Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-11-30

bic to him; he could never rightly have
valued her true, pure wOmans heart
As to Daphne herself, she never loved
him; it had been simply a rather strong
| fancy. Now, however, she hated her
self that she had ever INDUCED it. She
had gagged his character thoroughly by
this time.
Aunt Rene saw and OWNED all; she
determined, if possible to, procure fol
her Belle StamfOFd's friendship. That
will mOrtify and pique you, Miss Sue, il
Pm not Mistaken said she soto UOce, as
she crossed the hall in the dusk; fol
that girl leads the ton in Shirley. Only
one year older than Daphne, toor
And Daphne is indeed to know the
naughty heiress, but not through Aunt
Rene
The young girl sat alone in the moon
light, at the end of the piazza. A group
of four gentlemen and three ladies stood
in the door. Daphne saw Belle Stam-
ford's proud, paTtieian face and naughty
smile. She seemed weary and leaned
her graceful head against the doorway,
her dark eyes sweeping the piazza and
resting on the young girl at the further
end.
who is that young lady, do you
know, Mr.. Reynolds? think her face
beautiful
Charley Reynolds turned, started and
stared at Daphne.
why, it can't he-no-yes-it is, act
Ually. Excuse me one minute, the
lady is friend of mine
Bring her over here whispered Belle
Stamford hurTeidly, catching at his
sleeve. The others stared. What new
freak had the naughty heiress taken?
Mr.. Reynolds p said Daphne, rising
with out stretched hand; Iit was you
then, that saw
TO be sure. And yOu-this is indeed
a pleasure. When did you arrive?'
ooh, last week. 1t seems like old
times to see you
-Four months laughed Charley Rey-
nolds, since we waltzed down the
academy floor together
fOh, 1 forgot. Miss Stamford charged
me to bring you over and introduce you.
I beg pardon, but really when one gets
to talking--' He rose and offered his
arm. Daphne, a little bewildered,
found herself directly in the midst of
the gay party. She heard, in a cOnfus-
ed sort of way, the ceremOnious intro
ductiOns.
Miss Stamford, permit me to present
my friend, Miss Dale. Miss Dale, this
is Miss Hastings, Miss Crocker, Mr..
Clarence, halo, Fred Acquaint-
ances, them
For Fred Hastings aud the third party
Mr.. VIII Chester, were both shaking
hands with Daphne, and were both
talking at once. With that, all cere-
mony flew to the winds, and Daphne
found herself enjoying the evening as
never before since she had been at
Sedgely. Miss Stamford forgot her
hdutteuF in a strange and sudden liking
for this young girl, so frank and so pure,
noble, too, some instinct told her. Belle
Stamford, at eighteen, had sounded her
dear ten thousand friends to their eX-
tremest depth, and was tired of all.
She turned to Daphne Dale with an in
terest to which she had long been q
stranger. And Daphne met her cordial
ly, half way.
The conversation grew animated.
Belle StamfOrd's clear laugh often rang
out at some odd freak or speech Ofyoung
Reynolds; she leaned one arm lightly
on Daphne's shoulder.
So it came to pass that Mrs. Sanford
Mrs. HarcOurt, Sue, Lanter Crosse and
Tom, all sauntered leisurely up from
the beach, came full upon the party
seated in the clear moonlight, upon the
steps.
Now, Mrs. Sanford was ambitious for
her children. She had not seen Miss
StamfOrd's gay companions, the very
elite of Shirley, in their daily drives and
prOminades without a bitter feeling Oi
envy that her own children mingled not
with her set Herself wealthy, she
could not understand how Miss Siam
ford should disdain the acquaintance
and companionship of her daughter
Herein she erred. Miss Stamford dis,
dained it not; she was simply indiHer-
ent. Sue Saxford's tastes and feelings
were not akin to hers.
Mrs. Sanford, for once, forgot hel
good breeding. She made an invOlunta'
ry stop in front of the party. Daphne
was it possible that it was Daphne who
sat there, with Belle StamfOrd's arm
over her shoulder, and Belle Stamford's
white hand twining among her long,
gold-brown curls? And that young
man, with the dark mOustache, leaning
over and looking so eagerly up in hel
face; why, if she were the Queen oi
Sheba, instead of Daphne Dale, they
could not pay her more attention Mrs.
Sanford recovered herself; she bit hel
lips hard in rising shame and anger, and
beat hasty retreat thrOungh the hall.
Sues astonishment and vexatiOn de-
prived her, for the time, of all power Oi
speech. She became suddenly silent
and Lanter Cross, glancing from Daph.
ne's gay, laughing face to the clOuded
one of his companion, experienced the
swift, bitter sensation which man teels
on discovering that he has made bad
bargain, and been miseTably taken in.
We have said that he always went with
the tide, and tonight the tide set strong
ly in favor of Daphne Dale. 1t enhanc'
ed her value amazingly, in his eyes, thai
the proud heiress, Bell Stamford, seem
ed so friendly and familiar with her,
Blame him not, Teader-he was not de-
liberately treacherous, only weak. There
are so many like him!
Tom Sanford said nothing until in his
mothers parlor. Then he tossed his ci'
gar into the empty CRATE and stood uE
with his hands behind him.
Daft is getting up in the world, en-
Sue q
Hold your tongue responded his sis
! ter amiably. And Tom wisely took the
! hint and soon after made bee line toI
his pillow.
! Sanford to her daughter when they were
alone. Sanford senior was at home
| deep in the mysteries of bonds anC
| stocks.
pm sure 1 don't know; you need ask
me- snapped Sue in tone which suth
ciently indicated her frame of mind.
1T couldn't have been through Rene
she was with US all the time,' unused thu
elder lady, with anger on her face anc
! in her voice.
"Twas that Reynolds, fast enough,
grunted Sue-'the one leaning over to
ward her.
'Reynolds?' p
Yes, she knew him at FitzrOy's.'
'And you didn't it seems?
oh, he never danced with me; he wa
always terribly attentive to Daft
Meanwhile Aunt Rene rushed upstair
in a great state of excitement, and reach
ing her own room, dropped into the frs
| convenient chair and underwent such
convulsion of laughter that three but
tons flew off the black grenadine at tht
very tightest place.
Good gracious me y said she at length
recovering herself; how did she man
age it so nicely? And such faces as the
! SaXfOrds wore 1t was q perfect farce
| Now where did those buttons go top
When1Daphne cameup an hour later
with n light heart and smiling face
Aunt Rene, looking i'll a long whit
night gown more like a ghost than I
proper, fashionable lady, flew at her anC
gave her such shaking that her heaC
nearly tumbled Off her shoulders.
Dear me! Aunt Rene! what has com
to you tonight"
You little scapegrace!' calculated tin
breathless nightgown, subsiding on th