Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1882 — A PASSING CLOUD. [ARTICLE]

A PASSING CLOUD.

“Holmsley Court, Yorkshire. Dearest Connie— Papa has at last given me leave to gratify my pet desire, and to get up some private theatricals. We are going to play the ‘Lady of Lyons,’ and we nave no one here who can act the part of Pauline as you do; soeome, dear. I have secured a splendid Claude to play with you. The original Claude was never so handsome.” i '.r': 1 - This was the letter that Constance Beresford read over her coffee, one morning, aud four hours later found her settling herself comfortably in a first-class compartment of the Great Northern express from KiDg’s Cross. Just as, she was seated to her satisfaction, she saw enter the carriage just as handsome a man as her eyes had ever rested upon, and he placed himself, unconsciously, in a most favorable position for her to scrutinize him, on the opposite side. She watched him arrange his traps; then, as the train steamed out of the station, buried herself in her novel, “thinking what a Claude he would make.” For half an hour her bock held her interest, then with a yawn she closed it, and fixing a wrap to pillow her head on, settled herself for a nap.dra wring her veil over her face. Her nap was not of long duration, however, for she opened her eyes suddenly, to find the handsome stranger regarding her with an amused smile, that vanished quickly when he found his gaze returned, The color rushed to her cheeks, and she quickly straightened up with a dignified air, but her observer had withdrawn his gaze; so she returned to her book, unaware that the dark eyes were still watching, the owner much amused at her dignity. Soon he drew a little yellow-covered book from his pocket, and became so deeply engrossed therein that he did not notice the start of surprise Miss Beresford gave when she happened to glance up. “The Lady of Lyons!” she said to herself; “how very strange, and he is studying it, too! Can it be, yes, it must be, the Claude Ethel wrote of! She was right about his good .looks; but what business had he to laugh at me? I would like to shake him!” Then the thought of shaking that great fellow was so absurd that she nearly laughed outright. With an almost unconscious sigh she shut her book, rearranged her wrap, and kept her eyes out of the window until her destination was reached.

‘,Ob, Connie, how good of you to come so soon! Your telegram made me so glad that I had to t ome down for you myself,” and Constance’s friend, Ethel Deveraux, kissed her, regardle-s o: lookers on. She did not see one observer, however, and gave a start of surprise. *• Why, there’s Mr. Armytage! He must have come by your train. Let me inroduce you. Mr. Armytage, Miss Beresford, otherwise Claude aud Pauline.” “Is it possible H’ and a pair of very grave eyes looked down at Constance as she gave her hand: “Had I known it sooner, what a pleasant journey I might have had.” \ I knew it,” she replied, “but you seemed to find it sufficiently enjoyable.” “How did you know it?” he asked, quietly ignoring the latter part of her speech. “I saw your book and guessed at the rest.” “Well, we must not stand here all day,” chimed in Ethel. “Sorry I can’t offer you a seat, Mr. Aamytage, but I have only ihepony phaeton. You will be over this evening, of course.” “I shall come with pleasure,” he replied. “Isn’t he splended, handsom, grand, Connie?” “Really, Ethel, you use strong language poor man. Are you in love with him, dear?” “Oh, no; I leave that to you. I did not write you the latest news,-because I wanted to tell you myself, that I am engaged ‘♦To cousin Frank at last? Oh, I am so glad! When did it happen?” “Jusl a couple of days before I wrote. Now we will be cousins as well as friends. Have you nothing of the kind to tell me?”

“Nothing. I have had three proposals ibis season, but all have been for my money, 1 am convinced. How I hate that money! Ethel, if you love mo* do not speak of it, or tell a living soul here that I am an heiress. Do let me enjoy this visit at least,” It was three weeks later, and the even I full night. The audience was gathered in the large ball-rodm, and the play was in progress. At the end of the second act Claude and Pauline were called before the curtain, and having made their bows, they retired behind the scenes, apart from the others, where their conversation showed how they had improved their three weeks’ acquaintance. “Oh Pauline! if it were but true! If you were as truly mine, as Pauline of Lyons was Claude Melnotte’s! But,like him, what have Ito offer! Nothing. While you, like Pauline, have been used to every luxury. Yet I love you, love you ” They were called, and not again did he have a chance to speak to her until at the end of the fourth act; but when he did he heard ringing in his ears her impassioned appeal: i

(“Claude, take me! Thou canst not give me wealth, title, station—tout thou canst give me a true heart I will work for thee, tend thee, bear with thee, and never, never shall these lips reproach the post.” It seemed as though she was appealing to him in earnest—as though ibe play were a reality. “Pauline, do you, did you mean it?” he asked, when they met again, and with a sudden blushing face she bowed assent, “Could I have done otherwise?” she asked him later, as they wandered through tbe grounds while others danced. “You were too proud to ask me and I could not let you go, so I acted as my heart impelled, hopiug you would read the truth, yet feariDg ” He placed his first kiss on her lips. “Good, and beautiful, aud true,” ha murmured, as he looked iu her happy eyes. Three weeks more went by, and on the morrow, there was to be a general breaking up. Gerald and others had left the previous week. Constance was lounging in a big easy chair, in a dim-ly-lighted drawingroom, when at the sound of voices outside, she listened, on catching her lover’s name. “Daring dog, that fellow Armytage. Think of his presuming to come up here and play the gentleman.” “Wonder where he got the money ?” “By gambling, mo9t likely, as lie dare not forge any more checks.” *‘His uncle let him off too easy.” “Ob, he did not want the name disgraced, so he hushed the affair up.— Pity he did, though, for the scamp, it seems, went to work immediately to entrap the heiress Mi9B Beresford.” “By Jove! he is handsome enough to win any woman. Wish I had half his good looks.” And the two young men left the room, little dreaming that their careless words had ruined a young life. Constance Beresford sat like one dazed, for a moment, then rousing herself, escaped to her room. Had she been deceived? Was Gerald a forger—a fortune hunter? It could not be, yet they had said so; it must be true! What should she do?—what course Dursue? No one but Ethel knew of her engagement. To her friend she need say nothing, as she was going home on the morrow, but to him! What should she say to him? She could not see him, she would not;/she would write to him, and at once. She must be proud, brave, unflinching, so she wrote: ‘-‘You have deeeived me, I have found you out, in time, fortunately, to prevent an esclandre. Make no attempt to see me, for I shall refuse to see you, even ifyoucome to the house. Constance Beresford.

All the winter long she suffered in silence, never having beard from him, In the Spring her favorite sister Maud died. Tnis blow,with her other trouble, prostrated her utterly, and for weeks she was very ill. When she was able to bear the journey,they took her to Switzerland. In her fresher sorrow her love for Claude seemed buried aud forgotten. »*»•■* * Two years and a half aie gone. It is the London season, and for the first time since Maud’s death Constance is at a large eveniug gathering, and, singularly enough, again heard a conversation between the very same young men who had, long before, decided her course of life for her. “So Armytage has been sent up at last?” “Yes, I knew he would be, sooner or later. You remember that summer we made a flying visit at Helmsley Court, when we thought Leliad been up there on the lookout for an heiress?” “Yes, I remember. We meaut to scare him out of that rascally scheme.” “Well, he wasn’t there at all; it was the cousin. Deuced {unpleasant, his having another fellow’s name.” Is she going to faint? What makes the room whirl round so? She half rises, but falls back in her chair. “Can I assist you? Are you ill?” and looking up she sees—Gerald Armytage standing over her. “Let me take you from this heated room,” and leaning on hie arm, she walked out upon the cool balcony. “You have met with a serious loss since I saw you last; you have been ill and away, and aie sadly changed,” he said, with evident feeling. “Yes, I shali never be the same light hearted girl. lam a woman now.” “Miss Beresford, may I ask you a question?” “As many as you like,” she answered wearily. “I overheard the conversation between those young men just now; did you think I was the Armytage they spoke of when you wrote me a certain letter?”

“Yes; I overheard a conversation between those same young men to that effect,” “And you would not even let me vindicate mysell?” “This is no time for reproaches; it is too late to undo what has been done— Let us go in.” “One moment, Constance. Is it too late to undo the past? Has the time been so long that you have lost the feeling you once had for me? I love you now as I loved you then, deeply, tenderly, lasting Jy; you are the only woman i shall ever ask to be my wife, and I ask you now, as I once did long ago, will you marry me? ’ Fcr answer sbo places her band in his, the room swims; it grows dark, as once before that evening; only this time, as she feels his strong arms arms around her, she lealiy faints. '*