The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-26
ling merrily, and bright glow on her

usually pale cheek.
The tea was over, and the dancing be-
gan, but still there was no Louis Manley
to be seen. The belle of the evening
soon found her engagement card nearly
filed, but Louis Manley's name was not
on the list.
So frequently had she danced that it
was not until late that she went into the
adjoining room. She stood at the door
and looked in, saw at the further end
Louis Manley hanging over the back of
a ladys chair, paying her the most ia
milliar and marked attention. 1t was
enough for ELISE; she made some ex-
cuse to her partner and returned to the
ballroom without going any further all
her pleasure for the night was at an end.
The guests went to the supper room in
parties. Among the last was ELISE she
was cross and i'll at ease too conscious
to ask any one who the lady was, and toe
vexed with herself to venture near them
again. She knew Mr.. Manley did not
care for dancing, SO it was not so very
strange that he had kept himself aloof.
The supper over, ELISE slipped away
unseen, and managed TO get into small
conservatory that opened by glass door
into the library where the refreshments
were laid. The room being brilliantly
lighted, and the conservatory dark, Ell
lise amused herself by watching the
couples as they sauntered in and out, per-
fectly aware that though she could see
them they could not see her.
At last she saw Louis Manley enter
with the lady on his arm, and very
handsome couple they were-a fact that
even ELISE could not deny.
They sat themselves just under the
mistletoe, aud, burning with Indignation,
ELISE saw Louis Manley playfully tap
his fair companion on the shoulder, and
trihe with her long curls, while she chat
ted and laughed quite unconcerned.-
Then they both looked at the mistletoe
and seemed to be engaged in an argument
as to its utility.
"Ah p thought ELISE, with all your
sedateness, Mr.. Manley, you would like
to have taken advantage of the mistletoe; F.;
but never mind, you are disappointed. !"
She had scarcely said as much to her
self, when she saw the gentleman jump
up, break off a sprig of the mistletoe,
hold it over the lady's head and kiss her.
With burning check, and an excla-
nation that nearly betrayed her, Elllse
turned away, and at the same time snatch
ing the camilla from her hair, she tore
| it in pieces. Then she recollucted she
had no right to be angry: that Nr. Man
had done nothing that could by any means
| be construed into particular attentions,
and that this no doubt cleared up the
mystery of his great steadiness, aud his
never, by any chance flirting. He was en-
gagged, beyond a doubt. But how came
the lady there on this evening, when she
had written every invitation herself?
Mortified pride was for time upper
most. That she, ELISE Efingham, should
have fallen in love with her fathers arti-
cled lpupil-given her heart to an en-
gagged man-it was dreadful aud tears
angry, burning tears, started into hel
eyes. Then she stood and looked out on
the stars, as most love lorn damsels arr
apt to do, raising kind of comfort from
the consideration that she was martyr
: She positively managed to make hersel
thoroughly unhappy, for there had beer
certainly something in Louis Manley'
manner, that had spoken of more thai
friendship, though he had been anything
but forward in his attentions.
!, While ELISE was thus standing, lost il
5 anything but pleasant musings, she wa
. startled by hearing her own name spoke
close beside her. and turning round foun
t herself face to face with Lotus Manley.
4 Annoyed beyond measure, she woul
4 have given anything to escape, but it wa
S impossible, and she did her best to brav
it out though fully conscious that ther
: remained traces of tears on her face, an
. that the scattered leaves of the camilli
d were by her side to tell their own tale.
"I am feeling tired and heated, NJ
. Manley," she began, in tolerably con
= e posed manner. " Are you looking f
= any one"
e 6 Yes" he replied your mamma sci
u me to look for you, Miss bingham yc
have been missing so long. Will you NJ
! allow me to get you some refreshment
r If you are warm, you are scarcely VII
/. to remain in this draft.
~ ELISE thought that the best thing 81
could do was to comply, and according
~ took his proffeled arm. She saw hi
cast look OF surprise anu Inquiry
ward the broken flower, and felt ma
- dened at the impetuous folly which hi
u caused her to destroy it, at the same tir
9 fully alive to the necessity of arousil
w herself to avoid anything like an exhit
;, ton of her real feelings.
II, Louis led her to the supper-room, al
ne they were soon seated just where Eli
". had seen the strange tableau enacted.
u She did her best to talk in her usual
as lively strain, but her sallies were lit
sm em too sarcastic to pass current.
'!l Mr. Manley helped her to glass
II wine, but made no effort to enliyen t
II conversation. ELISE had no doubt tf
IN he was thinking what rude, foolish g
she was to destroy his really thought
oft present. She emptied her glass as quic
a ly as possible, and managed to eat b
ng cult, and then she proposed joining t
sr- rest of the party.
"No, please not yet" said her partn
M with a look that few hours ago wol
r have made ELISE happy, whereas it NJ
art only made her long to end tete-a-'
"a which was every moment becoming mi
Ter and more embarrassing.
III