The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-27

ter having babe the ladies an az reootr-in
decidedly better spirits than when he had
first net Sir Hedwoith and the Misses
Dare.
II don't think that l should mind back
ing my luck againt that of the Honorable
Sans" said Jim Lawlesse; as he proceed
ed to dress. Miss Kate Dare had promised
Mr.. Lawlesse the first waltz.
The dance given by the Royal Victoria
Yacht Club WAS unusually aud brilliantly
successful that year; so said everybody; and
the ball is certainly one which, if for n"
other reasons than its spectacular nature,
is well worth seeing. The elegant devices
which convert balcony into IL corridor.
yachtsmen, the decidedly nautical features
in the dresses of the ladies-all these add Il
charm which is exclusively their own to
the affair.
Mr.. james Lawlesse entered the room
almost at the same time as the Dare pait y.
On the arm of Sir Hedworth 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 indescribable chatter strongly
favored with marine jargon the first quad
rifle was danced. Mr.. Moniugton' part
ner was Miss Kate Dare. his gssn- Uis the
gentleman whom we have for forms sake
christened the hero of this slight narrative.
But the first quadrlle, as even first quad
rifles are some time or other, was over at
last, and within few minutes of its ter
mina,ion Mr.. Lawlesse claimed the young
err of Sir Hedwnrth' 5 two daughters as his
partner in the first waltz; and Mr. Moon
inyton surrendered the lady who without
doubt was he object of his affections and
ambitions, certainly not with the best grace
in the word. Miss Dare, however. was
close by, and dsengaged. Would Miss
Dare give him, the Honorable Sam, the
pleasure of that waltz? Most happy: and
the pair whirled Off. The elder of Sir
Hedworth's two daughters was far from
di>pleased at the contrrtemps, and she deter
mined to make the most of it. She did
not see why the heir to the Moonshine
peerage should be calmly appropriated for
and 10y her younger half-sister. For her
part she could never quite understand what
there particularly was to charm people in
Kate Besides, Kate had her time before
her; she had only finished her first season,
Edith Dare's first season was an affair of
the more or less long long past. If Kate
did not choose to know her opportunity
such charge of Ignorance should not be
brought against Miss Dare. Inplain 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.. Moonington put
forth all her pleasures-and they were not
inconsiderable-to captivate and please.
She suggested walk in the corrider-it
was so hot in the ballroom. Curiously
enough. also the keen eyes of Edith Dare
had noticed this movement.
81 think said the young lady, in
low tone, i've will sit here just behind
that pillar. The airs blows in SO cool. and
we have such pretty view of the sea-
Almost Immediately on the other side of
the pillar were Miss Kate Dare aud Mr..
LawleSSe.
"Ah Mr.. bloomington. there, declare,
are my sister aud Mr.. Lawlesse. How very
sentimental - And Edith looked up in
the face of the H 'norahle sam, who, judg
ing from his expression, was not particu-
larly pleased. He looked in the direction
indicated and then turned again to his
partner.
Under the shadow of the pillar Edith
advanced with her cayaliar a 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 Ryde. If
You want romance | think it would be ne.
cessary to search for it on far wilder waters
than those of the Solent."
81 suppose" returned Mr.. Lawlesse.
7, 4 g. ,,;o
THAT romance is to be romantic"
"And who is romantic nowadays %
The pair were standing close together,
and Mr.. bloomington and his partner could
distinctly see Mr.. Lawlesse's hand laid
upon Kate Dare's.
g think, Mr.. bloomington. we will 90
inside. 1t is getting rather chilly here
romantic perhaps, rhuematic cert ainly,''
said Miss Dare, in accents sufficiently aud
ible to arouse the attention CT her sister
aud Mr.. Lawlesse.
6. Hadn't notion" remarked jim.
turning round with something of confusion
"that anybody was SO near
The Hon. Samuel Bloomington did not
ask Miss Kate Dare, to dance again that
evening.
In her dreams that night, when the ball
was over and the dancers dispersed, Miss
Dare saw herself the Countess of Moon
inSton, and if any thoughts visited her
sisters slumber, / am disposed to fancy
that they were principally relative to Jim
Lawlesse.
A beautiful morning, two or three days
after the club ball; Ryde was thinning
gradually, but among the visitors who
remained were Sir Hedworth Dare, his
Two daughters. the Hon. Sam bloomington,
and J i'm Lawlesse. the latter of whom still
waited the return of his friend, the propri
etor of the " Sea Fam"
Sir Hedworth Dare was going to take a
mornings sail in his Yacht the "Petrel.'
His two daughters were coming, and they
were to be accompanied by Mr. Morning
ton. The Baronet had noticed something
of the events of the ball night, and Mr.
James Lawlesse was dscreetly omitted
from the party.
Kate Dare was passionately fond of the