The Philipsburg mail., 1901-09-13


bodies, but nobody had ever heard OF
them. De Vismes himself gave no clue
to his identity, though he made it PLAIN
that he was accustomed to what the
penny a-liners call "the highest grades
of society" He talked casually OF peo-
pie whom he knew, mentioning we'll
known names in an otf-hand manner
that deeply impressed the Maynards
ana their set, but that was all
Cecilia had a theory of her own. She
was convinced that the distinguished
stranger was a duke, or at the very
least the heir to dukedom. The great
point OF women's theories is that they
are seldom affected by such trivial de-
tails as facts and probability.
The growth of mutual love is, accord
ing to the poets and novelists, beau
tlful thing; but it is not every one who
has the privilege Of beholding it. The
inmates of the Regal Hotel were thus
privileged and it is to be hoped that
they We're appreciative.
Auriel de Vismes and Cecilia May
nard fell in love with one another, and
certain point. They walked together,
talked together and drove together in
a smart mail phaeton, with a pair of
stepping cobs that De Vismes hired
from the most expensive livery stables
in the town. They We're always ac-
companied by a discree ct chaperon, for
Seamoor, as We all know, is Il place
| riun l,1 rC
discreet chaperon, however, was an
adept in the art of effacing herself on
occasion, and Nismes had plenty of op-
portunities of asking a certain tender
question-if he had chosen to avail
himself OF them. But he did not choose
to avail himself of them. That was
the perpleXing part Of the whole mat
ter. He made love to Cecilia, that is
to say, he murmured contidentially in
her ear, and looked unutterable things,
but there it ended. He did not pro-
gress beyond that point. Cecilia did
her best to lead him in the way that
she thought he ought to go, but all to
no purpose. He looked love, but he did
not speak of marriage.
And this unsatisfactory state of af-
fairs lasted up to the end. De Vismes
left the Regal one day as suddenly as
he had come, and without committing
himself in any way. True, he held Ce
cilia's hand for quite two minutes at
parting, while he gaZed eloquently into
her eyes and murmured a hope that
she would not forget him, but what
was that? Poor Cecilia. The blow was
a hard one. For three weeks she had
thought Of herself as an embryo
duchess, and now she had to begin all
over again and think of herself once
more as the third Miss Maynard, with
no prospects worth mentioning
Mrs. Melville-Graham who really felt
sorry for her, was very kind. .
It's a pity you're so romantic, Cis,"
she said practically, 'but you're not al
together to blame for that. It's your
familys fault Pm afraid. They
wouldn't let you be sensible. However,
it's no good thinking about that now,
we have other fish to fry. Things have
gone against you, and you've got to
face them and make the best of them
III tell you what you shall do. You
shall come and spend the winter with
me in town, and ten to one you'll meet
somebody who will put Auriel de
Vismes' image out of your silly little
head. Cheer up, and buy some new
frocks. You shall make your grand
match yet"
But Cecilia shook her head, and put
her handkerchief to her eyes.
II shall never marry now," she
sobbed. Il have lived my life and had
my romance, and-and-it's very kind
Of you, Norah, but l would rather stay
quietly at home"
"Nonsense," Mrs. Melville Graham
returned, imperturbabiy, you haven't
lived your life, and you are not going
to stay quietly at home. You're going
to spend the winter with me in town,
and-Nho knows?-you may meet
Aurel de Nismes again, and it may
all come right in the end. The world
! is very small you know, and the course
of true love never runs smooth
Mrs. Melville-Graham was a clever
) woman, and generally managed to gain
! her point. She gained it Oh this occa-
sion.
) Cecilia looked up and mopped her
eyes.
iii come" she said meekly. "Thank
you, Norah; it's very kind of you to
trouble about me-"
, October saw her comfortably estab-
: lished in the Melvlle-Graham's luXuri-
5 Gus home in Park Lane, and then began
J the round of winter gayeties. Mrs
Melville Grahams set hardly consisted
5 of the creme de la creme, but it was q
very festive one. Entertainments and
amusements of every kind followed
: one another in bewildelingly quick sue
l cession, and Mrs. notwithstanding
t hoped that in the whirl Cecilia would
e soon learn to forget: but she did not