Vicksburg weekly herald., 1870-05-14


Standing before her dressing
bureau, Lady Jane Grey saw how
flushed aud angry she looked, with
al 90 charming in her becoming
masquerade dress.
"Will Mortimer needn't think
am going to deprive myself OF this
long anticipated evening. Ill 20,
and enjoy myself, tOOw
Lille clasped the blazing stom.
acher about her slender, supple
waist and, while her eyes danced
aud her brow frOwned. there was
a faint lurking pain in her heart.
"He's selfish and dOmineering.
He actually told me | shouldn't go
with Captain Sayres and l will"
She stamped her high-heeled
boots with u vcngeful gesture.
II know as well as viii, that
Capt. Sayres Is al unprincipled
man but he's fashionable, and lin
sure he'd never dare say wrong
word to me. Besides, he'll be
masked, and 20 shall /; and III
slip away from lin before twelve"
Likea dream Of grace and beauty
she glided into the drawing room,
where in dignitied silence, Neptune
monarch OF tie seas. awaited her.
Il beg your pardon for detain-
lug you. Captain Sayrcs; but you
must not think Of calling Lady Jane
Grey to order"
/ Lilies si!yery laugh hoA;ed from
under her pink ruillcd ma,que.
Neptune bowed graveIy, aud said.
The rules Of the ballroom demand
unbroken silence I'LL the stroke of
twelve, midnight Suppose we be-
gin now 10 conform to this rule. |
have special reasons OF my own for
begging this favor
His voice sounded mutiied and
thick under tie wire masQue: but
Lille noted the glitter OF the coal
black eyeE.
AS YOU please. oil, puissant
Kingw
She spoke merrily, as she bowed
mockingly buta strange comming.
lug Of emotion riotcd in her bre iet.
A shiver thrilled over her.
"l'll beg Albert to go, too"
She rang tor her brother, but was
informed that he had gone long be-
fore. So with heavy sigh. she
threw her cloak over her and accept
ing her companions arm, descended
to the street.
A close carriage stood at the
door: but the wild dread at her
heart made her turn beseechingly
TO her escort. saying. Id so much
rather walk: The evening Is 30
very fine, and the as,enIbly-rooms
are close by"
An imperiors gesture towards
the carriage siIenced her; and as
sisted by her cOupa:iou, she eu-
tered.
The drive was short and silent.
Neither spoke; and Lille began to
think the occasion very far rom
being agreeable; while her semi
repentant heart kept wandering OH
to viii aud Mis- WestbrOok. aud
wondering how viii would look
in Indian Chieitain dress. and his
cousin in simple evening costume.
she was glad OF one thing. however,
and that was that neither Will nor
Kate Westbrook knew how she
was going to dress. She had one
capital advantage. She could, un-
watched, watch them
TIE entrance was throngcd with
idlers and lOungers and. glad of
any protection among that laugh.
ing, jeering crowd, she cluug TO
Neptune's arm.
Standing by the fire. .place-ithad
grown bitter cold since nine o'clock
were the two. Tall, princely Will
Mortimer, in the splendid costume
OF Osceola, an ludian chief; aud,
clinglng protectingly to his arm, a
fair.formed, graceful girl. Lille
had never seen Kate Westbrook,
but she recognized her, both by her
style aud her dress.
1t was with wildly beating heart
she watched Will in his tenderly
chivalric devotion aud, for the first
time, Lilies jealousy took a dis-
tiuct form.
Can il be possible that he will
transfer his love to herr"
"Ir / had but followed Wills adj
vice. she murmured to herself
more than once during that wretch.
ed evening.
But the hours flew by to the tune
ful music, and Lady Jane Grey had
only to wish in vain that the noble
OsceOla would mutcly invite her to
dance, for so devoted was he to Miss
WestbrOOk, that he had eyes for
none else.
It drew near midnight, and the
flushes shc iclt on her cheeks grew
brighter, for snow she thought,
"l will see viii, beg his forgive
ness, ASK him TO take lne home, and
thus completely remove an, natural
conccit Captain Sayrcs might expe.
ricnce upon being her escort.
II wanted yet five minutes OF the
mystic hour when, from u flag.
draped window. whittier she had |
rescrted to calm her excited feelings
Lille heard a voice, one she knew |
and loved so well.
ayes: we've spent, SO far. most |
delightful evening. Thanks TO you,
dearest cousin
II was Will Mortimer's voice that !
spoke.
"l am glad you have, Will,7 re-
piled his companion; 81 feared
Miss Lswton's absence would vex
and grieye you"
"Yex me it does, Katie, for she
has, by her absence, declared a