The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-17


before. II don't like to see you crying.
I have been obliged to leave you to-day.
had troubles Of my own that was
forced to escape from. Tell me what
you cry for, child, and if can Will
help you"
And she bent forward and laid her
hand kindly on Miss Fergusson's shoul~
der.
But Matty, since she was two years
old. had lived cher hand against every
man. -suspecting every one, believing
no one, confding in no one-not even
her own mother. She could understand
Jane Grand. cold, distrustful, jealous,
as she had known her hitherto; but
this counterbound of a generous heart,
this trembling hand, these softening
eyes from one who SO lately had spoken
harshly Of her, Miss Matty regarded as
tokens of the very deadliest species OF
women's warfare-a masked battery
against which her own strongest de-
lenses must be brought to bear. No
doubt the woman wanted to worm
confession from her, to be repeated
with additions (and her undeniable
tears made much Of to Mobun to-uor-
row morning.
mThere are such things as tears Of
joy, Miss Grand. / should have dried
nv eyes if I had known you were COM
ing. but / never heard You till you
were in the room. 1t is very foolish,
but I can't help it. am 50 happy to-
nightp'
Jane drew her hand back as though
II had been stung. She knew Matty's
tears were not those of happiness, but
she also knew what it meant that
Matty should say so!
81 am glad you are happy, Matty,"
in a fearfully trembling voice this. 1T
is GOOD for some one to be so in this
world. and you are very young, child
young to know as much of life as You
have known; and whatever cause it is
that makes you glad to-day l wish
you joy, Matty, and hope your happi-
ness will prove true, and will abide by
your
Whatever it cost her to say them,
those words did not come from James.
heart. and yet she knew perfectly well
that she was wishing this girl joy in
Mohun's love.
Matty looked up sharply into la vieille
files face, and little as she felt dis
posed to be confidential, something in
the expression of its quivering white
features touched her-as much as
Matty Ferguson could be touched!
For even in the children Of such peo-
pie as Warren Ferguson and his wife
children who have run wild among
the gamins of half q score of Conti-
mental cities-eyen in natures of which
petty intrigue and sordid, selfish deceit
have become the daily meat-the COM
mon elements of human nature remain
very much the same, reader, as in
yours or mine,
Matty was ready to marry any gem
tleman possessing means sufficient to
keep her. Matty had played bold,
unwomanly stroke to gain Mohun OF
Yatton, and rather disliking than lik-
ing him. had entangled him in an offer
of marriage not two hours ago.
But Matty Ferguson also had been
in love; yes, in true, honest love, with
an exceedingly handsome, unworthy
parsonage, attache to one Of the numer-
GUS Russian ambassadors who were
won't to visit Baden-Baden-th
Alexis, Of her letter to her sister.
This young Russian gentleman had
found the romantic passion Of the Eng
lish girl, or child, as he regarded her,
an innocent refreshment for him in the
intervale of roulette playing and the
hundred other distractions Of Baden
life. In her shabby little frock, barely
reaching to her ankles, Matty Fergus
son haunted him as he took his break
fast in the MONDAY shade of the Con
versations- Haus Gardens, haunted him,
Jealous and miserable, when he walked
abroad after dinner with the grandes
danes of his acquaintance, whose
splendid dresses made her, in her poor,
mean frock. look and feel more than
ever like a beggar; haunted him on
his way to the theatre. to the casino,
haunted him everywhere. Matty, at
this epoch, was in the transition state
from childhood to womanhood, lanky,
awkward, large-eyed, freckled, and al
together fortunately for herr not near
well-looklng enough for the count to
dream Of taking the trouble Of falling
in love with her. But to man Of the
caliber Of "Alexis" alteration from any
woman, even from a little, plainish
girl of sixteen, is not without flavor;
and so he actually met Miss Ferguson
once or twice by appointment in the
Senehkepgarten, and wrote her two
or three little French notes-she had
them still, do not doubt-and gave her
a ring Inexpensive, and that some one
else had given him) with minute por-
ton of his hair within it, upon the
morning that the Russian ambassador
and his suite quilted Baden. ~
ITO be continued)
a Fsrn,nnt Man.