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Show i i II ' ' ' III ! a Ill 1JIIII '. " 'in " : i ' THE MAID af MAIDEN SiANE Sequel to T ijow of Orange Ribbon." A LOVE STORY BY AMEIilA E. BARR (Cop) light. 1900. by Amelia E. Hnrr) , CHAPTER X. (Continued.) "i' am not very uneasy for her; If Aronta Is in trouble she will cry It out, and call for help on every hand." During this conversation Annlo was In a revorlo which it In no way touched. touch-ed. Sho was thinking all the tlnio of her cousin George, nnd of the singular abruptness with which his lovo llfo had been cut short, and It was this train of thought which led her to sny Impulsively: "Uncle, It Is my dcslro to go to Philadelphia.". The carl looked at her with Incredulity. Incredu-lity. "What nonsense, Annlo!" ho exclaimed. "For you a Journey to Phlladolpnia would bo an arduous undertaking, un-dertaking, and ono without any rca-6onablo rca-6onablo motive." ' "Oh, Indeed! Do you call Goorgo Washington an unreasonable motive? I wish to see him." "I wish the Journey were an castor one." "To bo sure, the roads and tho cold will bo a trial; but then my uncle, you can glvo thorn to me, na God gives trials to hl3 beloved. Ho breaks thorn up into small portions, nnd puts a night's sleep between tho portions. Can you not also do this?" "You little Methodist!" answered the earl, with a tendor gleam In his eyes. "I sco that I shall have to give you your own way. Will you go with us, George?" "Yes; 1 doslro to sco Washington. I wish to sco tho greatest of Americans." Ameri-cans." This was tho initial conversation which, nftor some opposition, nnd n llttlo temper from inailnmo tho countess, count-ess, resulted in tho Hydo family visiting vis-iting Philadelphia. AOiandsome house, handsomely furnished, fur-nished, hnd been found; and madatue had brought with her the servants necessary nec-essary to core for it, and for tho fatn-ljy's fatn-ljy's comfort. ' In a week sho had come to tho conclusion con-clusion that Jorls was disappointed; which Indeed was very much tho case. Ho could hear nothing of Cornelia. Ho had never once got a glimpso of her lovely countenance, nnd no scrutiny hnd revealed to him tho place of her abode. A month passed In unfruitful searching search-ing misery, ami Hyde was almost hopeless. The Journey appeared to bo altogether a failure; and ho said to Annie, "I am ashamed for my selfishness selfish-ness In permitting jou to como here. I boo that you havo tired yourself to death for nothing nt nil." Sho gave her head a resoluto llttlo shako nnd answered, "Walt and see. Somothlng Is coming. Do you know that I am going to Mrs. Washington's reception to-morrow evening? I shall seo tho President. Cousin, you nro to bo my cnvallor, If it pleaso you, and my undo and aunt will attend us." "I am devotedly at your service, Annlo; nnd I will at least point out to you somo of tho dazzling bcautlos of our court tho splendid Mrs. lJInghnm, tho Miss Aliens and Miss Chows, nnd tho brilliant Sally McKean." The next evening Jorls had every reason to feel proud of his cousin. Tho touch of phantasy nnd flamo In her nnturo Illumined her fnco, nnd no ono could Icok nt her without reeling that a forvont nnd transparent soul gazed from her eyes, so lambent with MmBh " I see I shall have to give you your ' own way." soft spiritual flro. This Impression was enhanced by her childlike gown of white crapo over soft whlto silk; It suggested her sweet frctless llfo, and also something unknown and uu-soon uu-soon in her very simplicity. Mrs. Washington's parlors wore crowded that night. Tho earl at once presented his nleco to Mrs. Washington, Washing-ton, nnd nfterward to tho President, who as a uuest of Mr a. Washington, was walking about tho rooms talking to tho ladles present. Tor n few minutes min-utes ho romnlned In conversation with tho party, then ho went forwnrd, fnd Hydo turning with his beautiful charge; met Cornelia face to face. They looked at each other as two disembodied souls might meet nnd look after death reproaching, questioning, ques-tioning, entreating, longing. Hyde Hushed and paled, but could not for his very llfo mako tho slightest effort at recognition or speech. Cornelia, who had seen his entry, was more prepared. Sho gave him ono long look of tender reproach as sho pnsscd, but sho made no movement of recognition. recog-nition. If sho had said ono syllablo- if sho had paused ono moment, If she had shown In any way tho least desire de-sire for a renewal of their acquaintance, acquaint-ance, Hydo was sure his heart would have Instantly responded. As It was, they hnd met and parted in a moment, nnd every circumstance had been against him. For It was the most natural thing in life, that he should, after his cousin's interview with Washington, stoop to her words with delight nnd Interest; nnd it was equally natural for Coirolla to put tho construction on his attentions which ovory one elso did. Hydo wandered through tho parlors speaking to one and nr.otkor but ever on tho watch for Cornelia. Ho saw hur no more that night. Sho had withdrawn as soon as possible after meeting Hyde, and he was so miserably miser-ably disappointed, so nngry at tho un-propitious un-propitious circumstances 'which had domlnnted their casual meeting, that ho hardly spoke to any one as they returned home. Tho next day Annlo asked: "Do you remember tho Ucv. Mr. Darner, rector of Downhill Market?" Very well. Ho preached very tiro-somo tiro-somo sermons." "His dnughtcr Mary was at the ball last night." Vhat Is Mary Darner doing In America?" "She Is on a visit to her cousin, who is married to tho Governor of Massachusetts. Ho Is hero on somo stato matter, and as Miss Darner also wished to seo Washington, ho brought her with him." "I was a mcro lad when I saw her last. Is sho passable?" "Sho Is extremely handsome. My aunt heard that sho Is to marry a Iloston gentleman of good promise nnd estate. I dare say It Is true." It was so true that oven whllo they wcro speaking of tho matter Mary was writing those words to her betrothed: "Yestorday I mot tho Hydes. Tho young lord got out of my way. Did ho tmnglno I had designs on him? I look for n better man. I may sco a great deal of them In tho coming summer, and thou 1 may find out. At proscnt I will dismiss tho Hydes. I havo met pleasanter company." Annie dismissed tho subject with tho snmo sort of lmpatlenco. It scorned scorn-ed to no ono a mattor of any Importance. Import-ance. Hyde was shaken, confused, lifted oil his feet, as It woro; but after an-other an-other day had passed, ho had como to ono stoady rosolutlon ho would speak to Cornelia when ho next mot hor, no matter whoro It was, or who was wim hor.' For nearly a wook ho kept a con scious, constant watch. Its Insisting sorrowful longing was like a cry from I.ovo'h watch towers, but It did not icach the beloved one, or elso she did not nnswer It. Ono bright morning morn-ing ho resolved to walk through tho gioat dry goods stores, whoro tho beauties beau-ties of tho "gay Quukr ," bought taelr cholcost fabrics in foreign chintzes, lawns and Indian muslins. Ho was getting impntlont of the hustlo and pushing, whon bo saw Anthony Cly-mer Cly-mer approaching him. The young man was driving a now and vory spirited spir-ited team, and as he wltti some difficulty diffi-culty hold them, ho cnllod to Hydo to como and drlvo with him. After nn hour's driving thoy enmo to a fomous hostelry, nnd Clymor said, "Lot us glvo ourselves lunch, nnd tho horses bait nnd a rost, then wo will mnke them show their mottlo homo again." Tho young men hnd a luxurious meal and moro good wine than they ought to havo takon. Tho champ and gallop of tho horses and Clymor's vociferous enjoyment of his own wit, blonded, nnd for a moment mo-ment or two Hydo was under n physical physi-cal oxhllaratlon as Intoxicating as tho foam of tho chnmpagno they had been drinking. In tho height of this mora-tricious mora-tricious gaiety, a carriage driving nt a rather rapid rnto turned Into tho road; and Cornelia suddenly raised her eyes to tho fcstlvo young -toon, nnd then dropped Uiem with an abrupt, oven angry expression. Hydo becamo silent and spcocblMs, nnd Clymer was quickly Infected by '-he very force and potency of his com I panlon's agitation nnd distressed say prise. Doth were glad to oscnpo tho i other's company, and Hyde lied to th-prlvncy th-prlvncy of his own rooty, that ho might hide there the almost unbonr-able unbonr-able chagrin and misery this unfortunate unfor-tunate mooting had caused him. "Whoro shnll I run to avoid myself?" my-self?" ho cried, as ho pneed tho floor In an agony of shame. "Sho will never nev-er respect mo again. Sho ought not. I am tho most wretched of lovers." For some days sorrow nnd confusion confus-ion and distraction bound his senses; ho refused nil company, would neither cat, nor sleep, nor talk, nnd ho looked as whlto and wan as a spectre. A stupid weight, a dismal sullen still ness succeeded tho storm of shnmo and grief; nnd ho Tolt himself to bo tho most forlorn of human beings. At length, however, the first misery of that wretched meeting pnsscd away, and then ho resolved to forget. "It Is all past!" ho said despairingly. "Sho Is lost to mo forever! Alas, nlas, Cornolla. Though you would not be-Hove be-Hove me, It was tho most perfect love that I gave you!" Cornelia's sorrow, though qulto as profound, was different In character. Her sex and various other consldora- !Jl 1 1 I Had a luxurious meal, tlons taught hor moro restraint; but she nlso felt tho situation to bo nlto-, gother unendurable, for dcsplto all reason, desplto even tho ovldonco of her own eyes, Cornelia kept a reserve. And In that pitiful la:t meeting, thoro had been a flash from Hydo's eyes, that said to her sho know not what of unconqtternblo lovo and wrong nnd sorrow a flash swifter than lightning and equally potential. It bad stirred Into tumult and revolt all tho plutl-1 tudes with which sho had tried to quiet hor restloss heart; made her doubtful, pltltul and uncertain of all things, ovoti whllo hor lover's reckloss gaiety seemed to confirm her worst suspicions. And she folt unable to faco constantly this distressing dubious dubi-ous questioning, so that It was with almost Irritable entreaty sho said, "Lot us go homo, mothor." "I havo '"tlrcd to do so for two wcok8, Cornel. a," answorod Mrs. Mo-ran. Mo-ran. "I think our visit has ulready boon too long." "My Cousin Silas has now bogun to mako love to mo; and his mother and sistors like It no hotter than I do. I hate this town with Its rampant, nf-fectod nf-fectod fashion and frivolities! Mother, lot us go heme, nt once. Luclnda can pack our trunks today, and wo will lcavo In tho morning." "Can wo go without nn osrort?" "Oh, yes, wo can. Luclnda will wait on us bio loo Is longing for Now York nnd who can drlvo us moro carefully than Cato? I am at tho ond of my patience. I nm lllto to cry out! I nm so unhappy, mothor!" "My dear, wo will go homo to-morrow. Wo can mako tho Journoy In short stagos. Do not break down now, Cornelia. It Is orly a llttlo longor." "I shnll not break down If wo go homo." And ns tho strugglo to roslst sorrow provos tho capacity to roslst It, Cornolla kept her promise. As they roached New York liar cheerfulness Increased, and when thoy turuod Into Maiden I nno sho clapped hor bunds for vory Joy. Sho rnn upstairs to her own doar room, laid hor head on hor pillow, sat down In hor favorito chair, openod hor dosk, let In nil tho sunshlno sho could, nnd thon foil with holy grntltudo on hor kneos nnd thnnkod God for her sweet homo, nnd for tho full cup of morclos ho had given hor to drink In -it. When sho wont downstairs tho mall had Just como In, and tho Doctor sat before a desk covorcd with news-papors news-papors and lottors. "Cornolla," ho cried In a voice full of Intorest, "horo Is a lotter for you a long letter. It Is from Paris." Sho oxamincd the largo sheets closed with a great splash of rod wax, bearing tho do Tounnorro crest. It had Indeed como from Paris, the city of dreadful slaughter, yet Cornolla openod It with a smiling oxcltemont, as sho read: "It Is from Arenta!" ('io bo continued.) |