“Wait,” he whispered again; “the thirtieth may tell a different story; at all events, you are warned.”
She did not deign to notice his threat, and, an opening now presenting itself, Mr. Loring led the way to the carriage, where, after assisting his companion to enter, Mr. Mapleson took his leave of the party and went his way.
Geoffrey was very much disturbed when Gladys told him that Everet Mapleson had again presumed to address words of love to her—for she had decided that this was all the explanation of the affair at the opera that she would give him at present—and it required all her power of persuasion to prevent him from demanding an apology for the insult.
“Let it pass, dear; pray let us have no trouble at this time,” she had urged.
“But you are almost my wife, Gladys, and it is a terrible affront to me as well as to you,” Geoffrey returned, hotly.
“He is so far beneath you, Geoff, morally, that I cannot bear to have you lower yourself enough to notice him, and believe me, he received a lesson that he will not soon forget,” Gladys concluded, with a spirit and energy that both amused and delighted Geoffrey, who well knew what his betrothed was capable of when once thoroughly aroused, and he could imagine something of the scorn which the offender in question had called down upon his devoted head by his presumption. So he finally promised that he would not agitate the matter further, and he realized that it might result in a scandal that would prove very annoying just at that time.
It seemed, too, as if Everet Mapleson himself had no desire to come in contact with his successful rival, for he suddenly dropped out of society, and was seen no more during the interval between that occurrence at the opera and the thirtieth.
He was greatly missed, however, by many of the languishing belles, for he was esteemed “a great catch,” and had been most industriously angled for by numerous anxious mammas, and scheming fathers with a doubtful bank account.
Miss Addie Loring, perhaps, really took his sudden and unaccountable absence more to heart than any one else, for she had secretly begun to entertain a tender liking for him.
During the last week before the wedding, that event became the chief topic of the day in the circle in which Gladys and Geoffrey moved, for the match was considered a most romantic one, and both parties were especial favorites, while for brilliancy and magnitude it was to be the affair of the season.