United States or Malaysia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Miss Pluma, his daughter, wishes me to speak with him on a very important matter. I am surprised that he so persistently refuses to see me," said Rex, proudly, wondering if Pluma's father had heard that gossip among the guests that he did not love his daughter. "I do not know that I have offended the old gentleman in any way," he told himself.
Perhaps I can advise you." Ah, yes! he above all others could help her he was Pluma's father he could stop the fatal marriage. She would not be obliged to face Rex. Without another word Daisy turned and followed him.
He was quite unaware of Pluma's presence until a soft, white, jeweled hand was laid lightly on his arm, and a low, musical voice whispered, "I am so glad you have come, Rex," close to his elbow. They had parted under peculiar circumstances.
Little Birdie alone held aloof, much to Rex's amusement and Pluma's intense mortification. "Little children often take such strange freaks," she would say to Rex, sweetly. "I really believe your little sister intends never to like me; I can not win one smile from her." "She is not like other children," he replied, with a strange twinkle in his eye.
She would not believe it. "Courage until to-morrow," she said, "and my triumph will be complete. I will have won Rex." The little ormolu clock on the mantel chimed the hour of five. "Heavens!" she cried to herself, "Rex has been gone over two hours. I feel my heart must be bursting." No one noticed Pluma's anxiety.
"No, you don't know what I mean; and little you thank me for carrying the treacherous secret since almost the hour of your birth. It is time for you to know the truth at last. You are not the heiress of Whitestone Hall you are not Basil Hurlhurst's child!" Pluma's face grew deathly white; a strange mist seemed gathering before her.
"I hope not," replied Miss Raynor. "I would hate to be a rival of Pluma Hurlhurst's. I have often thought, as I watched her with Rex, it must be terrible to worship one person so madly. I have often thought Pluma's a perilous love." "Do not speak so," cried Grace. "You horrify me. Whenever I see her face I am afraid those words will be ringing in my ears a perilous love."
I I had no right to waltz with you," sobbed Daisy, "when I knew you were Pluma's lover." "Don't say that, Daisy," responded Rex, warmly. "I am glad, after all, everything has happened just as it did, otherwise I should never have known just how dear a certain little girl had grown to me; besides, I am not Pluma's lover, and never shall be now."
Eve is nice, but she's a Tom-boy." "A wh at!" cried Mrs. Corliss. "She's a Tom-boy, mamma always said; she romps, and has no manners." "They will be your neighbors when you go South again so I suppose your brother thought of that when he invited them." "He never dreamed of it," cried Birdie; "it was Miss Pluma's doings."
Pluma's eyes flashed like ebony fires, and unrestrained passion was written on every feature of her face, as the woman took her position directly in front of her with folded arms, and dark eyes gleaming quite as strangely as her own. Pluma, through sheer astonishment at her peculiar, deliberate manner, was hushed into strange expectancy.
Word Of The Day