The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-05-28

just snow enough in the night to form
white glistening coat over everything.
and afforded an elegant excuse for the
merry sleighs that darted hither and
thither with streaming furs and jing-
ling bells. All the fashionable world
was astir-the gentlemen busily con-
sultipg their interminable list of calls,
and the ladies putting the last touches
to their gorgeous toilet.
There were not many upon that day
who received more adulation than
Agatha Milne, as she stood like young
empress in her splendid drawing rooms,
every mirror flashing back her lowell
ness. Her dress was very simple-pink
silk, edged around the shoulders with
snowy ermine, and long sprays of jas
mine dropping from her bair-yet she
knew. that she had never been so beau
tiful as now, as she listened with Ian
guild smiles to the compliments shower
ed upon her. 1t was nothing new.
The gilded chandeliers had been
lighted, and the jeweled fingers of the
tiny alabaster clock on the mautle
pointed to late hour, when a peal of
the door-bell announced a new incur
sion of guests, and Mr.. Fitz Aubyn
entered, surrounded by gay party of
young men.
"Good evening, Miss Milne surely
l am not too late to wish you the hap
piest of all imaginable New Years ?
Whom do you suppose saw starting
in the direction of your hospitable
mansion just now? Here he comes to
speak for himself-the Cavalier STAN
ton 7"
Agatha turned calmly to welcome
the new conner, and the keenest eye
could scarcely discern the deeper shade
of color that glowed on her delicate
cheek, as he quietly came to greet her.
Fill your glasses, gentlemen" ex-
claimed Fitz Aubyn, holding high
above his head tiny chalice of en-
craven Bohemian glass, brimming with
crimson wine, "let US drink to the
health of our fair hostess, Miss Agatha
| Milne"
The impromptu toast was received
with acclamation of satisfaction, and
Fitz Aubyn glanced around to see if all
had followed his injunctions, ere he
touched his lips to the glass.
"Come, Stanton. no lack of chivalry
here; where's your CLASP"
81 will drink Miss Milen's health in
clear water with the greatest pleasure"
said Stanton, smiling, "but 1 never
touch wine"
"Never touch wine ! and pray why
not ?"
1t is against my principles" said
Stanton with quiet firmness.
Fitz Aubyn curled his lips in con-
temptuous silence, that was several de-
grees harder to bear than spoken OBJ
loquy; but then another young man
leaned forward to interpose his word.
"Offer the wine to him yourself, Miss
Milne; surely he cannot be so lost to
all sense of gallantry as to refuse it
from your fair handI
Agatha had grown very pale, but
without speaking, she filed one of the
goblets, and held it toward Stanton.
"Will you take it from me ?"
Looking at her with calm gravity, he
replied,
"Miss Milne, I should be a coward
indeed did l allow your persuasions to
sway me from the fixed principles
which are the guiding star of my life."
He bowed and withdrew. The glass
fell from Agatha's hand and shivered
into thousand sparkling fragments.
She bit her scarlet lip until the blood
with strange sympathetic thrill of
exuItation. Had he wavered for an in
stant in his determination, she would
have despised him.
4
GA very poor investment those
horses of mine, and all this behavior a
la good-boy-in-story books" muttered
Fitz Aubyn, about four weeks subse-
quently as he strobe into the brilliantly
Illuminated salons of the Club House.
Waiter, a glass of brandy and water,
quick I"
What's the matter, Fitz? you look
as black as thunder-cloud," observed
q bystander, who was leaning against
a marble pillar and picking his teeth in
a most epicurian manner.
"The matteri Do you remember
that magnificent Agatha Milne, the
Ill