Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-05-06

1808aD
phistioetsd Ioaly lear they VIII nne
too ea1y He. = thas little untr'eo
heart Of yours." 4r
aShs laughed a little laugh that had .
ring Of soorn in it, which made him Iool
up with . puzzled expression, as though
he could not quite fathom her.
Mrs. Earledale's saloons were crowded
with fashion, beauty and wealth. 1t was
her last ball of the season, and the most
brilliant she had given. Among the as
sembled ladies, it was evident that one
was the centre of attraction, tho dazzling
star around which the smaller stars ceas.
ed to shine. She was quito surrounded
by gentlemen obtrusive in their attention
and tiresome in their fattery. She
seemed to feel it acutely, as she said, with
heightened color and disdainful lips,
mutely in their midst She scarcely lift
ed the curling lashes from her dark black
eyes, or gave the least movement to the
hair that covered her white shoulders like
distressed, and wanted to get away from
them.
All the evening she had been merry
and gay; but her most careless glance
had been met by one almost passionate in
its admiration her laughing tones an
swered by the most fulsome fattery, that,
angry with herself and them-having
aptly learned, in three short weeks, to
heartily despise the hollow mockery OF
what the world calls pleasure-she now
stood this last hour in the ballroom liz
anything but a happy frame of mind.
At last there was break in the circle
and the low tones of the votaries of fash
ion ceased for moment, as young man
of quiet, gentlemanly bearing, made his
way up to the young lady.
"Miss Lysle, permit me to conduct you
to the conservatory. You were speaking
Of"
They had passed through the rooms,
and she turned to thank him for bringing
her away.
'But where is Give ?" she asked. "And
are we not soon going homo ?" l am SO
tired, Willie"
Tired of dancing, or of London dissi-
patton, Florence, which is it Y he asked.
Both" she replied 81 would not
live here for worlds, if L am to be dragged
about, night after night, like this"
"Then such a life has no charms for
you
No, indeed" was the reply. :" am
disappointed in Give Hardinge, / thought
him superior to such frivolity. He seems
to like it,"
There you mistake, Floy," said her
companion. 1T is society that courts
him not he who courts it. AS you say
he is superior to it."
Tbap u-hu Ioao Ia CO
much 2"
was the reply, land MIXING III gayety,
which he detests, for the sake of one for
whom he cares much, to see if the pure
gold of spirituality in her heart will
stand the test of the scheming world"
She looked up into the clear dark eye
OF Gives dearest friend but beyond the
smile upon his lips, and the slight pres
sure of her hand upon his arm. she could
read nothing.
Il am going home in five days" she
said, as they passed through the rooms
"Are you sorry or glad y he asked
Il shall be glad to see my mother
again: bu. / shall be sorry u leave my
aunt, she has been so kind to me-and
cousin Give
He is rather old, don't you think.
Floy9 something of the old bachelor
about him-too old to marry, in fact"
.Who-Clive Z" she said. He is not
old, is he 2 never noticed it. His hair
is not gray, and his face is not wrinkled
He is very handsome"
Handsome, Floy You must have
put on loves spectacles. surely; friend as
he is, could never call him handsome"
"Don't talk nonsense, Willie. Irepeat,
Give Hardinge is handsome; he has |
more strength, might and majesty in his |
than a dozen ordinary men. |
Here he comes, now judge for Yourself
If weary look and pale face denoted |
handsome physique, Give Hardinge GER
tainly possessed it at that moment
He came forward to Florence and said:
Would you like to go now? mother
10 already oloaked and waiting for the
carriage
She quietly took his proffered arm, and
extending her hand to Gives friend babe
nim good night.
Miss Lysle sat at work in her aunt's
morning room, the day before her depart
Ire home. The blue cashmere robe she
wore suited well the purity of her com
olexion and the rich curls of glitteringl
lair. She looked marvelously pretty
And so thought Give Hardinge, as he
made it his especial business to visit the
DOM that morning. But her eyelashes
we're wet she looked as if she had been
bedding tear or two. silently there to
herself; and perhaps the softneSs and ten
lerness in her face made her appear more
'eautiful still. Give carried a long, mar
low box in his hand, of blue enamel and
tilt, and placed it under her eyes.
"The bet, Florence" said he. Had You
IT? You have won il quite
airly-or will have done SO tomorrow.
Or there yet remains one more day before
be month is completed. Now will You
ell me why you 50 coldly declined the
wo offers of marriage you have been hon
red with since your stay with rs Z"
81 did not feel myself honored," she re-
lied. "One was from "A spendthrift and {
ebauchce: the other from II brainlesS
op. who possessed but one idea in the
1orld that of admiring his own figure" I
But you have repealed admiration so {
ersistrntlv,' s1id Give; "others, who !
ertainly admired you. might have"
Thank You, cou~iu Give, for the bet ]
lay look :: interrupted Florence I
'yslc, as she put ont her hand for the 5
OK {
certainly not, until Tomorrow" was G
ne reply; ''then. you may wear home G
ne prettiest pair Of gloves the box con- a
lins, if you like; and when you are c
one, perhaps shsll be able to get back
~ rest again, and my appetite. You +
ave robbed me of both since you have 4
cen here" j
Cousin Clive!" she exclaimed.
81 say you have robbed me of both !
speated Give. Before l saw Won /
as able to eat like any other mortal ):
ut now the dazzling things at the table
70 not the plate and crystal. but pair !.
hands that keep moving up and down,
I'd mesmerize my eyes to look at them. .
efore you came l could sleep soundly =
lough at night, and wake refreshed in L