing
less than a thoroughbred English gen.
tleman," returned Lo;d Inchcapc, with
that softer look which he always gavo
to bluff Hal Crocy "And what of your
fair daughter ,-aadame?"" added he,
| addressing MRS DclIain re. ais she not
grown-up young lady now?"
"This is her first presentation to so
| ciety,h answered Mrs Dcllamcre; "She
| is now seventeen and as tall 'as she
means to be-which, however, is hot up
to my shoulder"
81 remember her as little witch IN
short frocks and long golden curls, the
ihseparable playmate of Auberon Crecy, "
said 1hchcape drcamily. "They used TO
come to the Fo Sc for Ulya; what pic
ture the little group made We used to
watch them from the window"
AS he spoke he turned his gloomy gaze
npon the ground, and gnawed his lips.
In those days which he had inadvertent-
ly recalled, his fair wife Enge onde was
by his side when he watched the pretty
| trio.
"Loveday affccs 10 have outgrown
her early sentiment for Autcron, "
said Mrs. Dellamcro lightly "Shc will
row crave q fema c CONF anion OF her
own age, AMI trust she will find one in
your daughter when she returns to you.
Is not her education nearly finished now,
and may we not soon look for her?"
Mrs. Delamere was ne OF the most
graceful of society queens, and posse s.
cd infinite tact, and she would no more
have pr sumed to k TIC Guest on
than she would have thrust her hand
into the fire, If she had known what q
wound she was probing.
/ ord Inchcape's face hardened into
stone, and as she Willingly caught h
eve she mot such withering look cf
deris.on that she W tn rev her own with
precipitation, utterly abashtd
81 fear Lady Ulya will not rcturn
to Stafford for some time" ;aid my
lord. co dly: then with re olute change
Cf subject he went on to say: "ls that
Ecr grace the Du hess Of Carl brooke |
see Wonder? II is, indeed, and seeming
ly as viyac Gus as she was eighty years
ago "
IIo leaned aga nst Il column be ide the
Ia lies, and folding his arms, relap cd
into .ience, the trigid re crvc Of mis-
anthrope.
Mr.. Gre y's hand stole toward Mrs.
Dellamere's under their ca hmerc and
pres ed it meaningly.
Perhaps they knew iu little mere
| than did the world Of the tragedy which
had poiled the life of proud Inchcapc.
Meanwhile an adjacent group of ladies
were discussing an ab orbing theme.
"Oh, | assure you it's quite settled
thing!" declared the aged Duche IS OF
! Carisbrooke in her depot tones. "MrS.
| Crecy and Mrs. Dellamere have been fast
| friends and allies ever since Mr.. Eel a.
mere came to Sa ford fifteen years ago,
when s,.e was newly emancipated fl ON
an old brute of q millionaire whom she
had 10 business to marry" What mer-
| ci,c;s ca o ldars oid women arc
"Aubero1 Crecy and Loyeday Della
mere have been playmates in their child
hood, comparion. .pirit in their youth,
and they will row be lover my word for
it," and she rod led her silver head.
81 don't know that, your grace" OBJ
jected Lady Merrion Rae, S otch be le
Of twenty; @Loveday Delamcre is as
merry as kitten, and Aub ron Crecy is
something between the poet and the
prophot-where the affinity? Besides,
blonde doesn't magnetic blonde as a
rule. Hal my Lady Carisbrocke, me-
thinks my intution5 see clearer than
your experien O."
And her own dark loveliness glowed
moro triumphantly as she spoke.
T he surrounding gossips exchanged
laughing and significant glances as they
listened to bonny Merrion's defiant
declarations: and her grace. an imperl-
Gus autocrat regarding her own opinions,
fastened her lusterless old eyes Upon the
charming rebels blu hing face as she
rctorted:
Nobody en- earth reed take the
trouble to fall in love with Aubcron
Crecy. Loveday Dellamcre was born
for him, and he for her They will
marry, and shall live TO see it
And having SO prophe3ied, the oracle
nodded her head dozen mes, and
turned toward the rising curtain.
The scene was bit Of faryland- a
grassy ring silvcred by moonlight lay IN
| front; q mimic forest encircled it, and in
the background rose the crystal outline
of fairy palace
The act opened with the entrance OF a
traye'er wrapped in his cloak, musng as
he wandered among the trees with his
ewes on the grounp and his thoughts far
away.
The music expressed in long, wistiu
notes the sadness OF his reverie, and The
loneliness of his situation.
Observing nothing, he advanced to the
center of the fairy-ring, ann was sud
denly sTuck mJt.olless, rlveted by
spell to the magic spot upon which he
had unconsciously intruded.
A shower of spark ing l. otes indicated
his astonishment and alarm ha then re-
signed himself to the will of his invisi'
bic captors, and doffing his pIumed hat,
reve emily l1re.t in supplication for re
| lease.
Tnis was Auberon Crccy.
The yonth was rapturously beautiful.
He was slight, straight and graceful a:
an elhn prince; he had romantic fea
lures and wavy, blonde hair; and his