Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-04-02

a welcome bat over it all was shad-
ow; fear, apparently, which made
Miss Percy shy rather than naughty;
ard Watson soon began to catch
glimpses of a character beneath all
that conventional veil which he had
not expected to find.
OF course the wealthy Miss Or
omanes would scorn his further friend
ly relations. Her rooms were near
his own secondhoor apartments; she
daily, all the ason had encountered
him in his walks through the long
corridor, and must have been one of
the first to learn of his fallen fortunes.
Indeed, he half surmised that her
dressing maid had made special quiry
into his case, seeing her in special con
fap with the Aoor-stcwardess and room
girls. So Watson, with reserve Of
pride not entertained with others,
kept apart from Mss Oromancs.
On the evening of his changed for
tunes, when the Sappho of the Gas
cades annihilated him, greatly to the
pleasure of the young "bloods' around
her, Watson wandered away at length
upon the piazza then up through the
long, deserted halls, restless, thought
full, dgcsting the notes which he had
been taking of human nature, and
trying to fix the relative value of a
man without money. 1t was the crys-
tall'ne truth he was learniug-not the
truth in mere solution, sometimes clear,
sometimes Opaque, but always thin,
but the prec;pitated, bard, angular,
clear cut crystals of experience, mind
ed in unexpected places.
Suddenly, in solitary promenade, he
confronted the heiress. She was walk
ing arm in arm with young Evans, Of
her set in confidential communica-
ton, it would appear, else why should
they have been in that long hall alone :?
asked Watson, as, with glance, he
took in the situation. The meeting
was a surprise to both parties, and the
inclination of both men was to pass
without recognition. Evans, indeed
frowncd; Watson flushed in anger,
and with head erect, bore down and
passed his enemies, like a suspended
or cashiered officer of the line, con-
scious of his altered circumstances. "
Too high he held his head, in fact,
for he caught no soft glance from the
lady's eye, and trod 50 FIRMLY upon The
trail of her elegant oychng dress as
to cause a perceptible cfaching If seams
at the skirt plcats Evans turned with
sudden anger.
"Dolt y he hissed.
Watson passed on, staying to make
no apology, but he heard the lady say:
"Fc, it is nothing and he was
conscious, too, that she was looking at
him wo dcringly
An hour later Watson was down on
the piazz, again, evidently on the quest
for spme person, and he found his man
ere long. Evans was the gentleman
wanted. Going up to him, Watson
said
"Mr. Evans, what was the word
you used at the time | trod on the
trail of Miss Ooromanes' dress ?'
IL said dolt, sir and say it again.
We have hitherto supposed you to be
II gentleman, aud now learn that YOU
cannot pay your bill :" and he laugh
ed, half in scorn aud half in humor of
the fact so opportunely given him to
crush another.
The hot blood flew to Watson's face;
his hands were clenched as if to strike;
but by strong effort he mastered his
passion.
Evans, no gentleman would have
uttered that sentence. Only cow
ard would fling anothers poverty in
his face. Miss Oromanes, educated as
she has been, to give virtue to wealth,
might find in my inability to pay my
hotel bill, a justification for dropping
my acquaintance; but l doubt if ever
she would have countenanced incivili-
ty. | owe her an apology for my seem
ing rudeness, aud will give it to her,
but you hold in too extreme con-
tempt even to exchange more words
with you. Hereafter do not speak to
me, for if You do | shall slap your face,
even in the presence Of the ladies. y
And the speaker went his way TO his
attic room.
This scene, overheard by several
gentlemen and ladies, soon was the
talk Of the rooms Evans being
recognized leader Of very arstocrat-
ic circle, soon convened others Of his
set; and Major Snow was, ere long,