Page:Peterson Magazine 1869B.pdf/114

 THE STORY OF A BLUE VEIL.

Mulready, and Mr. Fauntleroy, who has just returned from India."

"Too bad, our drive has to be cut short for two old seeds !" Redwood exclaimed, impatiently.

"What you can possibly mean by ' old seeds, Redwood, I cannot imagine," said aunt, with severity. "But Gen. Mulready is a noted man, and Mr. Fauntleroy both young and agreeable. Don't let me hear you use slang again."

" All right, ma'am. Tony, if you are ready, we might as well make the most of what time we have."

I agreed; and we were soon rolling along in the little basket-carriage.

We had left the Avenue, and were driving slowly on the new road, when I saw my acquaintance of the morning rapidly approaching on horseback. He drew rein as he met us, and seemed almost inclined to stop ; but I gave him no chance, for, acknowledging his bow in as slight a manner as was possible, I touched the ponies with the whip, and we were quickly separated ; but not before I had seen him half-draw from his breast-pocket my blue veil!

"Oh, ho! Miss Tony!" cried that aggravating boy, Redwood, "what's all this? A strange swell bows to you, and flourishes a blue veil! Very extraordinary! Is it possible that my quiet Tony has her sly flirtations, like the rest of the world?"

"How absurd you are, Redwood!"

"Who is it, Tony? Come, tell a fellow. Why you are actually blushing!"

"I never saw the man before this morning!" I exclaimed. "I don't even know his name; and I am not blushing in the least."

"Oh! yes, you are, Tony, worse than ever! there is no use denying it. You might as well confess; I'll promise never to tell."

"There is nothing to confess, you most provoking boy. I lost my veil, and he found it, I suppose, voila tout!"

"Of course, I know better; but I'll say no more, as you are so evidently teazed."

As if that was not worse than anything else he had said. Teazed, indeed! There was nothing left me but to tell him the little adventure of the morning, which I did as briefly as I could, only enlarging upon the especial dislike I had taken to the stranger.

Redwood, of course, was immensely amused, and considered Pug little short of an angel. He could talk of nothing else for the rest of our drive, and hazarded many wild theories as to who my inconnu could be.

When I descended to the drawing-room, before dinner, I found only the family assembled as yet. My uncle and aunt Lewin, Redwood, and one or two cousins from the cottage adjoining ours. Before I opened the door I heard a great deal of laughing, and when I made my appearance it was the signal for a fresh burst.

What's this I hear about a blue veil, and a beau jeune homme, eh, Tony?" shouted my uncle.

I gave an angry look at Redwood, who had been faithless enough to betray me; and who had, of course, made a very ridiculous story of it all, exaggerating to suit himself.

"I cannot tell what you have heard, uncle. Redwood has, probably, invented something very absurd, with very little foundation."

"Oh! come now, Tony, I like that! I told the tale as it was told to me, only adding our meeting on the new road.”

"Tony, Tony! I never should have suspected you !" said my uncle, laughing again, and enjoying the joke on me of all things.

"By Jove! what a jolly little dog ! I wonder what he would take for him ?" soliloquized one of the cousins.

My aunt looked up, severely.

"Antoinette," she said, " I hope this will be a lesson to you. In future I shall not allow you to walk alone, but shall insist upon your maid accompanying you."

Again I glanced at Redwood. He saw that he had made more mischief than he intended, and gave me a deprecating look. But I was not to be mollified, and was really angry with him.

The door opened to admit Gen. Mulready. This made a diversion, and I went off by myself to a window. Redwood meekly followed me.

"Tony, dear, forgive me this once. I only meant to chafe you a little."

"I shall never tell you anything again, Redwood - never!"

Mr. Fauntleroy was announced. I still stood looking out upon the lawn, and did not turn my head ; but I heard the sweep of my aunt's dress as she moved forward with empressement.

"So glad to welcome you home again."

"A thousand thanks, my dear madam."

I turned hastily, thinking I recognized the voice ; nor was I mistaken-it was Pug's master, sure enough! Redwood looked meaningly at me. "Say you forgive me, Tony, and I'll not peach," he whispered.

"You are forgiven, then."

My aunt called me.

"Antoinette, I wish to present Mr. Fauntleroy to you. General, I will take your arm. " As we made our way through the long parlors into the dining-room, Mr. Fauntleroy had no