The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24


and spent every arthing OF his allo vance, and
probably something over.
Poor Bob was very spooDey, and made me his
conddant. He used to moraliZe frghtlully, with
a comic face, but not quite taking IL all the
same. Pm younger son, Livesay, and younger
sons don't 20 down with mammas and auuts-
especially where there's money. Hang mouey,
1 say There's Toms wife, as jolly a little g1rl
rs ever fellow wants to pet him and think him
perfection. Would che have fallen in love With
eL, meS Not she. And yet she lsL't bit in the
dliotoed, my dearHfellow. 1t is all managed for
them. oh, women are kittle cattle to deal withsi
And Bob's weed went out of the window, and
we sat on IN rather sentimental silence.
so, as / said before, If you'll accept the
Masons' invitation, you do me Kindness he
continued, as soon as he could descend to prac.
tical matters. You are credited With being q
catch in the matrimonial market, and we young
| er sons are only looked pleasant upon when we
have bigger fish in tow. Mrs. Mason was
! proudly pleased when she saw possibility of
getting Mr.. Hugh Livesay. She doesn't fall into
eCstaCles, you know--quite goes in for the re-
nned style Of thing. But she's the deuce aud
all TO come at. 1t was grand l assure you,
quite grand, to see how she maueuvred Tor
Frank Carpenter, the swell who married old
hason's niece. These girls beloug to her own
people. Come, say you will goP
Seeing that irost bad set IN, TO the probable
stoppage of all hunting for some days, and that
| had still fortnight of my vacation before me,
said that would do the obliglng, and stay Tor
the ball Only he wasn't to make fool of
Don't you, THAT'S all,' exclaimed the wildly
gratefHl dragon, But say, do any amount of
with hhce.'
How am 10 know which is Alice They
don't go about labelled, do they?
She's the younger. Besides, she's-oh, she's
go much pretterp
Very well, then; If II
shut up, now, will your said he, fetching
me tremendous blow in the back, in appre.
hension of my Chaf.
We were late in reaching Grill on the night OF
the ball, and dancing had commenced. When
Bob took me up to Mr.. Mason 1 felt convinced
1 must have seen that lady before, so familiar
| 10 me seemed her wel-formed features and
stately carriage. As Bob had predicted, she was
| very gracious and kept me in conversation until
| the conclusion of the dance in progress when
| we entered, and she offered to find me partners.
And If there was man9vring in it at all it was
| very skilfu, for she was very careful to intro.
| duce me TO three or four of the prettiest girls
In the room, aud only finished with her eldest
| niece.
Radiant for trouble unburdened from her
| though she was, bright and beautiful as, say
| what you can, good fortune will make people,
| yet knew her on the instant. The broad fore
| head, the good honest eyes, the sonsie face
could not mistake; although there were Jewels
| now in the fair hair, and every circumstance
| was so contrasted. And she knew me.
Mr. Llvesay-Miss Guest Mr.. Mason called
| his wife's attention from us, and SO, perhaps
! fortunately, the surprise of recognition on Miss
Guests side and the surprise and confusion on
mine escaped heHnotlce.
In sort of desperation of embarrassment
asked for the next quadrile, and she, in equal
bewidelment, assented. But as the minutes
gave her better comprehension, she clearly
came quite to expect me to withdraw from the
position. However, I stood my ground dog
gedly hall resenting 1t, although she, OF course,
could only think me guilty of an unwarrantabe
| breach of privilege. The impression on her
mind would be that l had used my remarkable
powers of invention and a sufficiently gentle
manly exterior to obtain admittance into
| society for which by condition 1 was not quail
fed. She, however, must submit to go through
the dance with me, but she did so in u manner
| go cold and constrained as to show that she
could be her fathers daughter in spite of the
sweetness of her disposition.
| l took it as most decidedly q matter OF course
that ! should be believed, but yet, as you eau
well think, it was so difficult subject to ap-
prOach that not for some minutes could satisfy
myself how TO begin. Miss Guest,'I said, ali
possible soicitude in my voice, Il am aware
appearances are against me- Certainly by her
manner she showed no intention of contradict
ing me. i beg OF you TO suspend judgment
until have been heard in explauatien.'
Most decidedly some explanation is required ;
she replied, locking haughtily down, and being
at no pains to conceal her annoyance.
If may be allowed to take you to Mrs.
Mason when this set is over, am sure can
| saisiy-you,' was going to say, but substituted
her. She made no reply; l could not tell
whether had at all shaken her in her bad i'm
| preston of me.
Il assure you have done nothing gentle
man might not do. wish you could think
am speaking truth had waited for a favor
| able interval in which to say it, growing more
and more eager for what she might answer
She looked up at me quickly, with one of those
sudden relentings, halt-capricious and wholly
sweet and kind.
4 can't quite know yet. 1 think you are.'
Thank you,' l replied, warmly. Il esteem
myself already more Than compensated for this
| momentary misconstruction., Apparently she
| noticed nothing OF my exceeding earnesGness
looking straight before her with grave eyes and
| mouth.
l was not quite 10 escape scene however
| Opposite us | saw Mr.. Guest, regarding us with
the greatest establishment. To confirm himself
he had TO resort to his eye-g lass, and upon what
he saw, went hurriedly and with a face Of
| extreme dispeasure to whore Mrs. Mason sat.
| l was tervcntly thankful, as much for his sake
as MY own, to see that be had sufficient command
over hia Indignation and disgust to reserve his
accusation until he had drawn her from the
crowded ballroom. The dance over 1 was
! just gong 10 suggest search Tor him when he
| touched NE on the arm and peremptorily desired
| word with me.
And il you viii allow me- he added, with
! freezing pOhtepess, i should prefer TO have
| Miss Guest under my own care Taking, his
daughter on his arm, he stalked out of the room,
! following, halt.angry; Also such is the force
| OF attendant circumstances, with something of
| the air of culprit. In a small room at the
back was Mrs. Mason, looking-anythiDg but
! proudly pleased Comfort yourself, my dear
woman | thought; 1T is me. Well soon have
/ 1t Iignt Aud then-weil see.' By JoVe, thOuu b,
! it began hot and l came out in a character in
| which hardly knew myself; something new it
! was TO hear patiently such words as were no "
addressed to me by MIR. Guest.
so, sir, perhaps you will explain by what i'm
position you have contrived 10 obtain admiLtauce
into Mrs. Mason's houser He was so arrogant,
that really if it had been any one out Miss
Guests father must have taken my revenge in
chatting him.
u might well take ofense at your tone, Mr.
Guest