The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-16

| NJ SOulCO VI sOllOWs Dul IL
Watson's case it was difficult to determine
how keenly the knife Gu. to the quick o
his sensibiities; for, while every acquain
tance was giving full facilities for doing the
disagreeable Office of giving the 'cOld
shoulder the Baltimorcan appeared like
an interested spectator, and was as unmoved
when passed by supposed friend without
the slightest notice, as if he were a news
paper reporter, anxious to see the act and to
note the fact.
Into the parlcrs during the evening be
particularly pressed his way. If a. bevy Of
gay fellows surrounded Miss Mountjoy, he
worked his way to the circle, and, at last,
received from that lady of Sappho-likc lips
his discharge. She did most gracefully aud
cruShingly turn her back upon him not three
days after his removal from the second
floor
Miss Dumain he sought, confident that
one so artless certainly would be above the
hollOw-hearted crowd and still give him
her kindly greeting. Vain conception The
artless girl was coy indeed: and when at
length he cornered her, it was to his dis
comfture. She suddenly turned and forced
her way past him, without even one of her
downcast glances. GA the contrary, her
eyes were fixed fully on his face, and plain
ly said. Sir, We are strangers
Next lie tried ratte-headed Miss Lam
bert, and she ratified on quite as usual but
Watson soon discovered that the rattle was
not for him.
Strangely enough, the proud and ezclu-
sive Miss Percy uubent somewhat from her
lofty carriage, and give him a welcome
but over it all was a shadow-a fear, ap-
parentiy, which made Miss Percy shy rather
than naughty; ana Watson began to catch
glimpses OF a character beneath all that con-
ventional veil which he had not expected to
fnd.
Or course the wealthy Miss Oromaucs
would scorn his further friendly relations.
Ii er rooms were near his own second-hoor
apartments; she daily, all the season, had
encountered him IN bis walks through the
long corridor, and must have been one of
the first to learn of his fallen fortunes. In
deed, he half surmised that her dressing.
maid had made special inquire into his case,
seeing her in confidential confab with the
foor-stewardess aud room girls. So Watson
with a reserve or pride not entertained with
others, kept apart from Mis- Oromanes.
On the third evening of his changed for
tunes, when the Sappho of the Cascades
lnnihlated him, greatly to the pleasure of
the young 'bldods' around her, Watson van
lered away at length upon the piazzas
then up through the long, deserted halls,
restless, thoughtful, digestiug the notes
which he bad been taking of human nature,
md trying to fix the relative value Of a man
without money. 1t was the crystalline truth
ne was learning-uot the truth in mere So
ution, sometimes clear, sometimes opaque,
out always thin, but the precipitated, hard
angular, clearcut crystals of experience,
mined in unexpected places. Had he re-
NAMED upon the second floor, never would |
ne have obtained the gems the mere So
ution only would have repaid his keenest
search. But that migration to the upper
paces had given him a wonderful lens; his
iorizon was so immeasurably extended that.
PAIRING the fact that his bill was unpaid, he
vas the happier, because wiser for the up
ward reverse
Suddenly, in his solitary promenade, he
confronted the hoiress She was walking
rm in arm with young Evans, of her set
n confidential communication it would ap-
'ear, else why should they have been in
hat long hall alone? asked Watson, as,
With a glance, he took in the situation.
he meeting was surprise to both parties,
nd the inclination OF both men was to pass
7ithout recognition. Evans, indeed, frown-
d; Watson flushed in anger, and with
ead erect bore down and passed his enc
lies. like suspended or cashiered officer
f the line, conscious of his soldierly quail
les, but equally conscious of his ALTERED
Too high he held his head, in fact, for
e caught no soft glance from the lady's
ye, and tread so firmly upon the trail of
er elegant evening dress as TO cause per-
eptible cracking of seames at the skirt
leafs. Evans turned with a sudden an
er.
'Dolt ? he hissed.
Wotcnn poSca1 ~, 1