The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-27

we're talking about. They were both
officers stationed at-port, known only
by sight by my cousins.
| 81 saw the Heathcotes last week st
Ryde. Birdie Is in greater force than
ever; she has got over the disappointment
/ fancy" beard.
"Her wings were only slightly singed,
think" another vo ce said; and at his
next words strained all my energies to
hear distinctly. "Court and is hand
some young fellow, but had hardly brains
enough to fascinate the little scamp in
reality"
"She W as very i'll last winter, and
have 1t from Randall, in whom she CON
fided-she was desperately smitten with
Harola Courtland; but they wert not reg
ulariy engaged, and she thought to bring
him to the point by flirting with some
rich cad, and making Harold jealous"
"And lost him instead! He was awful
Iy cut up at the time, but like the rest OF
the world, has consoled himself. called
at Halcombe he other Gay, and was
shown the lady's portrait. Miss Court
land says she has pos of money"
ais she pretty?"
Handsome; but awfully thin. Harold
is very proud Of her, OF course; lucky
young fellow, and his people are delight
ed"
Birdie has mt heard of it yet. What
is the girl called?"
she is Miss Lowell" Then the cur
tain drew up, and they talked no more
about me.
asked my cousins if they had ever
hoard Of Birdie Heathcote," but they
could give no information about her.
They said that Harold had always been
In | we with some one or other all his life,
and they supposed Birdie was somebody
in L1ndon.'
By the end Of May we were back in
England, AMI my eng cement being pun-
licly announced, people began To decide
that Harold and I would be married at
the close of the season.
My slight story is nearly at an end. l
have been proposing very lengthily, l
| fear, and must push on.
Que night, soon after we came to town,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wyldham and were en-
gagged to dine in Portman-sIusre, and
were to jnin the girls at u ball in Ken
lSington afterward; Harold was to be there
also. The distance between the two
houses being great, 1t was rather late
when we arrived at the second party.
Mrs Wyndham expected to meet her
daughters In the clOak-room, waiting to
be conveyed up stairs under the maternal
wing;but Guiding that they were not there,
and supposiug them to have rehelllouslv
gone to the darcingroom alone, Mr..
| Wyndham and [ vent up stairs to look
for taem. r
They were soon discovered; and leaV-
ling me with a gentleman who asked me
tn dance, Mr. WYndham vent back t"
his, wife. did not spy out Harold until
after that dance, when he passed close To
| me, his attention so much occupied by
| the lady that leaned on his arm that he
| did not observe me.
| | was much congratulated on the i'm
prnveh1ent ia my appearance that evening
much To my wonder, for my head was
aching. anu only few turns of a walse
rendered me h tterly breathless. My part
ner was an old Is'ieud, aud seeing how
drecdfully bored Was at the incessan'
remarks of How strons' you look! Mrn'
tone has done wonders fbr you! way
you've quite ceor?" ETC., mercifaliy sale
to me, Miss Lovel, do lot me take yoI
out of this hot room; thoTe is a seat on tn
landing. If you are not afraid OF tn
draught?" and he took me to au ottonal
placed in an alcove jus. outside a sinai
boudoir opening on the staircase, an
there lett me while he went to fetch d
ice to fortlty my strength before |
temps ed another dance.
Voices within the room attracted nv
attention, and-Was mean, was wick ed:
i leaned my head against The wall, with
my ear close to the hinges of the door
that miget hear every word that was
uttered
Colonel Forbes returning presently with
my Ice, | summoned up all my fortitude
and SAID in calm tone, | believe thai
he must find Mr. Wyndham, as | was moi
feeling well.
People were so much accustomed tc
Miss Lovers airs and i'll health" and
Mr.. Wyudham and SO very often left
parties a long time before the Others, that
Colonel Forbes retired instantly to do a.
| asked.
My heart had begun to beat nosily
when my ears first caught the deep sound
of Harold's voice. low, passionate, and
sorrowful, behind that door; but its action
stopped, and felt stabbed and dyipg
when moved into the room to look ut
her whose unconscious rival I had been
Her head laid on his breast as mine
had never lain; his arms embodied hel
as they had never clrcled me, and the
thick showering kisses on her closed and
tearwet eyes were such as had nevey re,
ceived>fr from Harold -
81 thought you knew that loved yolsL'
said Birdie heathcote. 90, why coul d
you not trast Inc? Say again hat W