The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-09

more sensible girl than Beryl."
"I'll see her today" answered the
baronet.
CHAPTER v.
"MY NAME is TURRIAN-PIERRE TuR-
| RAN"
Beryl had not written the letter of
congratulation to her cousin without a
considerable struggle.
She did not like and did not trust
Lola, and she had noticed in her many
things that had sharpened this distrust.
She had at one time seen a great
deal Of Lola, as Mrs. Villyers had made
many efforts to bring the two girls to-
gether, and though at first Beryl had to
some extent come within the influence
of Lola's unquestionably attractive
manner there had been no regard or real
affection between them.
Quite irrespective Of her own disap-
pointment-and how deep and singing
and bitter that was no one but herself
knew-Beryl was dead against the mar
riage. She felt that Lola did not love
Jaffray even with such love as she was
capable Of feeling. She had bewitched
him with her lustrous beauty and gla-
incurred him with her surface sensuous
charms, but that was all.
Had Beryl written as she felt, there
fore, her letter would have been very
different, but she had far too genuine
friendship for her cousin to want to
cause him anything but pleasure.
She would have done her utmost to
prevent the match, but she would not
say word to wound Sir Jaffray's feel
ing.
Nor was this feeling altogether free
from touch Of self. So far as she could
help it, not soul should think that she
was in reality anything but pleased at
the marriage She was no fool to NOPE
and pule over lost romance, and she
held no ridiculous ideas exaggerating
the effects of the disappointment to her.
It would have been an infinite and in
describable pleasure to pass through life
by the side Of Sir Jaffray as his wife,
but she did not intend that the break.
ing of the dream should gloom and spell
her life.
She would rather that it had been
any one else than Lola; but, even SO, she
was prepared to accept what was in
evitable. Thus when Sir Jaffray came
she surprised him as much with her
oheerfulness as she had surprised her
father by the way she had told the news
to him.
"1'm afraid it'll be disappointment
to you, father" she said, when telling
him Of Sir Jaffray's engagement, "but
was always afraid we shouldn't b
able to do what you wished. tried be-
cause I saw that you and his mother
wished 1t, and I'd have gone through
with it, but must confess it's relief"
Her father, who as a county man
took great interest in the public affairs
of the district and had only dim per-
ception of what went on in his own
house, put on bis pince-nez and looked
at her shrewdly. He was very fond Of
Beryl in his way, and his chief COM
plant was that she was not boy, but
he thought be knew her SO well that of
course he did not understand her at all
and had no conception Of the capable
brain there was behind the calm, regu-
lar and at times beautiful face.
''Do you really mean that Jaffray's
going away from his word? Why, it was
all but settled" The thing that appeal
ed to him chiefly was that it looked like
breach Of contract. "And do you
mean you didn't want to marry him?
You never said that before, child"
II didn't want to seem to thwart
your plans, father" Beryl answered,
returning his look calmly.
Have you two made this up between
you?" he burst out, as If with sudden
instinct of shrewd conjecture. II call
it infamousl' His own misconception
that there was plot not to do that
which he wished irritated him. "I'll
give him piece of my mind" he add
ed.
mo, we have made up nothing, ia
Their. Simply the thing has fallen
through because it was impractioable.
This sort Of thing may be done When
there's lack of feeling on ono side,
but it's impossible when there's none
OH either side.
Its infamousP' he repeated, now
quite angry. "I'll post the man all over
the county. I'll hound him out Of the
place. I never heard Of such thing.
We might be shopkeepers, making and
breaking engagements of the sort"
"But I'm glad, father. Don't you IN
derstand? wouldn't have it otherwise
if I could. 1t was q mistake from the
first"
do you think don't know what's
best in these things?" he asked. Upon |
my word, times are getting on when q
girl can ooolly tell her father that his
plans for her marriage are q mistake
from the first, and with two estates
that run side by side for miles, and no
boy to have this one. Mistake, indeed!
fddlestick!" He rustled with
gesture Of impatient anger the paper be
held and appeared to resume reading
II, but a minute afterward he said, less
irritably:
"Why didn't you tell me you didn't
want to marry him? That's just like
you women, and yet you will stick
your noses into public business. You
never know what you want at time
which let's the knowledge be of the
least possible use I didn't want to
force you into the marriage, child. I'm
not brute or Bluebeard'
The last connection was not very
clear. but it let Beryl turn the question.
"Bluebeard married all the women
himself, dad" she said. Laughing and
placing her hands on his shoulders, she
leaned over him from behind, her face
30 close to his that she could rub her
cheek against his and kiss him at every
pause. "And you don't want me for n
wife yourself, you know, do you? That
would be horribly improper, aud all the
county would make hullabaloo, and
you'd lose your Craftsmanship Of this,
thatsand the other and be sent to Gov
eptry. and r@ not worth That, am II" |