Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Joyce. on the whole, had not enjoyed
hast nights dance at the Court. Barbara
had been there, and she had gone home
with her and Monkton after it, and on
waking this morning a sense Of unreality.
of dissatisfaction. is all that comes to her.
Jovce. however, had not been the only
one to whom last night had been a dis
nppointment. Beauclerk's determination
to propose to her-to put his fortune to the
touch and TO gain hers-failed. Either
the fates were against him, or else she
herself was in a willful mood. She had
refused to leave the dancing room with
him on any pretevt whatever, unless to
gain the coolness of the crowded hall out
side or the still more inhabited supper
room.
he was not dismayed, however, and
there was no need to do things precipi-
lately. There WIS plenty of time. There
could be no doubt about the fact that she
preferred him TO any of the other men Of
her acquaintance; he had discovered that
she had refused Dysart not only once,
but twice.
Well. she shall be rewarded now, dear
little grill he will make her happy for
life by laying his name and prospective
fortune at her feet! To-day he will end
his happy bachelor state and sacrifice him
self on the altar of love.
Thus resolved, he walks up through the
lands Of the Court, through the valley
filed with opening fronds Of ferns, and
through the spinny beyond that again un-
til he comes to where the Monktons live.
The house seems very silent. Knocking
at the door, the maid comes to tell him
that Mr.. and Mrs. Monkton and the chill
dren are out, but that Miss Kavanagh is
within.
"Ah! How good Of youv" says he as she
enters, meeting her with both hands out
stretched. L feared the visit was too
earlyv'
"Earlyr' says Joyce, wfth little laugh.
"Why. you might have found me chasing
the children round the garden three hours
ago. Providentially," giving him one
hand, the ordinary one, and ignoring his
other, their father and mother were
bound to go to Tisdown this morning or
should have been dead long before this"
"Ahr' says Beauclerk. And then with
Increasing tenderness. $50 glad they
Wv
much for you, wouldn't it 2"
'Yes-I dare say. On the whole, l be
Heve don't mind them" says Miss Kava-
nagh. "WelI-and what about last night !
1t was delightful, wasn't itT Secretly
she sighs heavily, as she makes this most
untruthful assertion.
"Ahl Was itw asks he. 81 did not find
It so. How could l when you were so un-
nd hA init fot al launches
Into proposal and is as precipitately re-
iected.
"Ah, you'll regret this" he bitterly ex-
claims.
II shall not regret it." says she, coolly.
Not even when Dysart has sailed for
India, and then the girl he left behind
him is disconsolate" asks he, with an
lnsolent laugh. "Hah! That touches your
1t had touched her. She looks like
living thing stricken suddenly into mar
bic, as she stands gazing back at him,
with her hands tightly clinched before
her. India? To India? And she had
never heard.
Extreme anger, however, fights with her
grief, and overcoming it, enables her to
answer her adversary.
81 think you, too. will feel regret" says
she, gravely, when you look back upon
your conduct to me to-day"
There is such gentleness, such dignity.
In her rebuke, and her beautiful face Is 80
full Of mute reproach, that all the good
there is in Beauclerk rises to the surface.
He fings his hat upon a table near, and
himself at her feet.
Forgive mew cries he, in a stifed tone.
Have mercy on me, Joyce! l love you
swear it! Do not cast me adrift! All
have said or done l regret now! You
said | should regret. and do"
Something in his abasement disgusts the
girl, instead of creating pity in her breast.
She shakes herself free of him, by a sharp
and Mortified movement
You must go home" she says, calmly.
yet with a frowning brow, land you must
not come here again. l told you it was all
useless, but you would not listen. No, no:
not word"' He has risen and would
have advanced toward her, but she waves
him from her, with a sort of troubled hat
red in her face.
You mean" begins he hoarsely.
"One thing-One thing only" feverishly,
that hope | shall never see you again.
Two hours later Barbara has returned
and has learned the secret Of JOyce's pale
looks and sad eyes, and is now standing
on the hearth-rug looking as one might
who has been suddenly awakened from o
Dream that had seemed only too real.
And you mean to say-yOu really
mean, Joyce, that you refused him?"
Yes. | actually had that much COM
mon sense" with a laugh that has some
thing Of bitterness in it.
But thought was sure"
l know you thought he was my ideal
OF all things admirable. And you thought
wrong"
But If not he"
Barbara. says Joyce. sharply, "was il
not enough that you should have made
one mistake? Must you insist on making
anotherf"
Well. never mind" says Mrs. Monk.
ton, hastily. I'm glad 1 made that one,
at all events; and I'm only sorry you have
Ie't It your duty to make your pretty eyes
wet about it. Good gracious" looking out
OF the window, 'who is coming now
oicky Browne and Mr.. Courtenay. and
noSe detestable Blakes. Tommy" turn
NJ, sharply to her frst-born, III you and
r.aoei sa stay here you must be good. Do
ou near now, good! You are not to ask
.g single question or touch q thing In the
'om and you are to keep Mabel quiet.
. AN not going to have Mrs. Blake 20