HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1885-8-14, Page 22
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A YOUR GIRL'S WOOING.
I3Y 7i. 1P. nor.,
Author of " M. sombre Rival.," "
Scat to. Tlarueat," die., deo.
rots
my eoulidonce tonight just as naturally
and uuliesitatlngly as if we had been
rocked in the saute cradle. I am not
wearying you with this long explantation
and preamble ?"
"Nb, Graydon," she replied, in a low
tone.
"I am very glad. I don't think well
of myself to -night at all, and I have a
very humiliating confession to make,—
one that I coup make only to such a
sister, as you are, or rather would have
been, were there a natural tie between
us. If I didn't trust you so, I wouldn't
speak of it, for what I shall say involves
Henry as well as myself, Madge, I've
been duped, I've been made both a fool
and a tool, and the consequences might
have been grave indeed. Henry, who
has so much quiet sagacity, has an some
way obtained information that proved
of immense importance to him, and ab.
solutely vital to me. I shudder when I
think of what might have happeued,
and I am overwhelmed with gratitude
when I think of my escape. I told yon
that Miss Wildmere was humoring that
fellow Arnault to save her father, and
consequently her mother and the child,
This impression, which was given me so
skilfully, and at last,L,eenfirmod by plain
words, was utterly false. Henry has
been in financial Clanger ; Wildmere
knew it, and he also know that Arnault
had lent Henry money, which today
was called in with the hope of breaking
him down. They would have succeeded
too, had he not had resources of which
they knew nothing. Yon. of course,
can't realize how esseutial a little ready
money sometimes ii in a,porio.i of-finan•
oil depression ; hut lieury i, safe uow,
he assures me; and, 0 Madge, thank
God, 1 have found her out before it was
too late ! I had fully resolved while off
trouting that I would break with her
finally 1f I found Arnaultl at her side
again. Now he may marry her, for all
I care, and I wish him no worse punish-
ment. I shall go to my room now and
write to her that everything is over
between ns. The fact 1s, Madge, you
spoiled Miss Wildmero for me Liu that
morning drive the other day. After
leaving your society and going into hers
I felt the difference keenly, and while I
should then have fulfilled the oblige -
flops which I had so stupidly incurred,
I had little heart in the affair. Her
acting was consummate, but a true
woman's nature had been revealed to
me, and the glamour was gond from the
false ono. Now you see what absolute
confidence I repose in you, and how
:wavily this strange story boars against
rnyeelf. You won't think very harshly
of me, will you, Madge ?"
"No, Graydon."
"And you won't condemn my fraternal
affection as contrary to nature ?"
She was sorely at a loss. She bad
listened with quickened breath, a flutter -
pulse, and in a growing tumult of
'crepe a ud fear, to this uudisgnisod revela-
tion of his attitude toward her, She
almost thought that she detected
between the linos, as it were, the begin-
ning of a different regard. He believed
that he had boon frankness itself, and
his words proved that he looked upon
his fraternal affection and confidence as
the natural, the almost inevitable se-
"uenee of the past. Sho could not meet
him on the fraternal ground that he
was taking again, nor did she wish him
to occupy it in his own mind. To main-
tain the attitude which shelled adopted
would require as much delicacy as firm.
nese of action, or ho would begin to
query shy she could not go back to
their old relations as readily as he could.
While she hesitated, he asked gently,
"Don't you feel a little of your old
sisterly loco for me ?"
"No, Graydon, I do not," she replied,
boldly. "I suppose you will think mo
awfully (natter -of -fact. I love, Mary as
my sister, I hero tho strongest esteem
and affection for Henry as my brother-
in-law, and I like yon for just what you
are to 11c, neither more nor lust. Tho
truth is, Craydon, when Iwoke npfrom
my old limp, shadowy Iiia I had to look
at every.';tug just all it a::1 I hart
icrund the habit of so doing. I think
it is the best way. You did not sae Miss
Wildmere as she was, bub as you
imagined hor to bo, and you blame
yourself too severely because you acted
as you naturally would toward a girl
for whore ybu had so high a regard.
When wo stick to the aottta°l, the escape
mistakes and embarraesmeub, Every
ono knows that we aro not brother and
sister; everyone would admit atm right
to bo verygoodfriouds. I have lisbeead
to you with the deep and honest syr...
pathy that is porfectly,nataral to Otto
relations. I thiol( the better o£ you
for what you havo toll me, but Inc'too
dreadfully matter -of -"act," :lie con•
chided, beginning to laugh, "to do any.
thing More."
He siglud deeply.
"Now, there is no occasion for that
sigh, Graydon. Mise Wildmoro was a
delusion and a suaro, but 111000 aro
plenty of true women in the world.
!ionic day yon will meet the right ono.
Sho wools object to your friends, httt
elm Iwo: ably would to sister% who atm
not sisters."
Graydon laughed a little bitterly as
ho s atil, n8o you imagine that after my
recant ..:cporiuuoo I ehalleoon bo making
lova to another girl?"
"Why not 7 Because Mies Wildmere
is n fraud rlo yott intend to spite your.
self by lotting some fair, true girl pass
by unheeded? That might bo to permit
the fraud to injury you almost as much
11.3 if sho had married you."
Ho burst out laughing, as he exclaimed,
'PRE BRUSSELS POST
"Well, your head is1evtd"
"Oerbamly it is, My head is all right,
even though I havo not mueb heart, as
you believe. I told tyou I could be a
good follow, and I dont propose to in.
dnlgo yon in sentiment about what is
past and gone,—uatnral and true as it
was at tho time,—or in cynicism for the
future. I shall dance et your wedding,
and you won't be gray, either. Come;
the music has ceased, end it must be
almost Sunday morning,"
As they went up the steps, Arnault,
with a pale, stern face, and looking
neither to the right nor to the 103,
passed them and strode away.
CHAPTER XXXIII,
P,
END OF alma \.ACO.
lir. nrnault's manner as he passed
struck both Graydon and Madge se in
dicaiiug strong feeling and stern pur-
pose. In order to account for this action,
Ibis necessary to go back in aur history
for a short period. While Madge was
receiving such rich compensation for
liaviug become simply what she was,
Miss Wildmere had been gathering the
rewards of diplomacy. As we have
soon, she had reached the final conclu-
sion that if Mr. Muir did not fail that
day she would accept Graydon at once;
and during its earlier hours, she had
been complacency itself, feeling that
everything was now in her own hands.
Mr. Muir's appearance and manner tbo
previous evening had nearly convinced
her that ha was in 00 financial difficul-
ties whatever,—that her father and Mr.
Arnault wore either mistaken or else
were deceiving her. "If the latter is
the case," she had thought, "they have
so bungled as to enable me to test the
truth of Viola words within twouty-four
hours."
"I am virtually curtain," she said,
with au exultant smile" "that I shall be
engaged to Graydon Muir before I sleep
to -night."
In the afternoon it began to trouble
her that Graydon had not appeared. As
the hours passed she grew anxious, and
with the shadow of night there fell a
chill on her heart and hope. This
passod into alarm when at last Graydon
arrived with his brother and Madge,
and greeted her with the cold recogui.
tion that has been described. Sho had
met air, Arnault cordially at first, be-
cause there wore still possibilities in
his favor; but whou her father promptly
disappeared, with the evident purpose
to avoid questions, and Mr, Muir and
his family at supper gave evidence of
superb spirits instead of trouble, she
saw that sho had boon duped, or, in
any case, misled. Her anger and worry
increased momentarily, especially sines
Graydon, beyond a little furtive observa-
tion, completely ignored her. She
naturally ascribed his course to resent-
ment at her first greeting of Arnault,
his continued presence at her side, and
the almost deforeutbal manner with
which ho was treated by her father,
who had joined his family at sapper,
when uo queries could be made.
',I'11 prove to Graydon by my manner
that I am for him," was hor thought;
but he either did not or would not 500
her increasing coldness toward Arnault.
Her purpose and tactics wore all ob.
served and thoroughly understood by
the latter, however, but be gave few
obvious signs of the fact. Iu his words,
tones, eomplimonts, he proved that ho
was waking good all that ho had pro-
mised ; but the changing expression in
his eyes grow so ominous that Mr.
Wildmcro taw his suppressed anger
with alarm.
Miss Wildmoro felt euro that before
the evening was over she could. convey
to Graydon her decision, and chafed
every moment over the leisurely supper
that Mr. Arnault persistoii in making,
especially as she saw that it was not his
appetite that detained him. The Muir
group had passed out, and to leave him
and her father would not only be an act
of rudeness, but also would appear like
open pursuit of Graydon. When at
last she reached the parlor, to decline
Arnault's invitation to dance would be
scarcely less than an insult; yet, with
intensifying anger and fear, she saw
that circumstances were compelling her
to appear as if she had disregarded
Graydon's warnings and expectations.
So far from being dismissed, Arnault
was the one whom she had first greeted
and to whom she was now giving the
evening.
While she was dancing with Arnault,
Graydon, with Madge, appeared upon
the floor. She was almost reckless in
her efforts to secure his attention. In
this endeavor she did nob fail, but she
failed signally in winning any recogni.
tion; anc�the ill -concealed importunity
of her eyes hastened Graydon's de.
parkas) with Madge, and gave time for
the long interview described in the
previous chapter. Sho grow cold with
dread. It was the impulse of her self -
pleasing nature to want that most
which seemed the most denied, and she
roasonod, "Ho is angry because Arnault
is at my side as usual, in spito of all
uu Bain. me 13 uoterinrnop to mem me
to a decision, and won't approach me at
Arnault'e side, Yet I dare nob openly
shako Arnault oft, and he's so attentive
that I must do ib openly if at all. Getty -
don's manner was so very strange and
cold that I foe. that I should do some.
thing to conciliate him at once; and
yot how can I when Arnault is bunt
upon monopolizing the whole evening?
He gives me no chance to leave lam
unless I am guilty of the shameful rude -
noes of tolling him to leave me, 01, if
I could only sea Graydon alone, oven
for a moment I"
Arnault v as indeed a curious study,
and yet be wise acting characteristic.
ally. Ho hail virtually given up hope
of ever winning Stella Wildmere, Ho
had •wooed devotedly, of;, :N. w(3alth,
and playa! his final card, and in each
had felled. But, he his fate what I
AueusT 14, 1886.
it might, both his pride and his
peculiar souse of bouor made it im•
perative that he should bo her suitor
until the' time abipulaboil for his answer
should expire, Up to twolvo e'alouk
that night he would nob giro )ler 1110
elighbest pause for resentment or oven
complaint. Then his obligation to hot
Ceased utterly, and she know that it
would.
He had been irritated and despon lent
over slums Mr. .Muir, through Milieu's
aid, had so signally checkmated 11itu.
But Stella's greeting had reassured him,
and Graydou's manner toward her gave
the impression that she had not been
osteudiug encouragement to him. This
promising aspect of affairs speedily
began to pass away, however, when lie
saw her step to Graydou's side and ask
if he was not going to shako Lancia
with her. He had since noted every
effort that she had made to same
Graydon's attention, and the truth be-
came perfectly clear. She had utterly
lost faith in his and her father's pre.
diotlons of financial disaster to floury
Muir, and would accept Graydon at the
earliest opportunity. He saw that his
defeat in Wall street insured his defeat
in the Catskills, and felt that there was
no use in his playing lover ally longer.
If she had given flim her hand it would
have boon secured purely through a
financial trick, and even his Wall street
soul experienced a revolutiou of disgust
at the thought of a wife thus obtained.
1VIbit a sort of grim viudiativeuess he
had muttered, "She shell keep her
promise. Neither she nor Muir shall be
happy till my time has expired."
Later in the evening, Graydon 7not re.
turning, the thought occurroa to Arnault,
"Perhaps he too has recognized the
sharp game she has played,—perhaps
Henry Muir has said to him, 'Shia has
been putting yon off to see the result of
the sudden palling in of Arnnult's loan,'
and now young Muir proposes to con.
sole himself with that handsome Miss
Alden ;" and a gleam of pleasuro at the
prospect illumined his face for a mo m en t.
Meanwhile he maintained his mask be-
fore the world so admirably that even
Bliss Wildmere little guessed the depth
of his revolt. He was the last one to
reveal his bitter disappointment and
humiliating defeat to the vigilant gossips
of the house. Those who saw his
smiling face and gallantries, and heard
his breezy, half -cynical words, little
guessed the storm within. He had been
taught in the best school in the world
h'o' to say and look one thing and mean
another.
At last an acquaintance approached,
and said, "Pardon me, Mr. Arnault, but
I don't propose to permit you to
monopolize Miss Wildmere all the even-
ing;" and then asked for the next dance.
Stella complied instantly, thinking,
"Graydon may return 110w at any
moment, and if he sees that I am not
with Arnault will come to mo as usual."
Arnault bowed politely, looked at his
watch, and invited another lady to
dance. Stella had not been on the floor
but a few moments when not Graydon,
but her father came and said to her
partner, "Excuse me, sir. I wish to
speak to my daughter."
Requesting her companion to wait,
she followed Mr. Wildmere through an
open window, and whou on the piazza he
took her hand and put it within his arm
with a firmness that permitted no re-
sistance. Arnault noted the proceeding
with a cynical smile.
"Stella," said her father, in a low,
stern tone, "did you not promise Mr.
Arnault his answer this evening 2"
"Answer my question first," she re•
plied, bitterly, Did Honey Muir fail
to -day? Of course he did not. You
have bean deceiving me."
"I slid not deceive you—I was mis.
token myself. But I warn ou. Gray.
don Muir is nob at your side. IIo may
nob return. Arnault is waiting to give
you wealth and me safety, but he may
not wait much longer. You are taking
worse risks than I ever incurred in the
street, and your loss may be greater than
any I havo met with."
"Bah I" she replied, in anger. "I
might have been engaged to Graydon
Muir this moment had I not listened to
your croakings. I'll manage for myself
now;" and elm broke away and joined
her partner again.
After the dance was over she said,
"Suppose we walk on the piazza ; I'm
warm." She was cold and trembling.
Arnault took his stand in the main hall,
where he and she could sae the clock
should oho approach him again. The
last hour was rapidly passing. Miss
Wildmere and her attendant strolled
leisurely the whole longish of the piazza,
but Graydon was not to bo seen. Then
she led him through a hall whence she
could glance into the reception and
reading mortis. The quest was futile,
and she passod Ai:nault unheedingly
into the parlor, saying that she was
tired, and with her companion sat down
where they could be seen from the door.
way and windows. But he thought her
singularly diett•aito ill her efforts to
maintain conversation.
"Oh," she thought, "he will comp
soon—he must come soon I 1 must—I
must see him before I retire'!"
Arnault meantime maintained his
position in the hall, chatting and laugh-
ing with an acquaintance. She could
see him, and there was little in his man.
nor to excite apprehension. I1c oo-
casionally .looked toward hor, but she
tried to appear absorbed in conversation
with tbo man whom oho puzzled by
her random words. Arnault also saw
that her oyes rested in swift, pager
scrutiny on every ono who entered from
without, and that tbo two hands of the
rock ware pointing c:osoly toward mid-
i, gilt.
..Ito parlor was becoming dosorlod,
Thom whole the beauty of the night had
lured without were straggling 1u. Tho
(21.00]l NEWS
For the Farmer.
I have secured the mum for
Gray township for it
Patent Load Lifting A lacltine.
Kon eau do your hauling and
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and as to its reliability, safety,
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times its cost. See this Lifter be-
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thing of the kind as it is just what
you want. Any information de-
sired will bo furnished
Anyone infringing on the Patent
will be prosecuted.
H. L. em CICS ON,
Pratioal Watchmaker and rewelleri
Satisfaotion Guaranteea in all
Repairing.
--SHJP AT^^
W.
J. JACKSON'S STOR I; 1U1014Sk-Lar,
MONEY TO LEND.
Any amount of Money to Loan on
Farm or Village property at
6 & Gi PER CENT. YEARLY.
Straight Loans with privilege of re-
paying when required. Apply to
A. HUNTER,
Div. Court Clerk, Brussels.
FARMERS ATTENTION I
The undersigned has the following
goods for sale :
.TII 4.Il WHITE, THE DUINDAS GOR]) BINDER,
CnANDRo01C, ONTARIO.
MONEY TO LOAN.
SG.noy to loan on farmproperty at
LOWEST RATES.
PRIVATE ANC COMPANY FUNDS
W. B. DleicsoN,
Solicitor,
Brussels, Ont.
INTERESTING
TO EVERYBODY.
Stoves, Furniture &c.
The Sterling Gook Stove just the
thing for farmers use. Has a large
oven, takes 27 inch wood and weighs
over 400 lbs.
The Marquis, one of the most conven-
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over offered to the public, also in
stook.
CALL AND PEE TEL'
"DAVIS" DEWING MACI'iINE.
Itis Simple and Durable and does a
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machine in the market.
A FULL SUPPLY 01+'
FURNITURE,
—002101801188 OF—
CHAIRS, BUREAUS, BEDSTEADS,
LOUNGES, MATTRASS00 &C
GENERALLY ON RAND.
Next door to Ji Drew's hardware store,
o
J. J C1s®12a
Money to Loan.
PRIV:1TE' FUNDS.
$20,000
of Private Funds havo just been placed in
my hands for Investment
AT 7 PER CENT..
Borrowers can have their loans oompleto
11 three day s if title is satisfactory.
Apply to E. E. WADE.
► 1HE BEST
WIlsfD 1VIILII.1.
W. fa. B4Cox•a•iw,
E=1,114 spa IitoN Woiuts, - tftecnizrL, Ocr
Mavutaoturer of .throe different kinds of
%Vivdmilla. Tho simplest, strongest and most
satisfactory Windmills yob made. For Dump-
ing valor, salving wood, chopping grain or
driving any light Machinery they havo no
e net My OLLl4BBAT13D PUMPS have se-
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than es being superior 0) many now in the
market, and oval to any ever made, They
Will throi water 900 loot, or 10000 it a mi)o on
the level. Farmers and atachnien aro 00 -
guested to sant. for partlenlars before baying
a:itlior a Windmill 01' a Pitmp, ask claim that.
mine 1800 the boot in thomarl:ot. Arldrese
W' hi el0181t19, lllilaholi, Ont. I
Harvest Queen Beeper,
Front and Rear Out Mower,
Hay Rakes, Hay Tenders, Wiener
Seed Drill, the Bain Wagon, The
Guelph Bell Organ, Raymond Sewing
Machine, General Purpose Plows,
Sulky Plows, three kinds of Seuf lers,
Horse Powers, Grain Grinders, Mow-
er Knife Grinders, Harriston Fanning
Mill, 1 second band Buggy, 1 second
hand Wagon and other implements
too numerous to mention. We would
just say that our Binder is considered
by competent Judges to be tho
Best in time lllarkel,
being simple in construction and eas•
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Y Tarmers will do well to Give Ile
a Call before investing elsewhere.
G-10. IjOV,
'MUSSELS, 00 T.
BRUSSELS WOOLEN MILLS.
I beg to inform the farming cam-
munity that I am now prepared to
tale in
Carding, Sinning,
And Weaving,
at my Now Brick Woolen Mill,
and promise to give Satisfaction
to those favoring us with their
trade. I have on hand and will
keep constantly in stock a full as-
sortment of
Cloths. Tweeds.
Flannels, Drnggets,
Blankets, Yarns,
knitted (goods, Dress (10(1110,
Cotten Shirlings, Grey Cottons, &c.
Also Fine Canadian Tweeds,
PANTINGS & S +'RGES
for Suits which we will get made
up on short notice and a good fit
warranted every time.
Highest Market Price
PAID POR
BUTTER .EGGS,
GIVE ME A CAI.
at my Now Milts before going
elsewhere.
Geo. Howe.
OOP
1