HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1886-1-8, Page 22
THE BEITSSELB POST
Le, 8, 1886.
DICK'S SWEETHEART.
By the Author of "Mum= 7111.11,,MOx,"
"Less, lona Beanosrotln," "Preen .is,"
" Mows BAWN," ETC.
'• ,Lee next tne0 y—•• is not it Witit% :
tied I nay -ex deuce anything else."
"The next waltz then?"—despur•
abely.
"Is promised also."
,"Ali 1 " says poor Sir °hickey, falling
hack discouraged, and casting a wither.
ing glance at the successful Greville,
Perhaps Audrey fools for hint; per-
haps it is that she finds it impossible,
like most woolen, to loosen her hold on
a slave. At all events, she leaus a little
towards him, and beckons him once
snore to her side with a slight wave of
her fan.
' Would the third be of any use to
you ?" she assts coldly, Lot with our cif
her rare smiles. '• Yes ? Then take 11.
By.ths•bye"—with a sudden (sett -Imbue
tion to strengthen his chains, or else to
s]low off her power to the others -
" how is it that you, of all iny acl.luniu
Melees, have beau the only one to give
me no pretty Ccmpliurent to•uight ?"
" 1 dnu't suppose auythulg 1 could say
world be pretty," sighs Sir Chv:ksy
desvolidently.
"Try," says Vyner. the nnest en-
couragement in his tone.
" I have tried"—gloomily—e and I
mighb as well have lot it alone. S110
forgets all about it. It's only natural
she should, you know ; I'm not one to
be remembered. But, as it happens, I
was one of die very first to congratulate
her when she came off the stage."
" Ah, so you were !" says Audrey
lightly. " 1 forget now what it was you
said; but I kuow you were very kind."
" Kind!" repeats the infatuated youth,
with bitterest self disdain. " Who am
I that I should presume to be kind to
you 2 len glad you leave forgotten all
abontit. ' My words that would praise
thee are i npotent things,' "
1;00,1 grecions, ChaucerI Recolleot
yourself I" exclaims Bruno, giving ilial a
warning nudge and a shocked glance.
" However badly you may feel, learn to
restrain ,yourself; and. at all Greats,
never give way to had language 1"
" Eh 9" says Sir Chieksy, in a stupefied
tone.
" To say ' impudent things' to Mies
Pnnennby1 My dear fellow, what mad•
u"st! I really can't see my way to the
end of this sad affair."
" I didn't say that 1" exclaims Sir
Chicksy, with wild wrath, crowing more
and more desperate ail he sees his idol
disappear in the di,tu.nce with the more
faveurect Greville. •' Nothing of the
sort! Trig word 1 used was ' impotent' 1"
" Very in)pndent," persists Bouverie
gravely. " As Mies Fonsouby'e near
relative, I must ask you to withdraw it
—to apologise —to—"
" Oh, go it!" cries Sir Chieksy hysteri-
cally. "This not bad ensign as it is, I
suppose, that, you must try to madden
me! Brit I'll have satisfaction from
somebody; I'll have it out of one of you
for this 1 I'll have my revenge, or—"
IIere his knee -Wets owning in con-
tract with the sharp edge of an ottoman,
Le perforce gives way anis sinks upon it.
" A seat," says Bruno. finishing his
sentence for him. " Well,it is the better
thing of the two ; though liow yon pre-
sume to talk of vengeance is—"
" Bruno, be silent," interposes Mrs.
Weinyss, in a !ow tone, lint with au-
thority. " Yon are really too bad. Let
the poor boy alone. Between you all,
yon will drive him out of his mind."
" itis what?" asks Tyner mildly.
" Ilrtre you forgotten, Mr. Vvner,"
says Mrs, Wernyse severely, " that your
genet partner i.; awaiting you?"
" No; I was remembering it all the
tiule," return; Mr. Vyuer sweetly. " I
ant helping her to a perfect frame of
mind, To roMeo55 One's Bout in paten• o
is a rare merit. 1 think however she
has now possessed it long enough in
that state, and I t1y to her."
"For me," says lirlm0—"am I to
understand that you forbid me speech?
Am 1 to hear my own comer) cruelly in-
sulted, and take no steps to punish the
offender 7"
" You are to cease teasing that boy."
" Very good; I sho'u't play any
more," says Brunn, rising with an iu-
hired front. "And for the future, Milk
Wernyss, you will be ]rind enongh to re.
member that we are not upon speaking
tm• ns."
" Ch that I might dare to hope it !"
exclaims she, laughing, and turning to
Neat herself beside the rliecousolate
Baronet, " Why so pale and wan, food
lover?'' rummers she archly. " Any-
thing Cho natter that I may hear ?"
" Mather l" 01108 010 1 oor fool, some-
thing that is nlnutst an expreeeiou
coming into hie 1511.,,. "Everything's
the hatter I Ibis all up with me and
—and her 1 I don't ruind about any -
thins else; that ass Bouverie douetet
count with mo 1 ITe is au ass, het he '1"
1. Tho groa.test 1 know I" sayn Mrs.
11emyss, with satisfactory empLnyie,
amt in a tone misehievoasly distinct,
Bouverie being within hearing diebanco,
and of course listening to every word
that falls from Iris" ladyo's" lips, as a
true lover should,
"hut, oh, Sfrs. Wouyse, how I love
that 11 0110811 creature 1" goes on Sit
Chielisy tearfully. " And I'm within'
to her—nothin' I Ah, there lips the
sting 1 I'm lose than the crust beneath
her foot I wish," cries Sir Chicksy,
with a Redden burst of tragical sorrow,
"Hint 1 was the dust beneath her feet;
anyhow, I could touch her then! I
could cling to her shoe; an'—an' she'd
have to carry me along with her wher-
ever she went 1"
There 15 a suspieiorsly smothered
sound somewhere near; blit, when Mrs.
Wonly,,s glances in its direction, Mr.
lionverie is to be soon ulitfuly wrenned
In happy thoughts oI his own, awl is
bowing and smiling in a most affable
oianiier to goltuehody at the far end of
the room. Ij; le a crowded end, and of
course it would be impossible to single
out the fortunate object of his attentions,
" 11Ir, Bouverie," says Mrs, Weaves,
with ominous milrjtieee, " lo•night'a
theatricals seem to hese got into your
head, When you have ceased to enact'
the pert of a nodding mandarin to a
purely imaginary audience, I shall bo
glad if you will bake use to the next
room."
Two hours are as nothing when one
is young and engaged for every dance
before the fiddles have well got through
their first dismal tuning, To Audrey,
still flushed with her great triumph,
they are as baro moments that fly by
her fraught with a gay intoxication.
She has laughed 'with a gaiety, a
freedom from eonstrainb strange to
her. Born with a spirit unsuited to
poverty, she has drifted year by year
into a state of feeling, false and ern,
bittered, that has roistered most people
distasteful, or, at the best, objects of
suspicion to her eyes. Only her " dad,"
her best beloved, is entirely without
fault iu her sight.
Tonight however the unwonted es•
citeinent of au ensured success has rais-
ed her above her lower nature. Her
enjoyment of the passing hour is not
forced ; she enters into the spirit of it
with an eagerness that would Nava eur-
1'l i.ul etert herself had she spared time
to think of it, and that delights her
",tail," who, dragged from his setlesion
and his books to witness her: triuunpli,
bus been more than rewarded by the
51(11(5 ami I,hl•ili00Ile has seen mantling
her lrc3util'ui lace.
She has perhaps danced rather more
than is correct with Captain Greville,
and bee let the world sue ui a somewhat
reckless fashion how abject is MIs sub•
mission
"My dance, I think,' says Vyner,
going up to her a little before supper.
"Is it?" She has been smiling prat•
tily at Captain Greville the moment be-
fore ;
e•fore; but, as she answered Vyner, her
smile fades, and the old, tired, listless,
discontented expression returns to her.
" Let us not deuce ib then 1 Is there no
place where one can zit ib out ?"
" _More than 1 need recount," replies
Vynor, with a slight shrug. "Let Ire
matte you wise as to one of them. And
so you have at last known happiness I "
he says to her presently, when they are
seated in a little flowered reties, sweet
with the perfume of dying daplmes. A
coloured lamp, faintly lit, sheds a pale
crimson glow above their beads.
•• It has been a better evening than
most." returns she iudifferenbly.
" Until now, you would say," retorts
he, with a short laugh. " well, eudnro
me for a while, if you can, if o>lly for the
sake of appearances." -
"Appearances?" She colours;haugh-
tily, and turns her gaze full upon him.
' You see," says Vyner, shaking from
the gold of her gown a little crawling
spider that has dropped from the leaves
above her, and taking no notice of her
question, "if admiration and conluest
be lieppiness, you have gained it to.
night."
' I am no happier than I was yoster•
day," returned she coldly. "But yo•.1
spoke of appearances just now. Weal)
was it you wished me to nuderstend 2"
•' That it is not altogether well to
dance for an entire evening with one
men."
"You aro as careful of my reputation
as Lady Bouverie," says she, with a low
scornful laugh. Then she shuts her fan
suddenly with a sharp angry click, and
throws it on the cushiou beside her.
" Did you notice her fade when every
one else was congratulating' ire'2 " she
says. " It was a picture 1 It told its
own story. What malicious eyes she
has ! I wish she were not my father's
sister, that I might ,tare to otl'or her ins°.
lance before which hers to me would
sink into insignificance 1"
She draws her breath etith quickly, and her
lips part. '.there are, he thiuke, tear,
in her dusky eyes; hut her lashes fall
and rise so swiftly that it is difficult to
bo sure.
" You exaggerate her feelings towards
you."
llor Maui d, yen would say. Is it
net a strange thing that mere poverty
thoubl breed dislike? She cannot for-
give dad in that he was born without
Limb lucky silver spoon. A man who
must take in''upils to help hint to dice
out his daily bbread 141 a distressing me.
gnitintwice at 011 times; and to feel that
sue)) a lean is her brother ;s gall and
wururn•no.t to het." tier charming voice
has grown impetuous, and is tinged with
oven it toupee shade of rnookory than fa
usual to it. " What a tiling is poverty!"
she says.
" A conquerable thing however. Yon
aro now, I should say, in a fair way to
escape its thraldom. Greville very pro.
perry has fallen in love with you,"
" Hoek lie 7„
" hasn't he?" Ile seemed to me as
miserable a while since as any woman
could possibly desire."
" You must have been studyiug him
very closely."
" There was no occasion for that. Ile
wears Ills chains with a most engaging
openness. I am so old a friend of yours
that 1: suppose I may matte myself
disagreeable, and ask you any question
11llease ? Tell me then—you mean to
marry hint ?"
She hesitates. HIer colour fades alto•
gather, and slo grows a little pale be.
neath hie gats.
" 1 may," she says at last.
"Yon may? Surely you have given
him cause to think yon will ?"
" O11, 1 know what all that means f "
exclaims 5110 impatiently, giving hint
an angry half.glfee e, °' Ate a, few hind
au acceptance of tine uallniterchlet semen•
ever my lord, after due deliberation,
may choose to throw it ? It Is all too
abenrd. One is called a coquette if one
suril08 and then deoliues to aooept amen ;
one is sneered at if ono smiles and the
manfails to come to one's feet, I am
tired of the whole theory,"
" There has not been much ' due de.
liberation' en the Part of OreVille."
" How can you toll that ?" •
She glances at him keenly for a mo-
ment from under her long lashes.
"I have already told you that ] think
him the most ingenuous youth I know.
He wears his heart upon his alcove."
For me to peck at ?"- -with a low un.
mirth fel laugh. "Ant I then indeed abird
of proy ? It is well to know how I stand
with you. And so I owe bhie Captain
Greville some return, you think 9"
" I am suro he counts upon you amp.
Cance."
, That may be so indeed. It world
bo too much to oxpoot of any man that
he should believe a woman could reject
Lim I"
She leans back in her seat, and lets
her lids droop mit)! her eyes are alto.
gather hidden ; a little carelessly-sup-
preeeed smile full of pretty malice curves
her faultless lips.
You are bitter 1" says Tyner slowly.
IIo has not once removed his gaze
from her mocking downcast face, so fair,
so cold, so full of clashing possibilities.
" 1. am as nature made' me," returns
she.
•• Nature [Moulin be congratulated; you
aro indeed a masterpiece.
•1'l,'i' e) 1100118 busltlotIEo and 110000 above
1" e.
'011�1i •%Lingle t alone ea the 11191111111p10Ills. F01180111)3', raising her white lids
wi,h ,.;041. grace, g 0008 at him in an
a ,enisluuent half feigned, wholly scorn -
lel.
•• You do know how to utilise your
true," she says. " Bat to rehearse to
ire 1 I think ib only fair you should re -
N'011,1 the ualue of the happy being for
14 nuts all Chid rhapsody is really Meant."
"' Some other time, some other day,'
(mutes \syncs carelessly. "➢1y ejfitirr0
are too intricate to be discussed all iu
olio moment. Let us return to Greville.
A ntarnuge with him would please your
antlt. You complain of her coldness;
Ihis might propitiate her."
• • l'ah ' " alio sal M. " What a stranger
L am to you in reality, in spite of the
years that Mud u•: 1 Of all in this world,
l: am the very last who would seek to
°ropitiabe Lady Bouverie. Be assured
ball not marry to please her."
•• 1, ewe thou?"—iiendlug rather ea.
gerly towards ]ler. " • Dtul'?"
" No "—coldly—" my self 1 In doing
that I shall p,cuse dust too. You at least
understand him sullioienbly to know I
spusac the truth when I say that. But,
as to pleasing Lady Bouverie, I owe her
too many little elegant insults to be on
her side."
Does she owe you nothing?"
"Beatty I don't care whether she does
or not," says Audrey, with rather undue
warmth. "Take her part as lunch as
ever you like; I expect nothing better
of yeti. I dare say she is the most esti-
mable of her sex, and that it is my la.
meutable want of taste iliac mattes me
thiole otherwise,"
"• I don't take her part," says Vynor,
losing his self-control so far as to lut en
angry gleam collie into his eyes. " I
take no one's part, for that matter."
" You are right. There is nothing so
safe as neebrahty. '.true wisdom con.
slats iu looking carefully after the in.
berests of number one. I am truly
wisp."
" I hope so ; but you must pardon me"
curtly—" 11 1 confess 1 don't think so.
If you considered Lady Bouvorro's rela-
tionship to you a little more than you do,
it might, I think, be of some use to
you."
There is silence for a very short mi-
nute ; and thou—
"It is
hou—•"Itis such a pity," says Miss Ponson.
by slowly, " that you cannot cure your.
self of that chocking habit you have of
lecturing mo. 1f, in all the years we
have known each other, you could even
ouoe congratulate yourself on the cer-
tainty that you have done lee any good
by your preaching, I would say by all
moans conbinue it, objectionable though
it be ; but can you 9"
" No ; therefore I must beg your par.
don," says Vyner, with ill.surpressod
mortification, " whilst feeling that my
prosumptiou precludes the possibility of
your granting it." Then, in a moment,
be recovers himself, and, throwing him-
self, back against the cushions, laughs a
little. " 1 deserved it, didn't 1," he says
lightly, "to rush upon my fate like that 'e
But how little mercy there is in you!
Do you know I dread a woman without
a heart."
" So do I "—with a little shrug; " that
is why I take such care of mine; I can
tell you I wouldn't be without it for the
world, though you are always advising
me to dispose of it to Sir Chieksy or
Captain Groville—or indeed it doesn't
seem to matter to you whom."
" You mistake," says Vyuor coolly ;
" wlieu I did so far presume as to offer
you advice, I alluded to your hand, nob
your heart. For my own part, iu spite
of your words jusb naw, 1 do nob believe
you have a heart at all."
have you'?" 1)0.38 she quickly, burn-
ing to 11im, There is an angry defianue
in hot eyes,
" No "—with a chill smile—" it is
gone from me—lost—never to be regain-
ed1"
Spence follows upon his words. They
seem to have established even a greater
coldness, a deeper chill iu the converse,
Mon, than exi810(1 before. A certain
sternness has come into Vynnr's Moe
which, as a rule, to utterly foreign to it,.
When the stillness lies become instil).
portable, Audrey by an effort breaks it.
")oar advocacy of uty aunt was On.
fe,d.nnata." µhe sav" r,lnptly. " slat IL,
BRUSSELS PUMP WORKS.
WILSON FELTON
Take much pleasure in announc-
lug to the people of Brussels and
surrounding country that having
Purchased tho Business of Mr. 0.
Eike, on Mill Street, opposite Mr.
P. Scott's Blacksmith Shop, they
will keep a Good Supply of
PUMPS OX RAND
Anel are prepared to fill all orders
at Reasonable Prices. Repairing
neatly and promptly clone.
Please call and examine our
stock before purchasing elsewhere.
WILSON & PELTON.
18—tf.
MONEY TO LOAN.
11',ney to can arm • reporty at
LOWEST RATES.
PRIVATE AND COMPANY FUNDS
W. B. Drcxsort,
Solicitor,
Brussels, Ont.
Money to Loan.
PRIV,I1TE FUNDS.
$20,000
of Private Funds have j ust been placed in
my hands for Investment
AT 7 PER CENT.
Borrowers can have their loans complete
I' three dale if title is satisfactory.
Apply to E. E. WADE.
VES.
NOW IN STOCK
The Famous ROYAL
PARLOR COAL,
The Famous ROYAL
WITH OVEN,
The UNIVERSAL
COAL, STOVE,
Look Stoves,
Parlor Stoves,
Box Stoves.
Stove Stands,
Stove Piping.
TIN WARE.
STOVE GOAL
At Coal House or delivered as re-
quired. Call or send your orders.
B. G1 iRRY,
GUELPH
BUSINESS COLLEGE,
TII2
SLu9NU SOMOLASTIC VJ'.Ali
commenced Bet. 1st, I,aoli department
lain charge of a suoo4gist , To inlplirt a 1(11511•
tloaltraloiug tar Cho oi0ofaat conduct of bIl
neaeatrairala the whore and work of the (not!.
Cation. Itsgrbduetea aro already holding re•
anopeilllapooitioa.in (be oommarolal centres
of the Dominion. I,norgeticyoung mon and
women aro thorougghly prepared for poaltione
aa Beok-koopere, ahort•hand Writers. CorFe•
epondents, or Telegraph Operators, Studop18
received atany time, For eiroular and Bata•
lo0na,elvingfullinformeblor, acld0085
13.Om. 110, 1nAo00Bb1101t, Principe.
MONEY TO LEND.
Any amount of Money to Loan on
Farm or Village property at
6 & G PER CENT. PEARLY,
Straight Loans with privilege of re-
paying when required, Apply to
A. HUNTER,
Div. Court Clerk, Brusselo,
NOTICE.
The undersigned still keeps on
handl the
Genuine Bell Organ
Of Guelph ;
New Raymond
Sewing 1Vlaohine.
Elle also keeps the
E est GRAIN GRINDER
In tho World,
STRAW CUTTERS,
Large and Small,
I OOT CUTTERS,
At prices to suit Purchaser.
BARN TRUCKS, CLOTHES
WRINGERS, or Anything
you want, except money.
G z0VM,
OPPOSITE TOWN HALL
Brussels, Dec. 10.
BRUSSELS WOOLEN MILLS.
I beg to inform the farming com-
munity that I am now prepared to
take in
Carding, Shinning,
And ,Weaving,
at my Now Brick Woolen Mill,
and promise to give Satisfaction
to those favoring us with their
trade. nave on hand and will
keep constantly in stock a i'nll as-
sortment of
Cloths.
Flaunele,
Blankets,
Tweeds,
uretagtets,
Yarns,
knitted (10011x, Dees, (IOoda.
cotton Shirtiugs, Grey Cottons, &e.
Also Pine Canadian Tweeds,
PANTINGS & SERGES
for Suits Which we will get made
up on short notice and a good fit
warranted, every time.
Highest Market Price
PAID FOR
BUTTER EGGS. cc e.
tUVE ME A CALI
at my New Mills before going
elsewhere,
•
Geo. Howe,