Ballou's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXVII, No. 1 — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 Mis. Dalrynple's Diplomacy. “You are so kind to me, sir, sitting up at this late hour to beguile the pain away from me. It is really better now. I don’t think I need stay up any longer.” “Well, you need the rest, to be sure. But I'll bind on a fresh poultice. Be careful not to take cold to-morrow, and you are all right.” Then, as she stood at the door, with the taper in her hand, he said with a hungry Wistfulness in his tone: “It was you who sang ‘I have had dreams,’ was it not?” “Yes sir, and it was you who saved me from a dreadful death. I did not dare to thank you then, you looked so deathly pale. I wish there was something I might do to prove my gratitude for all your kindness.” He smiled slowly and dreamily. “Sometime you shall sing the song for me. A dear one, snatched away by the fiery torture which spared you, used to sing it once, and her voice and her eyes were like yours. It brings her back, to look at you.” Sibyl Aubrey’s eyes were overflowing. “Tam so sorry for your great grief. I wish I might comfort you, but I cannot think of anything to say which is not feeble and weak in view of so sharp an affliction,” she faltered. “You have a tender heart; don’t vex it With compassion for my trials. They are far into the past, and time heals over the wounds of the keenest suffering. Good-night!” CHAPTER II. Mrs. HoRTENSE DALRYMPLE congratu- lated herself again and again upon the promising results of her diplomacy. The ensuing week was one of keen enjoyment, Which dd not seem to lose its zest as the days went on. Her cousin came to dinner twice with the guests, and was duly intro- duced, and made himself just entertaining enough to remove any suspicion of inhospi- showed no symptoms of interest. Ue procured another S:idie@-aorse, and in various unostentatious Ways promoted their entertainment, but still renvuned in his seclusion. If there was one Wity caine to heed that, in all their move- ments, he was sure to be lingering near their vicinity, that one was not Mrs. Iortense. But she came to the young ladies, as they were luxuriating in a fragrant couch in the middle of a great hay-mound in the meadow, tulitvy, while he partieular with a face of mingled consternation and amusement, during the second week. “Girls, girls! whatever will you say to me? Here’s apretty dilemma! If I hadn’t promised you should be free from all masculine intru- sion, it would be different.” “ Horrible!” ejaculated Miss Aubrey. “ You don’t mean we are threatened with an inva- sion from those disagreeable lords of creation! Just when we are enjoying ourselves so rationally, too. Now, Mrs. Dalrymple, don't tell us that.” “ Whatever can I do, if there was only time to write,” said Mrs. Dalrymple, in a tone of perplexity. “What could possess him to change his mind? And to think it should be Frank Dalrymple.” “Frank Dalrymple!” repeated Lucia Gra- mont, while a wave of soft pink swept across her delicate cheek. “Frank Dalrymple!’ echoed Miss Aubrey ; “who is he? Iam sure I don’t know sucha person.” “No indeed, of course you don’t. But he is my son. And to think he should come intruding upon us now.” “Why, Mrs. Dalrymple, have youason? I never knew it; you never told me.” “Well, he was only a boy, you know, and away at college. I do believe he is grown into aman by this time. He is all of twenty- three, I declare. O Time, remorseless Time! how you fly! And I haven't seen the dear fellow for eighteen months. He will think it hard if I turn him back. It would seem cruel.” “Very cruel,” ventured Lucia. “Of course it would, you mustn’t do it,” said Miss Aubrey, promptly. ‘“ My dear Mrs. Dalrymple, as long as it is your son, it will be very different. And really I have no doubt we shall find it a great improvement. They are useful creatures sometimes, these men. You know how nearly we came into a serious accident the other day when that strap gave way on my saddle, and none of us knew what to do. Let him come, by all means.” And so Frank Dalrymple, handsome, and gallant, and gay, came to make them merrier still. If there was a little glinting sparkle under Lucia’s golden eyelashes when the young gentleman was introduced, and if the latter gave her soft fingers a significant pressure, no one else was the wiser. Miss Aubrey made no concealment of her appreciation of the addition forthe circle apg.