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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1885-6-12, Page 22 411 YOUNG GIRL'S YIOOING. 'Sr rte. P. rttOEE, Author of •• eat+ Moo,hr a !lianas." "' Prom stem! 10 ii111•41rrhi'a 0.,4:4", _s— pelled to respect and aernme nor, aim he should never have cause to suedes the l:eart•povorty to which she was doomed. Still less would sho give her not seotho differeuco between this grand proud rival a chance to wound ]ler woman and youtler white.facod spoon - THE BRUSSELS POST seee-eseeeesesee.. sees..._ Veil some resentment because ho bedA 1t, anu within the last tvw 1101115 was been so remiss in his attentions. He feeling tho bibto nese of (defeat. The could scarcely maintain this vices, how• ovout She so eiroadodseemed inov'iteble, ever, for she was as cordial to him as even if it had not already occurred, to anyone, while at the same time The expression on Graydou's face whoa giving the . impression that he was sho had first met hila after his long scarcely in her thoughts at all, ramble with Miss W ildinoro had been Mr, Muir was perplexed also, end that of a tranquilly happy lever, whose watched her with furtive admiration, heart was at rest ie glad certainty. "If she cares for Graydon's neglect she's Why should he not have spoken ? what a superb actress," he thought. "Great greater eucoaragetnont oould he ask Scott 1 what an idiot he is, that he ran, than the favor she herself had seen? Daring his long absence another girl heat apparently been waiting for him also. Such thoughts had been in .hedge's mind, anti salf•contrel bad boon no easy matter. When to all had boon 0ddedl the excitement of sho storm and his unexpected words, her overstrained nerves gave way. She was too des- perately unhappy for sho common fear which temporarily overwhelmed many, —the greater swallows up the lees,—but the storm had led to words that both wounded and alarmed her. Why did she so perplex him? What had the lightning's gleam revealed, to be uudor- stood when he should think it all over Could the truth Of her love, of which elle was so conscious, be detected in vibe of her efforts and disgnisos ? Was she doomed, not only to failure and an im- poverished life, brit also to the humilia- tion of receiving a life-long, yet sonic). what complacent pity from Graydon, and possibly the triumphant scorn of her rival ? She et last felt that she must do something to maintain her disguise. Hearing little .Teak Drying and Mrs. Muir trying to hush him, sho washed her eyes and went to the partially darkened room whore the child was, teed said, „Let me talto him Mary, and you go Clown and sec Henry," "It's awfully good of yon, Madge. Tbo children have boon so frightened that Ivo been up hero all the evening. Yon seem to have hotter luck in quiet- ing .lack than any of us." "He'll he good with mo. Go down at onen. and don't worry. Yon have hardily had a chance to goo Henry." "You will come clown again after Jack goes to sloop?" "Yes, if I fool like it." Graydon soon discovered Mrs. Muir after sho had joined he husband, and asked, "Where is Madge ?" "She has kindly taken the baby so that lean 'monde little time with .Floury. Tho children have been frightened, and Jack is very fretful. I'tn tired out, and don't know what I should do if it wasn't for Madge." "Why can't the nurse take him?" "He won't go to her in those bad moods. Madge can quiet him even better than L What's the matter that you are so anxious to see Madge ? You have seemed abundantly ably to amuse yourself without her the last few days. Is Mr. Arnault in the way to -night ?" "As if I cared a rap for ]him 1" said Graydon, turning irritably away. He did caro, however, and felt that Miss Wildmere was malting too much use of tho liberty she had provided for. She, like many others, could be half hysterical while the violence of the storm lasted, and yet, when quiet wee restored, was capable of making a jest of her fears and the most of a delightful conjunction of affairs, which planed two eligible men at her beck, to either of whom she could become engaged before she slept. The arrival of her father had turned the scale deoideclly in favour of Mr. Arnault, for the latter, without re. reeling his trausaotiou with 111r. Muir, had whispered to Mr. Wildmere his con- viction that Henry Muir was borrowing at ruinous interest. This information accorded with the broker's previous knowledge, and he was eager that his daughter should decide for Mr. Arnault at agate. Miss Wildmere might mu se Graydon's devotion as ostentatious as she pleased, but should never again de• later 1 She actually quiokeus the blood in my veins to -night when sho fixes hor great black eyes on mo." teat ori lladge's face 0. look of pained. Graydon felt her power, but believed surprise and solicitude. that there was notlling in it gentle or •Sho musk a careful toilet for the even- conciliatory toward himself. Probably in,, telling Dir. Moir and her sister not her mood resulted from a proud con - to wait for her, as she had overslept horse, f. ',Where is Madge ?" Graydon asked, at the suppler.talle. "She di,l nut wake up in time to came down with us,"\lr.. Muir replied. "What does it matter ? Miss \\'ih more 80 !ills y our eyes that you 1100 110 o..e else. When is it to be, Graydon 1" "Madge evdl,rutly sees quite as ntuell of me as she cares to," lie replied, some. what irritably. "I have not asked when it's to be, or whether it's to be at all. I suppose," he added sarcastically, "that in cohlsidereticw of my extreme youth I should obtaiu permission from my family before veuturiug to ask anything." "That romarlc is absurd and uncalled for," Mr. Mnir replied gravely. "Of course you will please yourself, as I did, and we shall make the -best of it. But yon 11 Ivo no right to expect that we ;ball ., e the lady with your oyes. 1 seani.ot ..t':p seeing her as sho is. I do • not like her, but if you choose to marry leer, rest assured 1811011 give neither of you Cause for complaint. Now, accord, ing to ley custom, I've had my say. Yeti could not expect me, as your brother, to be ind.lillerent; still loss could I pretend an approval that I don't fool; but I reCegui00 that you are as free as 1 was when Mary's suitor, and 1 do not tirnit that yon can reasonably ask more. our relations are too inti- mate far Inisuudeestamling. You know that, in my peesent Ilene aud.hopes, I look forward to r0ce:vine you as a part- ner at no distant time. If such purposes are carried ont our interests must al- ways 1,0 identical." " I erdeu me, Henry," said Graydon, warmly, "and do not misunderstand my hasty words. I know you have my bust welfare sr hoar t, --you have ever proved that•.—flus you misjudge my choice. Er, 11 :.cry begins to see that you do, au' ,;ori. 11'0 insight is keener than nlau'e. You attribute to the daughter the qualities you dislike in the father. In it nothing that she has waited for u•e dm tu0 my tong absence, when she could and 1(11 a frau so many?" •'I'm neta she has been waiting for leu: 1,e1 d, anu r towaf',0 1L'. Atnault 111 Irl r ,, este that ::Ile may still pit& ((=1vi cru'11,1:, : I'm not eft'••,1 of hi,. P1". : i ",-re ',teen hila .w:r,:' ,.. , ,.... su :.., 114' ( t • 1, 1•. i ,d *1 +ts ap: t-.0 ta1,'e not -r I'.ul' ry,,1 :1 , fiord lda' o•, on esu l;,•1i. eye a .111, . ,'1 't'voitle',tt1.i 3±1'. 110(1''. art ow 1.u,i.111 wide of the t;r •1 ., 1' l'1. m1ht that Miss \Viola 110 leas' .•.lily cor'l:'rl towards his rival, uudl that lir. Wit:lmero, who had Oro (11''! • front the city, was deciduitly oomph, mot over the fact, tit,y,ldn1'a furtive obeervntion was VOW' cut short by the entrance of Madge, and even he was dazzled by a beauty that attracted many eyes. It was not merely a lovely woman who was ad. vanciug towards hien, lint a woman whose nature was I:rofoundly excited. What though she moved in geiet, well- bred grace, andreeted Mr. Muir with natural cordiality ? The aroused spiritual element was not wanting in the expression of her face or in the dignity of her carriage, Iter deep, snppressod feeling, which bordered on despair ; her wohnauly pride, which would disguise all suffering at every cost, gave to her presence a subtile power, felt none the less because intangible. It was evident that she neither saw nor cared for the strangers who were looking their curi. osity and admiratiou; and Graydon understood her barely well enough to think, "Something, whatever it may be, makes her 00111(0 other girls. She was languidly indifferent at dinner; now sho is superbly indifferent. This mailing and yesterday sho was a gay young girl, caper fora mountain scramble ora frolic of any ]find. flow many more phases will sho exhibit before the week is over?" Poor Madge coulbnot have answered that ynostiou !herself. She was under the control of one of the chief inspirations of feeling aul action, Moods of which she had never dreamt would become in. ovitable ; thoughts which nothing ex- ternal could. suggest would arise in her own heart and determine hor manuor. In ceasing to hope one also ceases to fear, and Graydon admitted to himself that ho had never before felt the change in Madge so deeply. The weak, timid, little girl he had o000 known now looked as if she could quietly face anything, The crowded room, tho stare of strangers were simply as if !they were not; the approach of a thunder -gust in the sultry evening was unheeded.; when a loud peal drowned her voieo, sho simply waited till she could be !heard again, and then wont on without a tremor in her tones, while all around her !people wero nervous, starting, and exclaiming, There was not the faintest suggestion of high tragedy in her manner, To a casual observer it was merely the some- what proud and cold reserve of a lady in a public place, while under the eyes of a strange and miscellaneous ase in- blage, Grevdon imagined that it might eci01151105s of her beauty and the tri- umphs that awaited her. She had been young and gay heretofore with the other young people, but now that a number of mature mon, like Arnault, had appeared ripen the scene, she pro- posed to make a different impression. The embodiment of ]ler ideal might be among then!. "At any rate," lie 0011 - eluded, "she has the skill to make me feel that I have little !,lace in Dither her iinaginings 0r holies, and that for all she cares I may capture Miss Wildirere as soon as I ami. Beth of ns probably are so far bcnenth her ideals of wot:.au• 1,00d1 01111 nn011100d1 that 01/0 can never be friendly to rine and is fast losing her futerest in the other. She has already virtually hail, 'Our relations are acci- dental, and if you marry Stella Wild - mere you need not hope that I shall ac- cept her with open arms as inseparable from ono of ley best friends.' 'Best friend,' indeed 1 Even that amount of regard was a lingering sentiment of the last. Now that we have met again she realizes that we have grown to bo com- parative strangers, and that our tastes and interd`sts lis apart." Thus clay after day he had some new and perturbed theory as to Madge, in which pique, infused with cynical philo- sophy and utter utisapprehousion, lad to widely varying Conclusiolla. Ardent and impatient lover of another woman as he was, one thing remained true,—he could in ither forget nor placidly ignore the girl who had ceased to bo hie sister, and who yet was not very successful in playing the part of a young lady friend. When the dancing began, the storm was approaching its culmination. More vivid than the light from the chandeliers, the electric flashes dazzled startled eyes with increasing frequency. Miss Wild - mere at first tried to show cool indiffer- ence in the spirit of bravado, and main- tained her place upon the floor with Mr. Arnault and a few others. She soon succumbed, with visible agitation, as a thunderous peal echoed along the sky. Madge danced on with Graydon as if nothing had occurred. He only felt that her form grow a littlo more tense, and saw that her eyes glowed with sup- pressed excitement. "Are you not afraid ?" he asked, as soon as his voice could be heard. "See, the ladies are scattering or huddling together, while many loop as if the world were coming to an end." "The world is coming to an end to some every day," she replied. "That remark is as tragic as it is trite, Madge. What ooulcl have sug- gested it ?"� "Trite remarks cannot have serious muscle." "Account for sho tragic phase, thea." "I'm in no mood for tragedy, and commonplace does not need explana- tion." -What kind of mood are you in to- night, Madge? You puzzle me ;" and be looked directly into her eyes. At the moment she was facing a winnow, and a !lash of rtr,11ne bu.<::.noy ovary featrire hin,iuuns. I1 ,,.•umed to him that ho saw her very seat, the spirit she might become, for it is hard to imagine existence without form,—form that is in harmony with charaotor. The crash that followed was so terrific that they paused and stood confronting each other. The music ceased; cries of terror resounded; but the moment- ary transfiguration of the girl before him had beau so strange and so impress. ive that Graydon forgot all else, and still gazed at her with something like awe in his face. Her lip trembled, for the nervous tension was growing too severe. "Why do yon look at me so ? " she faltered. "What has happened? Is there danger ?" "What has happened, Madge, that I cannot understand you ? The electric gleam made you look like an angel of light. Your face seemed light itself, Are you so true and good, Madge, that such vivid radiance brings out no stain or fear? What is it that makes you unlike others ?" Inebinobivoly he looked toward Miss Wildmere. Her faoo was buried in her hands, and Mr. Arnault was bonding over her with reassuring words. Madge felt her self.control departing. "Mary is afraid in a thunder•storm," else said, in a low tone. "1'11 go to her. She does not find me so puzzling;" and she lhasteued away, yet not so swiftly but that he saw her quivering lip and look of trouble. He took a few impulsive steps in pur Suit, then hesitated and walked ince soltitoly down a hallway, that he might have a chance for further thought. The alarm and confusion were so groat that bhe little episode had been unnoted. It had made an impression on Graydon, however, that he could not shako off readily, Emotion, if forced, has little power except to repel, but even a glimpse of deep, suppressed fooling haunts the memory, especially if its cause is half in mystery, Madge had set her heart on one thing, had worked long and patiently for its attainment, had hoped and prayed for mann 12, 1886. T1 -1:t 1 11. L. r7<<!. C7i:SON, SEAFORTH WOOLEN MILLS being Now C1aml�leto 10 Ona of 1110 linnet Afills in sho lyomimOt(. Earl/207'S a7l (1 0t7dei's in want of first -Class Quality of Goods would find It mall to to their benefit by purchasing direct from the Store in the Mills, where they will have the Largest and to choose from in any Mill in Canada. Highest Prices Paid for JVool IN OASIi OR TRADE. Before the first evening of his rival's adveut had passed, Graydon felt that he must appear to the people in the house as supplanted, and his pride was be- ginning to be touched. Mrs. 11luir'% w00(15 had added to his irritation. The episode with Madge had left a decidedly unpleasant impression. He felt nob only that he had failed to uuderstand her, but that he might be treating hor with a neglect which she had a right to re. Dent. Her appearance and manner during the storm had almost startled him ; her abrupt departure had caused sudden and strong compunction; and ho had wt haat that they might aonio to a bettor understanding; but thoughts of her soou gave place to anxiety in regard to Miss 1\h.cimore, who not only danced oftener with Ar- nault than with any ono else, bub also strolled with him on the dusky piazza, which, by reason of the dampness due to the storm, was almost deserted. Graydon had permitted hie brow to be. come clouded, and eves so perturbed by the events of the evening that he had not disguised his vexation by gallantries to others. At last ho detected ensiles and whispered surmises on the part of s01330 who had seen his devotion be- fore the arrival of Mr. Arnault. This almost angered him, and he felt that Miss Wildmere had imposed a rolo that would be difficult to maintain. He had lingered conspicuously near, intent on proving his loyalty, and had hoped every moment that his opportu- nity weeltl come. After noting that others were observing hie desolation bo went resolutely out on the piazza, with the intention of asking Miss Wild. mere to give him the last waltz, Its wide space was deserted. Ho waited a few moments, thinking that sho object of his thoughts would tarn the corner in her promenade with his rival. Timo passed and she did not Dome. I -Ie loo1csd through a parlor window, thinking that she might have entered by some other moans of ingress; and while ho was standing there steps slowly approached from a garb of the piazza which was usually m utter darkness, and which Special „1tte7,ti077. —PAID T O— Cttsto7n TVork and done on the Shortest Notice. A. G. VanEgmond. BERLIN FOUNDRY 1 Pratical Watchmaker and Jeweller' Satisfaction Guaranteea in all Repairing. i1IANU1 AC'runlR 1 0l ENGINES, BOILERS, MILL - MACHINERY, &c. SMait Upright E7egine,s —AND— BOILERS A SPECIALTY. For further particulars apply to Nelson, 6- Co., Boi'li7m, 01,1, MONEY TO LOAN. 1tt.nay to lona outline property- at LOWEST RATES. PRIVATE ANC COMPANY FUNDS --SHJP AT --- 0't'. .1. J t(11005'li 410(111 0Rt.455L$,. ` 'ONEY TO LEND. Any amount of honey to Loan on Farm or -Village property at (i & (ii PER CENT. YEARLY. Straight Loans with privilege of re- paying when required. Apply to A. HUNTER, Div. Court Clerk, Brussels. W. B. DIMON, Solicitor, Brussels, Ont. INTERESTING TO EVERYBODY. Stoves. Furniture &c. THOS. FLETCHER, Practical Watchmaker and Jeweler, Gold Watches, Silver Plated Ware, Silver, Watches, Clocks, Gold Rings, Violins, Etc. I keep a full lino of goods usually kept in a first-class Jewelry store_ Call ancl examine, no trouble to show Goods. The Sterling Cool: Stove just the thing for farmers Use. Has a large oven, takes 27 inch wood and weighs over 400 lbs. Tho Marquis, one of the moat oonven- lent and handsome town Cook Stoves ever offered to the public, also in stock. CALL AND s1(17 THE "DAVIS" SEWING MACHINE. Itis Simple and Durable anis does a larger range of work than any other machine in the market. A PULL SUPPLY 01: FURNITURE, —CONS1STING 010— CHAIRS, BUREAUS, BEDSTEADS, LOUNGES, MATTRASSES, &O, GENERALLY ON BAND. Issuer of Rtarriaae I,ietrses, Agent for Ocean Tickets, Amer- ican Express Company and Great Northwestern telegraph Company. Next door to Ja Drewe's hardware store, tlV . ae Zi'Ge elc®181a. ry, Money to Loan. PRIV.ATE FUNDS. FARMERS ATTENTION I The undersigned has the following goods for sale : THE DUNDAS COED BINDER. Hai vest Queen Reaper, Front and Bear Cut Mower, Hay Rakes, Hay Tenders, Wisner Seed Drill, the Bain Wagon, Tho Guelph Bell Organ, Raymond Sewing Machine, General Purpose Plows, Sulky Plows, throe kinds of Scufers, Horse Powers, Grain Crrindera, Mow- er Knife Grinders, Harriston Panning Mill, 1 second hand Buggy, 1 second hand \Vegon ;and other implements too numerons to mention. We would just say that our Binder is considered by competent Judges to bo tho Best in the Market, being simple su construction and call' ily worsted by one span of horses. il'Farmers will do wall to Give Us a Call before investing elsewhere. Com- HO. 1.1O -V 1--1 BRUSSELS, OST. $20,000 of Private Funds have just been placed in my hands for Investment AT 7 FEB, CENT. Borrowers can have their leans complete in three days if title is satisfactory. Apply to E. E. WADE. OUR CUSTOMERS. I wish to inform 011 that I have rent- ed the WINGHAM WOOLEN MILL Till I get 111e Brussels mill in operation and will take in Wool hero in Tracie as usual. I intend to take in all kinds of manufactur- ing hero, at the Old Woolen Mill Stand, such as Roll Carding, Shinning, Weaving, Fulling, &c, and Gurantoe to Give Good Satis- faction. All kinds of Knitted Goods Made To Order, —SUCH AS— JAOIfETS, SCARFS, STOCKINGS, Sic, I have it large Stock of Goods on Band, such as Bod Blankets, Shoot- ings, Union Flannels, All Wool Flannels, Top Shirts of various kinds, Under shirts and Drawers, an Excellent Lot of All Wool Tweeds, both Fine and Coarse. Il'PLEASE GIVE 11171 A CALL moon; SELLING YOUR WOOL rmsnivnEn1, G E O. I -10"% M.