Connecticut western news., 1873-05-09

I head, for he relieved the. tedium of "a
 somewhat 1ethargic existence by watch
 ing the little social romances going on
 around him. If he had been tattler.
 this might have proved 8 mischieyous
 propensity but he kept his discoveries
 to himself, of only intimated them to
 the principal actors, for his amusement il consisted in knowing what other people al failed to perceive. The young man
 who had just entered moved up the I room, looking right and left for ac- I quaintances. Presently he saw Ber- l tram, who came forward and shook
 hands with him, ,,rasked him when he
 had arrived, what hotel he was staying
 at, and other little commonplaces, I while he was answering which he saw Miss uLund, and could not prevent a Fsllghbg start before he bowed coldly. tFhe. young lady replied with a distant
 bend pen of the neek,Ju h4.1az2 g9r5nt,ai ~ Igofa You know Miss Lund i?'' said Der
 tram, .,.a ..,e ..,,.-...--- 2l
 s' I had met her once or twice. But 1 they are going to dance again, and as I
 am not in mood for violent exercise. t having only-just swallowed my dinner,
 shall go and have a look at the ITente
 ct Quar0,ete. ,l...i.. .-.,.,--,. -...s. " r Though not gossip himself, Bertram I by no means objected to take occasional
 advantage of the gleanings gathered by
 members of that fraternityy so he went
 and sat down by Mrss Craoket.5 ss7dl }, s ' So you have been making love to l the heiress, said -she.;,rJ -...--er .-,.... e
 'i2'' Rash, under your tvsee very eyes, wasn't it ?"9 he replied. 's But what is there t1between her and Graham ?' He -a=s'
 .tiDe you mean to tell me that you l don't know i?'',ys.s. -s.. -,.,,., 7,tt s..s..'
 " How should I p i was not aware
 of Miss Lund's existence till this even- mg.'Tie e.! ivy i fn.'-y aht: s aau7
 n We'll, they were engaged for ever
 so long {; he was at her house every day;
 most improper, with only that poor old Miss Corney to act as chaperone when suddenly she broke off the match. The
 airs these parvenus give themselves! b
 q "Was there no cause, then ?.a7 4o ,,
 e0h, fl supposeIit was some jealous
 whim. and there may have been some
 occasion for it. You men are all alike"
 This was quite enough for Bertram to start upon, and he made no more in- Iquiries.tJ But he renlistened himself in fhetroop of the heiress' admirers, which was pretty numerous, took the Lund shilling, as he himself expressed it, and being an adept in the art of making him. self agreeable, was soon promoted to the rank of leading partner and first | shawl-carrier, vice Williams and Ven, ables, told off respectively to Miss Cor ney and the1apdog. This distinctiond did not put him up unduly, for the descrim- mating young man perceived that the 1 preference was afforded him because he seldom approached the topics of love or matrimeny, and when he did, it was al- ways in ton eof badinage. l
 Yet there were times when she assum- ed coquettish air, which seemed to in- vite him to more serious Irritation, but | this was invariably when Graham was present, and appeared to be observing her.s1rirrsa isara fl .d5fg ,.-.sr .ss+ ,l - 4 "Now, ,.said Bertfam to himself, sthere are two courses for the male spoon to pursue: either to clear out of the place altogether or follow the spoons lead. y Graham adopted the latter course, + and harnessed himself to the car of a handsome young widow, who dressed slangily, danced untringly, and sot doaOae to 19lGy. = -----e
 The mannerss of the little English community assembled at Spa were very much relaxed, from the standard set up
 by each individual member at home. E Persons, even of different sexes.4 spoke l. to one another without formal intro duction; young ladies danced some partner. The majority only went once l to church on Sunday, and devoted the rest of the day to long walbs in the woods, the perusal of secular Journals. and listening to the band, which played other music than Handel's. Mary who ' frowned at sixpenny whist at home as gambling, staked their forins and five franc pieces at roulette and rouge-et- noir. But there was one tacit law which the female portion of the British ] visitors adhered to religiously, and for bade them to take seats at either of the r. play-tables.s They might stand behind, andmake their little stakes over peoples shoulders, with an air of assumed indif- { ference as whether they lostor. wen, if they pleased. li That was considered torbe mere loDking-on.y But to it down Il like regular Gam bier, l1with.la a big q. { was held to be fearful breach of pro priety. And this crime. Mrs. kGeylas, the 7 yonng widow committed. Shes con I stantly took seat, which was otsequi- l ously vacated for her at the u1social l board, removed her gloves, took card andspin, piled her stock of nap)Ieons J into little heaps in front of her and ] went in for the thing in the most busi- ( ness like way, her admirers clustering round and backing her luck on the $ principal, I suppose, that imitation is the smcerest fattery. The admirers al- | luded to owere all men their mott CTS, l wives, and sisters abhorred her to wo- man. They would have cut her, enly her late husband s cousin was lord, < and her own father @ baronet, and she { was rich. Blood and money cover more sins than charity, so they bowed and smiled, and answered when she spoke to them. But that was not very often, for the widow preferred masculine con ] versation. u Q .rt.Es z This was the lady towhon Graham { now devoted himself ; he procured nose- gays for her.. he contendeG for the honor of her hand in the ballfoom, and
 her foot when she mounted 1n horse- back, and his attentions wee always most earnest when Milly .Lund9- was
 present. Bertram smiled approval. ] Graham is no fool, thought he he { has selected the next most attractive girl; just as the Lnnd has selected the next Gin her blinded judgnent) most attractive man. This soliloquizerh had
 no false modesty, yon see.
 Having thus ascertained that these two young people were desperately in
 love with one another, Bertram no s longer gave himself the trouble of pay l ing so assidious court to Miss Lund, and cultivated tho acquaintance of Graham, who was too much man of | the world to showa reserve which might betray jealousy, if he felt any, which is : doubtful. The twomenhad not chancedJ to meet often,I Ifan but they had been thrown l together soi11a- -f1uo6i iszna1.s hofnfa in thn ,