Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-09-07

daughters, who stood to each other in the
relation Of step-sisters, as Sir lledworth
had married twice, Edith and Kate. When
Mr.. Lawlesse went up to the two as they
landed, it was pretty obvious that Sir
Hedworth Dare would have been quite as
well pleased had that gentleman not chosen
to present himself; for the baronet regard
ed Mr.. Lawlesse as detrimental, and had
wholesome and parental horror of the
class.
"Ah! Lawlesse thought it was Moon
ington," said Sir IIedworth; "said he
would be here to meet u.s.
The Hon. Sam Moonington was eldest
son of the heir of Moonshine, and desper-
ately smittcn with Miss Kate Dare. Sir
lledworth--sosaid Ryde society-was bent
upon the match. The Hon. Sam was GER
tainly catch-so said the ladies; Moon
ington was an ass-so somewhat abruptly
said the gentlemen in general, and Mr.,
Lawlesse in particular.
jim, however, was not to be taken aback
by this very tepid welcome, and walked
down the pier with Sir IIedworth and his
two daughters.
"Are you going to the ball tonight,
Mr.. Lawlesse ?" asked Kate Dare. 1t
happened to be within few hours of the
commencement of the Yacht Club ball,
OF course Mr.. Lawlesse was going; and
so was Mr.. bloomington. That gentleman
bad just joined them; and so they all were.
And so we shall all meet again presently"
And Jim LawleSse sauntercd off after hay
ing bade the ladies an an rccoir-m decid-
cdly better spirits than when he had first
met SIR IIedworth and the Misses Dare.
81 don't think | should mind backing
my luck against that Of the Honorable
Sans" said Jim Lawlesse, as he proceeded
to dress. Miss Kate Dare had promised
Mr.. Lawlesse the first waltz
*u*uu*
The dance given by tie Royal Victoria
Yacht Club was unusually and brilliantly
successful that year; so said everybody ;
and the ball is certainly one which, if for
no other reasons than those of a spectacular
nature, is well worth seeing. The elegant
devices which convert a balcony into n cor
ridor, the profusion of banners, the trophies
Of yachtsmen, the decidedly nautical fea-
lures in the dresses Of the ladies-all these
add a charm which is exclusively their
own to the affair.
Mr.. James Lawlcssc entered the room
almost at the same time as the Dare party.
On the arm of Sir lIedworth rested his
eldest daughter, on that of the Hon. Sam
Miss Kate Dare. The baronet's tone was
more chilled than ever when he caught
sight Of our hero approaching in the dis
lance.
Amid an Undesirable chatter strongly
favored with marine jargon the first quad
rifle was danced. Mr.. Moonington's part
ner was Miss Kate Dare, his ris-o-rjS the
gentleman whom we have for FORMS sake
christened the hero of this slight narrative
But the first quadrillc, as even fast quad
rifles are sometime or other was over at
last, and within few minutes of its ter
mination Mr.. Lawlesse claimed the younger
of Sir Hedworth's two daughters as his
partner in the first waltz; and Mr., Noon
ington surrendered the lady who without
doubt was the object of his affections and
ambitions, certainly not with the best
grace in the world. Miss Dare, however,
was close by, and dlsengaged. Would
Miss Dare give him, the Honorable Sam,
the pleasure of that waltz? Most happy
and the pair whirled off. The elder Of Sir
lIedworth's two daughters was far from
displeased at the contretempS, and she de-
tcrmined to make the most Of it. She did
not sec why the heir to the Moonshine
peerage should be calmly appropriated for
and by her younger half-sister. For her
part, she could never quite understand
what there particularly was to charm peo-
pie in Kate. Besides, Kate had her time
before her; she had only finished her first
season, and Edith Dare's first season was
an affair Of the more or less long past. If
Kate did not choose to know her opportu-
nifty such charge of ignorance should not
be brought against Miss Dare, in plain
truth this young lady was as little pleased
with her father as with her sister in the
present matter. 1t would be no such bad
thing, she thought, if the event should
prove that the calculations of the former
were at fault as for Kate, the child was
far too ignorant to calculate at all,
The fair partner of Mr.. bloomington put
forth all her pleaSures-and they were
not inconsiderable-to captivate and please
She suggested a walk in the CORRIDOR
was so hot in the ballroom. Curiously
enough, also the keen eyes of Edith Dare
had noticed a movement of her sister.
81 think" said the young lady, in low
tone, 1--WE will sit here, just behind that
pillar. The air blows in so cool, and We
have such pretty view of the sea-"
Almost Immediately on the other side o.
the pillar were Miss Kate Dare and Mr.
Lawlesse.
"Ah Mr.. bloomington, there, declare
are my sister and Mr.. Lawlcsse. How
very sentlmental!' And Edith looked
up in the face of the Honorable Sam, who
Judging from his expression, was not par
ticularly pleased. He looked in the direc-
ton indicated, and then turned again tC
his partner
Under the shadow of the pillar Edith
advanced with her cavalier little nearer
her sister.
Romance, did you say, Mr.. Lawlesse
don't think there's much romance in the
present century, least of all at Rydc. II
you want romance | think it would be
necessary to search for it on far wilder
waters than those of the Solent."
81 suppose" returned Mr. Lawlesse,
who had evidently been reading Ixion
in Heaven "that romance is to be 70,
mautic."
"And who is romantic nowadays 2"
The pair were standing close together
aud Mr.. bloomington and his partner could
distinctly see Mr.. Lawlcsse's hand laid
upon Kate Dare's.
81 think, Mr.. bloomington, we will GO
inside 1t is getting rather chilly here
| romantic nnrhonS rhpumatic cert oinlv y