The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-04-08

l1l1....-.s...aa..na.aass11kal
Enid Vavasor was the only girl in a fam
lily OF nine sons, most of whom where in |
the army, and she was the very idol of
her doting parents.
tia J she was coming now-and Vivian
Verschoyle turned his naughty face to-
ward her as she passed through the door
of the cloak room.
Enid Vavasor, how shall describe you,
with your strange, fanciful name, and
your strangely sweet face It was not in
beauty and excellence of feature she ex-
celled, for beyond those rare blue eyes
she had not single good feature, and
yet-strange contradiction-it was
lovely face, and Colonel Verschoyle knew
1t to his cost, as he turned to meet it with
its winsome smile. its exquisite coloring
and its halo of chestnut brown hair, rip-
ping and waiving over the broad, low
brow. Bright scarlet holly berries shone
out amid the brown ripples with just the
faintest soupcon of mistletoe, and another
bunch of the same Christmas berries ap-
peared on the breast Of that snowy dress
| of softest lace. She looked almost as if
she were enveloped in white cloud, as
she came forward and met the naughty
gaze of the Colonel bent upon on her.
A little mischievous smile parted her
coral lips. For moment she looked
| about to laugh outright; but she con-
| trolled herself; and, looking up with
| dancing light in her blue eye, she asked,
"W hat Is the matter ?"
Now our Abyssinian hero did not ex-
peet this effrontery, SO he came to the
point at once with soldier-like brevity
"Enld Vavasor, you are coquette-
and won't stand it! l will not be
trifcd with !''
Vi course he meant to say much more,
and make longer speech, only the pretty
face looked so mocking that he stopped
short in abrupt contempt. She came a
step nearer, and for some minutes they
stood there under the great bunch Of
mistletoe together.
"What have done ?' she asked.
The lovely laughing eyes were raised
lnquirlnsly to his, but as he felt the spell
her beauty was casting over him he grew
more fierce.
"What have you done? What you
shall never have the chance of doing
again-made fool of ME l' he thundered
forth, his generally clear voice thick with
passion.
Remember the Colonel was madly in
love and bitterly disappointed, and the
storm IN his breast, as l told you before,
was even hotter than the storming of
Magdala.
! 81 don't see how that can be-" said
Enid, with provoking calmness, going up
| to the fireplace and putting her tiny
whlte-slippered foot on the fender "If
| you have been made fool of, as you say,
you must have made yourself one, Colo
mel Verschoyle."
The pretty lips once more wreathed
themselves into that mocking smile, aud
he was beside her in one fierce stride.
"Euid," said he, "you know YOU have
done wrong; you have played with me
long enough but it ends now. Look
here -
She looked up all sweetness and sur
prise, but l think she shrank little as
she met the blaze of passion in his eyes.
''Look here,' he continued '.Sinee
you have found some one else to kiss aud
to fllrt with, you can let me 90, [ have
been miserabIy mistaken; but it can t be
helped now, only We had better part
You have shown me plainly enough this
evening what you are
"Wliat am l % she asked simply
"a fiirt p' he exelaimed-.'a heartless
filrt and We must part"
''Oh yes, if you wish it, I suppose we
must said Enid; ''but you have said
very hard thing ON me-a thing I never
heard before; and would not stand it
now, only | see you are angry and don't
quite know what you are saying. l new
er fiirted in my life, sir ~
The sweet eyes looked into his, but he
was too iratc to see their sweetness.
''You let that-that fellow kiss you in
the conservatory v' he cried. sWhat
more would you haye, or do I need, as
proof of what you are p
The color came into her checks. "Oh,
then. you saw that, did you ?" she said
and she gazed down thoughtfully into the
FIRE.
"Why did you allow it?' he demand
ed
"Because-oh, because I like him."
she replied; ''and then, you see, |
stupidiy let my maid put a sprig of mis-
tletoc in my hair to night and SO L sup
pose hc-he couldn't help it,
she was laughing now, and her face
was hushlng brightly until it looked love
ller than he had ever seen it before.
Almost roughly the Colonel seized her
round white arm, and the laugh died away
on her lips.
"Let me co." she said "you hurt me;
please remember you arc notin Abvssinia
now. and English people have feelings"
"Ihen where are yours, pray ?'' he
cried. "Enid Vavasor, answer me. wbv
have you trified with me ?'
His lips were white with snrnnr.ssoa
passion, and, though she struggled to free
her arm, he held it still
'.You told me that you loved me-" he
said, hoarsely.
She smiled family as she replied, ~
told you the truth, Vivian.''
"Then why have you been false to
me p he asked. ENID, cease this mock
cry, and tell me what you mean by your
conduct this evening p he added, stamp
ing his foot until the whole room shook.
stOh dear you do friohfen me- so nsa;a