Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16
A CHARMING STORY
NH
NOTHING by HALVES.
n W
BIZ FRANK LIE BENEDICT.

mother, who possessed the faculty, almost
lost among human beings, of keeping
silence when she promised. There was
no special reason for temporary secrecy,
only it pleased them both. do not think
II was an unnatural feeling to wish little
private enjoyment of their dream before
it became the property of the world al
large, to be discussed and something of
its freshness and sanc;ity impaired there
by. A whole mOnth-the month of Janu-
airy, too, that holds thirty-one complete
days long time for two mortals to
possess uninterrupted happiness. Older
and sadder people than this pair might
have said it was as much or more than
humanity has right 10 expect, and
fear that good many of US do have to
spread our bliss very thin TO make it reach
90 far.
But Helen BreVoort accepted her royal
gift with the unEeasoning confidence of
nineteen, and Richard Falmore claimed
1t as right; O man of thirty is rather apt
to do so, and further to offend Fate by
considering himself injured because the
boon was not offered sooner. But they
had their month-they lived their dream;
not one of you so hardened and worldly
that you cannot look back and picture il
from your memory. Never again would
there be such winter seen as that which
glorified those days never such music as
greeted their ears at opera or ball-never
such heavenly moments of solitary refiec-
ton, or hours like those they spent in
the shadowy library talking of the future,
and msrvelling such happiness had never
before been youchsafed mortality. 1t
sounds very foolish put into printed
words, and you and laugh at them as
the exsggerations of romance; unfortun-
ately, we usually laugh with a pain under.
The monta passed, then; it was impos-
sible to keep sharp eyed relatives out of
the secret; of course as soon as they learn
en- If, eociety in general shared the conf
dence. The matter was settled according to
regulation rules, and the two had to bear
co1gratulation and comment, and worse
still, feel that the bloom of mystery was
brushed from their treasure.
Then followed two weeks of pleasure
BILE excitement for Helen, and then the
dnst cloud gathered in her sky-and it is
easier to take up my chronicle here; hap
piness is hard to describe or imagine.
Mrs Vincent came back from Havana;
she had been gone three months, and go
ciety, in spite CT its occupation, had
found time TO miss her. But society ep-
proved of her errAnd. Mrs Vincent had
dash of Cuban blood ia her veins, and
some old relative ia the troubled island,
with colossal fortune to leave, had been
i'll and demanded visit OF course the
<ncient cat recovered, and would probs-
blv live long enough TO change her will
six tim. "s yet, but Mrs Vincent had done
her dutv TIE truth was, she had gone
from irnnulse. he was the last woman in
the world TO take an - psinS to get money,
fond as she was of spen ting it: The an.
Gent relative had written OIVeously OF
her loneliess, and Mrs. Vincent couid
not resist the plea. To be sure, she hso
been rewarded by any quantity OF adula-
ton and pleasure in the gEy city; bit her
motive for going was good one, even =
it did spring nom impulse Instead of
principle and desire to do her duty.
She returned Just IN time for Mrs.
Forsyth's grand ball, and sstonished the
whole world by appearing in the rooms
so late that any arrival would have been
an event, and in dress so marvellous
that every woman felt herself look faded
and dowdy at once.
Twenty minutes had not elapsed before
she was told of Richard Falmore's en-
gagement, and smiled an iDcredulity
which she was careful to hide. But the
news came presently from quarter
which admitted no doubt and Mrs. Vim
cents beautiful eyes gained new lustre
and her high spirits waxed higher. All
the while her blood grew hotter and hot
Ter, ill it got up 10 boiling heat, and she
felt the keen anger a married flirt is likely
70 do when she learns that one of her
victims has slipped through her hands
and been artful and bold enough to keep
her in ignorance to the last.
The summer before, Helen had made
her debut at Newport, met Mrs. Vincent
for few days, ard was regarded by that
lady as pretty pieco of still life not
worth a second thought. But Helen had
thought great deal about her, and when
in the autumn she met Richard FalmOre
again at somebody's country house and
their acquaintance grew rapidly, she
suffered a vague pain and jealousy in
remembering the gossip she had heard
his filtration with the besui.
full woman.
helen returned late 10 town, and Mrs.
VincenC was gone; after that she found
no time to think about her, forgot the
stories. and you'd have smiled with blind,
youthful seCrn during the past month at
the idea of the lacy in any way disturb
ing her lovely dream.
TO-night's ball was rather dull affair
20 Helen. for Falmore was unaTOidably
absent. She would have stayed at home
If there had been any possible pretext;
but as there was not, she came and danced
aud smiled and behaved properly, wond-
ering all the while why the hours should
be so stupid and so long.
She sat down 10 rest by her stepmother
after q waltz, listening with an
effort to the talk Of dancing man, sadly
out of his element in the conversational
arena. Mrs. Vincent floated in from the
ballroom, surrounded by little court
of admirers. Helen had supposed her
thousands of blessed leagues away; the
very sight of her brought thrill of un-
easiness 10 which she gave no name.
Mrs. Vincent saw her too, and had al
ready accepted the role. She approach
ed Helen, asteGsibly to greet some old
sdowager acquaintance, turned, became
conscious VI the girls presence, and did a
bit of pretty cordially on the instant.
81 hope you have not forgotten me,
Miss Brevoort9 / need1'. ask if you are
sell, with that color ana those eyes!"
Helen had to accept the white hang 50
gracefully Offered and reply as creditsDly
az she could, but not being much of an
ACTRESS yet, she could not help showing
her surprise al Mrs. yincent's manner
that with which she might hsYe greeted
an old friend.
'.No, l shall not Dance" Mrs. Vincent
was saying, when the odd cOmmotion II
H.len's mind would permit her to lister
aga;u. go away, every one of you.
am pping to sit down here by Miss Bre
wort sud rest; remember, | am just of
sourney anS TIED to death"
Helen was forced to make room fol
her the dandies Ao-ered about, the gay
conversation went on, SC wesrisome to
the g1ls iust then, and though sAe tried
TO talk. Mrs. Vincent saw plainly that SHE
- IA understanding the TeasOI