The Brussels Post, 1887-7-8, Page 7JULY 8, 1887.
THE BRUSSZ,,,,S POST
THE ACTRESS' DAUGHTER;
ails.
THE MISTRESS OF EIOH1OND ROUSD,
A TALE OX, SVKONG AND AHAE011(SE,
By Mrs. MAY AGNES FLEMING,
Author of a Lost Fora Wonsan, "' Mem/
rower's Meeret " Etc., Hee.
mountain—rather that style of thing,
isn't it 2 What do you say to a trip to
France, ma belle?"
"Oh, Warren!"she Dried, catching her
breath, her whole face growing radiant
with delight. .
"I am answered,"he said, gayly; "this
day week wo start."
"For where, may I ask?" said Mr. Our -
tis, lounging in. "Your chateau in Spain?
or on a wild-goose chase?"
"Something vary like it," said Warren,
laughing. 'We are off to France, in
search of one Richmond Wildair, pleni-
potentiary and ambassador extraordin-
ary to the court of that distant and
facetious region."
"Whew!" whistled Mr. Curtis. "'I
see,' says the blind man. What a thing
conjugal affection is, to be sure! When
do you go ?"
"This day week, in the Golden Arrow.
And for some inscrutable feminine rea-
son Georgia wishes you to preserve her
secret inviolable until she returns. She
is still Miss Randall; you understand?
You and Mr. Leonard aro not to men-
tion she is Richmond Wildair's runaway
wife."
"I'm dumb," said Mr. Curtis, shutting
his lips as firmly as though they were
never to be opened on earth again.
"Neither tortures, nor anguish, nor bad
pale ale shall tear from this lacerated
heart the fearful secret. Are you going
to see after that prize of yours, to -mor-
row, Mrs. Wild—gee Whitaker! I mean
Miss Randall," saki he, drooping his
tone of stago agony, and speaking in his
natural voice.
"Most decidedly," said Georgia, smil-
mAnd then you are going to throw
Yourself away
on our painfully clever
friend Wildair again, and leave all your
friends hero in Gotham to pine away,
with tears in their eyes and their fingers
in their mouths," said Mr. Curtis, in a
lugubrious tone; "it's somethings never
expected of you, Mrs. Wil—pooh I I moau
Miss Randall, and I must say I, for one,
never deserved it."
"Mr.Ourtis, yon—you were in Burnfield
since I was," said Georgia, hesitatingly,
and coloring deeply ; how was Miss
Jerusha and Emily Murray?"
"Well, they were both in a state of
mind—rather," said Mr. Curtis. "Miss
Jerushaflamed up, and blew ns all sky
high, in fact raised the ancient Harry,
in a way quite appalling to a person of
tender nerves—myself, for instance—
and gave Richmond what maybe called,
without exaggeration, particular fits 1
As for little Emily," said Mr. Curtis,
turning red suddenly, "she—she didn't
scold anybody, but she cried and took on
so that I folt—I felt a sort of allover as
it were—a very peculiar feeling, to use a
mild phrase, if you observe."
"Dear little Emily," said Georgia,
sighing.
"That's just what I said," said lir.
Curtis, eagerly, "but she didn't pay any
attention to it. I suppose you know I—
I went -I. mean I asked -that is, I
offered—pshaw 1 what d'ye' call it—
proposed 2" said Mr. Curtis, blushing,
and squirming uneasily in his chair.
"No, I did not'know it," said Georgia,
with difficulty repressing a smile.
"But I did though, and she refused
me; she did, by Jove l" said Curtis,
dolorously.
"What bad taste the girl must have,"
said Mr. Randall.
"You're another," said Mr. Curtis,
fiercely ; "she's no such thing ! How
dare you insinuate such a thing, Mr.
Randall? There novae yet was born a
man good enough for her ; and if you
dare to doubt it, I'll be hanged if I don't
knock you into the middle' of next week
—now then !"
Mr. Curtis was as fierce as a Bengal
tiger. Mr. Raudall threw himself into
a chair, and laughed immoderately.
"My dear follow, I cry you mercy,
and most humbly beg Miss Emily Mur.
ray's pardon. I look forward some day
to being acquainted with her myself,.
and. if I find her all that you say, I shall
consider the advisibility of making her
Mrs. Warren Randall."
"You bo—shot i" growled Mr. Curtis,
striding savagely up and down. "She's'.
not to be had for the asking, I can tell
you; and after refusing me, it's not
likely she'd have anything to do with
yon. Mrs. Wildair-oh, darn it 1—Mies
Randall, I mean, when you see your
husband, tell him his mother is very ill,
and if ho dogs not hasten home soon ho
will not see her alive. A precious small
loss that would be, though," said Mo.
Oertis, in parenthesis—"a stiff, sneer-
ing, high-and.mighty old virago 1 Don't
see, for my part, what Rich meant by
ever having such a mother 1"
4; e
One week later, Warren Randall and
his sister were on board the Golden.
Arrow, bound for Morrie England. Fair
breezes soon wafted them to the white
cliffs' of that "right little, tight little"
island, and Georgia, for the fleet, time,
set het foot on a forergu shore.
Bet now, in her impatience to rejoin
Nth be reconciled to her husband, she
ieMild consent to make no stay; so they
Mediately crossed the channel into
eV aloe, and posted at once for Paris.
a there the first news they heard
a, the American consul was that ter.
5 .
day had left a fortnight before for
�etorsburgg.
I6_ Was a disappointment to both, e
bitter one to Georgia, and Warren felt
it for her sake, To follow him was the
first impulse of both, and they immedi.
atoly started for the Russian capital.
But fortune still inolineii to be ea.
rioaous, and to • doom Georgia's new.
vend patience to another trial. Mr.
Wildair'a' political mission required des.
patch, and a few days before their ar-
rival he had gone. From the minister
they learned that his first destination
was a return to Paris, from thence to
Badon Baden, and it was more than
probable ho would visit London and
then return home.
"Well, Georgia," said Warren, "you
see fate is against you, and has doomed
you to disappointment. Nothing remains
now but to make the best of a bail bar
gain and start on a regular sight.soein
tour, and do' Europe, as Curtis would cal
it. And, after all, perhaps itis for th
best you did not meet him. Ho is now
rapidly rising to political distinction
and his meeting with you might dietetic
•
0
said the first speaker.
"I believe you," said Mr. Curtis, em -
pair of most desirable curling whiskers,
that said as plainly as words he was
"somebody,"andknowit, Anotheroung
republican, puffing a cigar, stood beside
him, and both were watching, with the
careless nonchalance of sovereigns in
their own right, the crowd of foreigners
that stood on the steamer's deck.
"A crowd there—rather 1" remarked
the hero of the cigar, as he fastidiously
held it between his finger and thumb
and knocked the ashes off the end. "Our
European brethren have arrived in time
to see the elephant to good advantage.
Young America will be out in great force
to -night."
"To cheer the new governor—ye-es,"
drawled the other, as ho, too, lighted a
cigar, and began smoking like a living
Vesuvius.
"What a thing it is to be the people's
favorite—a man of the people, that style
of thing, you know—isn't it, Curtis ?"
his thoughts, and would certainly keep
him from entering heart and soul into
the political arena as he docs now.
Besides, having lost you for so long, he
will know how' to value you all the marc
when you do return. Come; Georgia,
what difference, after all, Will a year or
two make in a life ? Don't think of re-
turning now, but let us continue our
tour."
"I am at your disposal, my dear War.
ren," said Georgia, with a smile and a
sigh. "As you say, after all, a year
more or less will not make a great deal
of difference, and I am particulars1
anxious to continue our tour. There.
fore, mon frere, do with me as you will."
account With an ac t o that
ftour, dearest
reader, I will not weary your patience,
already, I fear, too much taxed. All
"grand tours" are alike—the same sights
are seen, the same incidents occur, the
same scenery and pictures aro looked
at and gone into raptures over, andthe
same people are met everywhere. The
summer was spent traveling slowly
through France and Germany, and the
winter was passed in Italy. Early in
the spring they visited Switzerland;
and, almost imperceptibly, two years
passed away.
And, where, mean'w'hile, was he whose
wilful blindness and Haughty pride hart
brought on his own desolation ? Where
was he, widowed in fate and not in fact
—where was Richmond Wildair?
Home again, drowning thought and
his intolerable remorse in the giddy
Whirl of political life. He had returned
in time to close his mother's eyes, and
hear her last words—a wild appeal for
Georgia, the wronged Georgia, to for-
give her. And then with all the power
of his mighty intellect, he had given
himself np to the life he had chosen,
that life for which Heaven and nature
had so well qualified him—a great legis-
lator—and that life became to him wife,
and home,and d all. Already he had
taken his seatin the Senate, and,
thougfi' perhaps the youngest there,
stood foremost among them all, crowned
with his lofty genius as with a diadem.
The knowing ones whispered that at the
next election he was certain of becoming
Governor of bis native State, and cer-
tainly, as far as popularity went, there
could be little doubt of it. Never was
there a young statesman, perhaps, .who
in so short a •time had risen so rapidly
to distinction, and who had won such
golden opinions from all soots of people.
Of almost all concerning his wife he
was profoundly ignorant. One thing he
knew, and that was that she, and no
other, had painted the wonderful picture
about which the artistic world was still
raving. Hagar, in her mighty grief and
dark despair, the wild, woeful, anguished
form writhing yet majestic in her groat
wrongs, was Georgia as he had seen her
ast. And, as if to make the conviction
doubly sure, the picture bore her initials.
One consolation it brought to him, and
that was that she still lived. Every ¢f-
ort in human power he had made to
d
iscover her, but all that ho could suc-
eed in learning wit that a tall, dark,
ajestio-looking lady, bearing the name
0
f Miss,, Randall, had secured the prize;
ut nothing more was known of her.
.Chen he sought for her brother, and
heard hebed gone to Europe, whether
alone or not he could not discover. A
score of times within the day would
Dick Curtis be on the point of telling
him all,. until the recollection of his
promise would stop him, and he would
inwardly fume at not having made -a
mental reservation at the time. Still,
these tortures of doubt, and uncertainty,
and belie, and despair served Richmond
just exactly tight, he, argued, and would
teach him, if be ever did find Georgia,
to treat' her butter for the future.
And so, while Georgia was roaming
over the world, Richmond was rising to.
still'higgher fame and eminence in his
native land; and neither dreamed how
each had searched,' and sought, and.sor-
rowed in vain for the other.
1
f
c
m
b
CHAPTER XXIV.
AT LAST!
"And there was light around her brou,
A holiness in those dark 0555,
Whichshowed, thougil wandering earthward
Her
now, home was in the [Ilea"
Two years bad passed and gape.
It was drawing toward sunset of a
clear, bright, breezy day,when a crowd
of people "might have been seen," and
wore soon, too, hurrying down to one of
the wharves 6f B—, to watch the ar-
rival 01 the steamer from Europe
Throngs of people who had friends on
board came trooping down, and Watched
with Ogee oyes the stately vessel as it
smoked and' puffed its Nvay, like an apo-
plectic alderman, to the shore"
Among those lounged a young man,
good-looking and fashionably dressed,
and evidently got up regardless of ex-
pense. There was a certain air of self.
emnplaeenoy about him, If he stroked a
phatically, for our old friend it was. "It
is the sovereign people's pleasure to go
mad about their favorite just now, and,
like spoiled children, they must be
humored. What a thing the mob is, to
be sure 1 They would shout as heartily
and with as good a will if Wildair was
to be hung to -night as inaugurated.
Since the days when they shouted,
'Crucify Him l crucify Him! Release
unto us Barrabas 1' they have remained
unchanged."
"I hope you don't mean to insinuate
that there is any resemblance between
the Jewish malefactor and the American
governor—oh, Curtis ?" said his friend,
laughing.
'By no means, Captain Arlingford.
Wildair deserves his popularity: he is a
great statesman, a real friend of his ad.
mirers, the people, and with genius
enough to steer rho whole republic him-
self. He has fought his way np; he has
fought for equal rights, liberty, frater-
nity, equality the French dodge, you
know—and deserves to be what he is,
the people's idol. Never in this good
Yankee town was a new governor
greeted so enthusiastically; never did
the mob shout themselves hoarse with
such a right good will. By Jove! I
envied him to -day, as he stood on the
balcony of the hotel, with his hat off,
while the sea of human beings below
shouted and shouted, until they could
shout no longer. It was a reception fit
for a king; and never did a king look
more kingly and noble than at that mo -
'flout of triumph did he."
Captain Arlingford laughed.
"Whew 1 there's enthusiasm for you 1
My sober, steady -headed frieud, Dick
Curtis, starting off in this manner, and
longing for public popularity; I confess I
should like to have witnessed his triumph-
al entry to -day though. I have heard
that the ladies absolutely buried him
alive in the showers of bouquets from
the windows."
"Didn't they?" said Mr. Curtis, laugh-
ing at the'recollection. - "As his secre-
tarq, I sat in the carriage with him,
and, 'pon honor, I was half smothered
under the load of fragrant favors. Such
a waving of cambric handkerchiefs, too,
and how the crowd doffed their hats
and hurrahed 1 It exdites me even yet
to think of it ; but there sat Wildair,
touching his chapeau, and bowing
right and,left, 'with that easy grace
that wins all hearts,' to quote our friend
and your admirer, Miss Harper, a little."
"That last bill about the people's
rights did the business for him," said
Captain Arlingford, meditatively, "what
a strong case he made out in their favor,
and what an excitement it created.
Well, it's a famous thing to be clever,
after all ; I knew it was in him, but it
might never have come out so forcibly,
had it not been for that loss• of his two
years ago. And it appears she is a
genius, too. To think she should have
painted that blood -chilling picture of
Hagar, and found a brother in that poet,
Randall. Don't things turn up strangely,
Curtis ? I wonder where she has gone,
and if she will ever come back."
"Don't know 1 Likely as not," said
Mr. Curtis, sententiously.
"Splendid -looking girl she was, wasn't
she, Curtis ?" continued Arlingford, per.
suing his own train of thought. "Mag-
nificent eyes, a step like an empress, and
the sneak of an angel."
"Come, don't draw it quite so steep,
my gallant saileur boy," said. Curtis ;
"recollect you're speaking of another
man's wife, and that man not a common
mortal Dither, but the Governor of B—
and future President of these Benighted
States. Besides, what would Miss Har-
per ,sey?"
"Miss Harper be—hanged 1" exclaimed
Arlingford, with such impatient vehom-
enoethat Curtis laughed; 'abate, enough
about her: Are you going to the inaugura-
tion ball to -night ?" •
"Of course --what a question! Do you
think they could have a ball fit to be
seen without the presence of the irresist-
ible, the fascinating Richard Curtis, Esq,,
to keep it moving. Do you blink any lady
as is a lady would enjoy herself if I was
absent? Echo answers; 'Of course, they
Wouldn't,' so don't harrow my feelings
again by such another question."
"Well, I see humanity and vanity are
not among your lallings. I suppose.all
the elite of, the pity will be there?"'
"You had better believe it. The creme
d5. la creme of B—. Ai1 the beauty,
and wit, and gallantry of the city, as the
newspapers have it. I have engaged
with the editor of the Sky Rocket to write
him anacbount of the sayings and do.
Ings, for a 'consideration,` at tho delicate
phrase floes, which being translated from
the original Hebrew, meant that he will
Miff our party ma every occasion and no
occasion, and if you don't see 'among the
guests was the gallant youngCaptain
A—, U.S.N., who paid during the
evening the most marked attention to
the lovely and accomplished Miss H—,
whom, it is whispered, he is about to th
lead to e hymenealaltar—Hello1 stop
that ! I say, Arlingford, don't choke a
fellow 1"
"Confound you!" said Captain ArlIng•
ford, catching hini by the collar, and
fairly shaking the cigar out of his mouth;
"will you forever continue 'harping on
that string? I say, let'a get out of this ;
I hate to make one in a ekeeel.
"No, wait," said Ourtis, laughing and
adjusting his ruffled plumage, "I want
to gee if thoreo is any one I know on
board the steamer e ,Iexpeetegmefriends.
Isere come the passenger's. What a
wretched,sea-siok,sea.green-lookingset.
The amount of contempt I have for the
ocean is something appalling."
"You had better mind how you express
it before' me," said Captain Arlingford
decidedly. "I—but look there, Curtis, at
that lady! Ob, ye gods and little Ashes
what Juno1 Eh?how ? what? By
the Lord Harry; Curtis 1" be exclaimed,
springing up excitedly, as the lady in
question turned her face fully toward
them; . "if over I saw Mrs, Georgia
Wildair in my life, there she stands 1"
"Where? where?. whore?" fairly
shouted Curtis, catching him by the
arm, and staring round in anexcitemont
far surpassing his own. " Where ?
whieh ? when ?"
"Whither ? why? wherefore ?" said
Arlingford, laughing in spite of his sur-
prise and excitement. "There, man
alive 1 don't you see ? That tall lady
in black on the deck beside that intense-
ly foreign -looking young gentleman.
Why, where are your eyes? don't you
80e ?"
"I see I I see 1 It's she 1 Hip, hip,
hurrah !" shouted Mr. Curtis, waving
his hat, and electrifying the crowd
around him, and then, before Captain
Arlingford knew what he was about, he
darted off, played in and out through
the crowd, dug his elbows into the
ribs of all around him, and so forced
bis way aboard the steamer, amid the
stifled shrinks, and groans, and curses
of his victims.
"That's what you call a summary
proceeding," said Captain Arliogford,
laughing; "what a living galvanic bat-
tery that fellow is—a broad-olothed
barrel of gun -powder ; touch him and
off he goes t Well, here's tofollow his
example."
So saying, but in a less impetuous
manner; he made his way through the
throng to where stood a lady, "beautiful
exceedingly," and dressed entirely in
blank, after the fashion of the Spanish
eteoles, for one of whom, in her dark
rich beauty, she might' easily have been
mistaken.
Mrs. Wildair 1 Good gracious, Mrs.
Wildair, how do you do ?" exclaimed a
breathless voice. "To think that you
should come this day of all days ! `oh,
scissors ! Well, I am glad to see you 1
Upon my word and honor, I "am."
Mr. Curtis 1" exclaimed the lady,
with a little cry of surprise and delight.
"Why, what an unexpected pleasure to
meet you here! Dear Mr. Curtis, how
glad I am to see you !"
"So am I, just as glad," said Mr.
Curtis, seizing the little hand she ex-
tended, and wringing it until she
winced. "Good gracious, to think of itl
How do you do ? Well, if it isn't the
most unexpected—to think that you
should have come to -day of all days 1
Good gra— Hey ! what now 2"
A vigorous slap on the shoulder that
staggered him, as well it might, had
jerked the last words out of him, end
turning fiercely round, he saw the laugh.
ing face of the lady's companion turned
toward him.
"Why, Ourtis, old fellow, have you a
greeting for no one but Georgia? Come,'
you have shook her band long enough;
try mine now." '
Pendell, my boy, how goes it ? Well,
I am glad, and no mistake. Good gra-
does what the mischief kept .yen ea
lona in those barbarous foreign paras,
anyhow ?" '
"Don't know, really," said Mr. Ran-
dall, laughing at his vehemence; "the
time passed almost imperceptibly. But
you—what brings you here 2 I thought
you were in Now York."
"Well, I am not, though you mayn't
believe it. ,Hello! Guess who this is,
Mrs. Wildair?"
" Captain Arlingford 1" exclaimed
Georgia, delightedly, holding out her
hand ; then, as the recollections of the
past arose, the color mounted for anin-
stant to her temples.
"Yes, marm; nothing shorter," said
Curtis, rubbing his hands gleefully.
"Jo.rusalem 1 only to think of it Well,
the astonishing way things will persist
in turning up 1 .rust to think of it 1
Why, it's like a thing in a' play or a
novel. Now, isn't it, Arlingford ?"
"What ! our coming home 2" said
Randall. "What do you see sp extra.
ordinary about that, Curtis ?"
"No, it is not that," said Mr. Curtis,
chuckling ; "it's the remarkable coinoi
donee of your coming to -day of all days •
—not you, but your sister. There, don't
ask me now, everybody's looking --a set
of ill-mannered snipes. Arlingford; run
and call a coach, there's a good boy, and
tell Mrs. Wildair all about it. Good
gracious 1 if it isn't the funniese-thing l".
Mr. Curtis' excitement and delight
as he deemed tip and down, rubbing iiis
hands and chuckling, were so irresistible
that all three, after watching him an
instant, burst into an immoderate fit of
laughter, and, beholding his look of dis-
mayed surprise, laughed until the tears
stood in their eyes.
"Eh ! why, what the — what are.
you laughing at ? Don't' act so, clon't;
everybody's looking, and they'll think
you're crazy," said Mr; Otirtis, ireplbr-
iugly. ' Wait a minute, I'll call a °oath
myself ---you just hold off."
Off darted Mr. Curtis, leaving them
still laughing 'and unable to stop, and
ere five minutes be was back and whip.
ped them off like a living whirlwind
---
pushed them into a coach, jumped in
after, and banged the door.
"nixoii's hotel!" he bawled to the
driver, and away- ley rattled over the f
pavement,
"Now we're comfortable," said Mr.
Curtis, surveying them complacently,
"and, only for mo, you might have stood
there all night, for coaches are in de-
mand, and hardly to be get for love or
money. 05, xeliosaphat I jest to think
of it 1 why, it's droll 1" said Mr. Curtis,
thrusting bis Kanas into his pookots,
and, as the absurdity of it struck him
for the first time, he leaned back in the
carriage and burst into n peal of laugh.
ter that was perfectly terrific, and from
the effects of which he did not recover
until they reached the hotel.
"Its lucky for you, in more ways than
one, that you met me," said Mr. Curtis,
as be got out and offered Georgia his
arm, "for the city's full, and you would
not have got a room in a hotel from one
end of it to the other -.-no, not if you
went on your two blessed, bonded knees
and prayed for it. Here, ,these rooms
wore engaged for the governor and his
suite, and this is mine, and is quite at
your disposal, Mrs. Wildair."
"But, oh 1 Mr. Curtis, I cannot think
of depriving you—"
"There ---not a word 1 not a word 1"
said Mr. Curtis, briskly, as he ushered
them into a sumptuously furnished
apartment. "I'll camp with somebody
else. And now, the very first thing I
want you to do is to dress and comp to
the ball to -night."
"The ball ! what ball ?" said Georgia,
in surprise.
"Why, the inauguration ball, to be
sure! Oh, I forgotyou did not know.
Well, then, the astonishing news is, that
Mr. Richmond Wildair has this day en.
tered B— as its governor ! Now don't
faint, Mrs, Wildair, because I won't
understand your case. And, as usual,
there is to be a ball, and I want you to
come and be presented to his excellency
the governor."
Georgia had no intention of fainting.
A flush of. pride, and triumph, and de-
light, tit up her face, and, with the step
of a queen, she arose and paced up and
down the room.
"And so he has been elected," said
Mr, Raudall, thoughtfully. "I knew he
would rise rapidly."
"What says Georgia—will you go ?"
"Yes," she said, with a radiant smile.
"Hooray 1" exclaimed Mr. Curtis ;
"Mrs. Wildair, you're a brick! Maybe
Mr. Wildair won't be astonished some,
if not more, and a little delighted ! It's
getting dark fast, and I ought to be off
to the executive mansion ; but I'll let
etipuette go be banged for once, and
wait for you. Yon had better have tea
in your own room, Mrs. W. ; sha'n't I
ring? It will take you two or throe
hours to dress, you know—it always
does take a lady that long, I believe.
Here, my man, supper for four up here ;
be spry now."
It was impossible to be serious and
watch Curtis, as he flew round impetu-
ously, asking a thousand questions in a
breath about what they had seen abroad,
and then interrupting them in the mid-
dle of the answer to tell them something
about Richmond, that bad not the
slightest bearing on the matter.
In his excitement he found it impossi-
ble to sit still, but kept laying round the
room, rubbing his hands in an ectasy of
delight, and laughing uproariously as
he thought of the surprise in store for
the young governor. During supper he
monopolized the whole conversation
himself, and kept the others in fits of
laughter, while his looks of innocent
astonishment at their mirth would, as
Captain Arlingford said, "make a bom-
be laugh."
After tea the gentlemen took them-
selves off to dress, and Georgia's maid,
who had arrived, remained to superin-
tend her mistress' toilet. Those two
years of absence had Nostored the bright
bloom to Georgia's 4ark face, but the
old leashing light had left her dark oyer,
and in its place wap a sweetness, sub.
deed, gentle, and far more lovely. The
haugbtily curling lips were tender' and
plabid, the queenly brow calm and tie.
retie, the dark, bene :, furl face almost
seraphic with its lona; of inward peace.'
Oh, far more sweet, and tender, and
lovable was the Gocr!a of to -day than
the haughty,' fiery, esssionate Georgia
of other years 1 As site stood before the
mirror, in her rich, showy robe of gold
colored satin, under ram old pointluce,
with dao onde dashing in rivers of )iglu
around her curving throat, flashing in
her small ears, gleaming in her midnight
hair, and eelittorin and scintillating like
sparks of `taro on her rounded arms and
small dark fingers, she looked every
inch a princess, a "queen of noble Na•
tures crowning."
And so thought the gentlemen, as they
entereclreinfull dress—in glosso s array,
as i`1fr.,Ou;tis pompously said --if ono
might judge by her brother's look of
pride and pleasure, Captain Arlingford',
glance of intense admiration, and Mn
Curtis' burst of rapture.
e Thy, you're looking splendid, abaci.
lutely splendid, you know; something
mete stunning, Mrs. Wildair ! Ah 1 I
should like to be as good-looking as you,
I never saw you looking so well before.
Now, did you, Randall?"
"Georgia is looking her boot," said
Mr. Randall, smiling.
"Looking her best t I guess so 1 It is
astonishing how handsome woman Oen
make themselves when they choose.
Now I might try till I was black au the
face, and still I would be the old two.
and -sixpence at the end. I wish I knew
the 'seerot. Suppose we go now ; we're
behind time three quarters of an hour
as it is. The carriage is waiting, Mrs,
Wildair."
"I am quite at your service, Mr. Cur.
tis," said Georgia, flinging a shawl over
her shoulders, and trying to smile; but
her heart was throbbing so rapidly that
she loaned against the table for a inne
meat siolc and faint.
Who, when about to meet a dear
TO BD CONTINUED.
0
cD
c
It 01.14
LJ
pi
V
ds-..+
CD
Q
i-3' `1
1-3
crQci-
t' l.i•�
CD CD ti
0 0
CD
cD
a-�
Ns
D 0,
Q
CD
C'r c+
P
W
0
tF--�+• Qt
ti" `5 CD
CD
W
ll1-S
1.1
eig
�; CD
0-1 t1J
V C
gn
Et
Oa)
CO1-1CD 174
5 CO
0 II
Cil'
0t
cn
PQ