The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-21

abled TO fix his distracted attention
once more upon her sister. Then Cas-
sandra's statuesque beauty, her soft
gutturals Of speech, her large, unsmil-
ing eyes turned upon his, renewed in
him the conviction that, all things else
being equal, he need go no further to
find his bride. The first impression OF
her beauty took new hold of him. His
imagination, piqued by Mrs. Wings
story, conceived the idea that the gem
eral attitude of those present toward
Cassandra was one of recognition OF
supremacy. Absurd 20 suppose that
the elder sister would be passed by for
a mere chit of creature like that lit.
tie laughing Olive.
When Mrs. Wing arose TO withdraw
Lord Teviot from the scene, he OBJ
served, standing behind Olives chair,
young man who bore upon his artless
countenance an expression denotinG
that he would not yield his place there.
unless compelled to do SO by armed
force.
"You must come again TO see us,
Lord Teviot," said Olive, Hospitality,
as their English visitor stopped before
her TO say good-by. "By the way, let
me introduce to you our friend, Mr..
Christopher Stronghold Tcviot."
As the two men perlunctorily shook
hands, upon his lordship's face there
was no particular expression. One
American, more or less, made so little
difference TO him.
Al .t... Nf No.
there was manifest an unmitigated
scowl.
"There. You had to speak to him."
Olive said, exultingly, when my lord
had passed on. "But how rude you
were to the pretty little boy!"
To explain this situation we shall
have TO confide to the reader what
Olives legal protectors and nearest of
kin were as yet unaware Of Mr..
Christopher Strong, young profess
siional man of New York, in Newport
for q day only, had very recently sue
oeeded in wrlnging from Miss Olive
Meigs conditional promise to marry
him, If at the end of reasonable time
her present prediction for him should
prove justified by mature acquaint'
ance.
Strong, who against his own better
Judgment had laid his future at the feet
of this little witch, had now just arrived
from town to find installed as her
visitor the notorious Lord Teviot,
against whom he had lost no time in
entering an honest protest. But Olive,
willful as she was innocent of mind
had refused to hear what she believed
an outbreak of jealousy; and the result
was her audacious forcing of Strong
into an acquaintance with the object of
his animosity.
"Very well," said the young man,
controlling himself with an evident
effort. There are not many points
I'd wish to make with you. But ask
you to trust my judgment that Lord
Teviot is not fit for you TO know"
''Prove til" she said, in girl fashion;
and, when he did not answer, stamped
her foot. Seeing that he had no idea
of yielding his point, the rebellion of
her nature against constrant led her
TO regret that she had ever dreamed Of
subiecting her will TO his. understand
that | take orders from no one" she
said, hotly-"and that / shall know and
associate with exactly whom please"
you are resolved? 2" he asked, grow
ing white around the lips.
Olive nodded. What further might |
have occurred in their ill-tmed conver. |
sation was arrested by the departure
OF the other guests and the appear
ance, at Olives elbow, of her chaperon. |
Mrs. Blight, an adept in the art of |
hastening the departure of long-staying |
young men, had only that morning be-
slowed upon the girl polished screed
against this very aggressive and un.
promising Mr.. Strong. At the first
glimpse Of the aspect of affairs between
them now, she felt that her eloquence
had not been thrown away.
Mr.. Strong retired without the re-
quest 20 return for dinner, that, consid-
erinR the shortness of his stay, he had
hopedmight have been extended 20 him.
And Olive, without a word for any body,
ran up 20 her room.