Middletown transcript., 1901-02-09

her cousin, it was with the distinct uh-
derstanding between herself and that
young lady mother that Tessa was not to
know the real reason for their sudden
flight into the country. But it seems
that they had not taken Tessa's powers
Of penetration sufficiently into considera-
ton; for they had not been week in
the place when she demurely unfolded
their whole scheme for her cousins bene-
fit.
Miss Armstrong was aghast at this sud
den collapse Of their plot, and mentally
composed letter to be sent off at once
to her aunt. But, meanwhile, there was
Tessa to be managed. She thought she
might try the effect o. coaxing as q
means Of conciliation, since the girl had
been rather badly treated in being
brought down to the place under false
pretenses.
''But you'll behave down here, WON'T
you. "You will not write to him, or let
him discover your address2 Auntie will
be SO vexed with mel I am SO stupid
about acting part You will not write
and let him know where you are, will
you, dear?''
"I'lI see," was the cautious reply.
'I'm pretty well occupied with the pro-
fessor, at present; but if he fails to be
amusing, I will not promise to be
good any longer. You and mamma
ought to be ashamed Of yourselves to de-
ceive me in this way, and you both de-
serve to be kept in suspense as to my
motives No, / will not promise any
thing.
Miss Armstrong sighed. The charge
that her aunt had laid upon her had sud
denly assumed proportions upon which
neither had calculated. Here was this
incorrigible girl, smuggled out Of the city
to prevent a threatened mesalliance
there, now turning the full batteries Of
her charms upon poor, obscure gentle
man Of middle age, highly cultivated,
but possessing no social position what
ever, though Of irreproachable birth and
breeding. 1t was danger more threat
ening than the other one, and Miss Arm
strong was at loss how to avert it. She
had an uncomfortable feeling that Tessa
was managing her, instead of being
managed; and now that Tessa had been
deceived once, she would not trust them
again. No wonder Miss Armstrong
sighed.
Her charge had been tractable enough
at the first, perhaps wickedly waiting
to see what the two plotterz would do
next; but since they had made the ac-
quaintance Of this Professor Of Greek at
the College of Morganville, the girl had
taken things in her own hands altogether.
The thought Of the professor brought up
another snbject that had been upon Miss
Armstrong; mind.
'Tessa," she said, with gentle diff
fidence, 81 want to talk with you about
Professor Stanhope. Do you not think,
dear child, that you could be little more
dignifed while in his presence, and yet
enjoy yourself just as much? He is SO
much older than you that-that I am
afraid your teasing ways irritate him just
a trif1e.''
Tessa was silent. They had repaired
to their favorite haunt that afternoon,
the tower of the. ruins which were the
shoW-place Of the town, and Elizabeth
stood leaning against the stone window
frame looking down upon her cousin as
she sat upon the floor at her feet with
her lap full Of the roses she had gathered
from the luxuriant bushes in the old
gardens surrounding the ruins.
"You understand me, Tessa?'
eyes," replied the girl, without look
ing up. "But for whom do you fear,
Lizzie?-for the professor, or for me?'
For the professor? Something clutched
at the older woman's heart at that
thought, for it had not occoured to her
before. Was she to fear for him?-ar d
for what? She was glad that she was
standing with her back toward the win
dow at the moment, with her face in
shadow.
II do not know why | should fear for
the professor she said, presently, in a
constrained voice. ''What put such an
idea into your head?''
stYou."
stI?"
eyes. Lizzie, you are blushingp the
girl said, remorselessly, and Of course
the face of her companion Immediately
became scarlet. "You are finding a mote
in my eye regardless of the beam in your
own. 1t is I who should fear the profes-
sor and not you. Now / have lorg
wanted to talk with you about your be-
havior while in this gentleman's presence
Do you not think, dear, that you could
be little less dignifed when with him,
and yet enjoy yourself just as much?
I'm afraid that your frozen manners
chill him a trifie."
Miss Armstrong smiled, in spite Of
herself, although her lips trembled and
her sight became blurred for moment.
She walked away from the window and
sat down on block of stone with her
face averted from Tessa's mischievous
gaze. Under the guise of that laughing
glance Tessa had watched her cousin
They had seen great deal Of the Greek
scholar Of late, and had become pretty
well acquainted with him; but neither
girl knew in just what light the other re-
garded him. Tessa's laughing, tasting
ways might mean everything Or nothing
at all, and Elizabeth's stately calm
was equally inscrutable; thus, quite
unconsciously, the two had fallen into the
habit Of watching each other closely, al
though this was the first time that the
subject had been openly alluded to be-
tween them. 1t is to be doubted whether
anything had been learned, during the