The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-05-23

them"
As he entered the apartment, amid
the flash of jewels and rustic of silks
and laces, he met his sister Laura.
"LennOx you here ?" she said, Civ
ing him two white hands.
"Yes. Where's Nannie?'
''She was ON the terrace talking with
a French Count, a moment ago. All
there she is by the door"
" All p said Lennox, dropping Lau-
ra's hand and making his way toward
the door.
But it was difficult, even when he
drew near, to see in this stylish, stately
lady, whose hair was put up over a
monstrous chignon, and whose lustrous
robe swept over the floor for a yard,
his own little Mamie of three months
ago.
Lennox strobe up with scarce a glance
at the bewhiskered dandy to whom she
was chatting, and held out his hand
with an eager exclamation Mamie 7"
She made a sweeping courtesy, and
languidly extended the tips of her fin
gers; but not muscle moved beyond
what accorded with well-bred indiffer-
ence.
All good evening, Mr.. Ray"
"Oh, Mamie are you not glad to
see me % said Lennox, feeling his
heart chilled within him.
''Oh, to be sure, Mr.. Ray-quite
glad. Allow me to present Count de
| Beaurepaire. Mr. Ray, monsieur" ="
Lennox hardly deigned bow to the
FreRchman, and offered his arm to Nan
Aie.
'sYou will walk with me little
while ?"
Thanks but the music is begin
ming, and promised to dance with Mr..
Blair"
"But afterwards p said Lennox, the
chill growing colder.
"Thanks again but I am engaged
to Captain Thorton.
"When, then 2" demanded Lennox
with q jealous pang.
"Ab, really my card is so full I hard
| ly know. l will try to spare you
waltz somewhere with an Indifferent
glance.
Lennox bent down, and spoke with
bitter reproach in her ear, Good heav-
ems, Mamie What affectation is
this ?'
She favored him with a well-bred
stare.
&C Pardon do not understand you"
And taking the arm of her escort, she
walked away with the air of an en-
press.
Lennox sought his sister.
Laura, how have you changed Nam
ME so ?" he demanded.
Yes, she has changed-greatly i'm
proved Isn't she perfect?"
Perfect Rather too perfect to suit
me.
Tomorrow I shall see more of Nam
ME p he thought.
But tomorrow, and tomorrow, and
tomorrow it was always the same, and
that elegant Miss Irving" as they
styled her, was always in demand. She
played the role of an accomplished Ia |
dy, an icy hearted coquette, to perfec- |
ton ; and poor Lennox, from the dis |
tance at which she kept him, looked on |
wrath, jealousy, pride, and despair.
Mamie !'' said he, one morning
when he found her alone, how long is
this to last? ?" |
How long is what to last ?" asked |
Mamie, innocentlY.
''How long are you gong to remain |
the conventional creature you are?"
81 believe you wished me to come |
here to improve my manners, RIr. Ray |
to acquire the elegance of society?" she |
said, coldly.
g But Mamie
'Your sister thinks I have been an
apt pupil" i
g Yes, too apt, by heavens r' cried
Lennox.
"Wel, if you amt pleased with the
result of your own advice, [ am not to
blame. You must excuse me, Mr.. Ray
1 am going to ride with Count de Beau
repaire.
And with her sweetest, hollowest |
smile, she made a graceful gesture of
adieu, and left him sick at heart, puz-
zled and disgusted.
That afternoon, as Laura and Mamie
were about dressing for the evening, |
Lennox, walked unannounced, into |
Lanra's little parlor, where they sat
alone.
81 thought I'd drop in and say good
bye, before you went down stairs" said |
he. 81 leave for London tonight.
Laura elevated her eyebrows lit
tie.
Sudden, isn't it? But since you
are going will give you some commits
sions."
"You needn't. I shall only stay in
town for day."
"Indeed Where are you going?"
"Oh, I don't know" was his savage |
reply.
Laura gave him look of cool sur
prise.
cat least you will take note to
George for me.
eyes, if you get it ready" said he,
ungraciously.
g Very well !; I will write it.
Laura went to her own room, and
Lennox stood moodily at the window.
Presently Mamie, who had not spoken
one word, came and stood near him.
"Are you really going away?' she
asked.
"Yes, L am, - was the short answer.
"And won't you tell me where ?"
"I don't know myself-neither know
nor care, " he growled
She slipped her hand in his arm, with
the old caressing movement he remem- +
bered so well, and spoke gently, using
his first name for the first time since he
came.
But, Lennox, dear, if you go away
off somewhere, what shall do?"
He turned suddenly and caught her
to his heart.
ooh, Mamie, Nannie!" cried he
passionately, Z" if you would only come
back to me, and love me-if could re-
cover my lost treasure, L would not go
anywhere.-Oh, my lost love, is it too
late? ?"
She laid her face down against his
shoulder, and asked, "Lennox, dear,
tell me which you love best, the Nan
mis- you used to know or the fashionable
young lady you found here ?"
"Oh, Mamie, darling!" he cried,
clasping her closer, 81 wouldn't give
one precious toss of your old brown
curls for all the fashionable young la
dies in the world. / wouldn't give
one careless ring of your merry laugh
for all the polished bellies In society. l
would not, my darling, would not. y
Mamie laid her arms caressingly
around his neck, and said, softly,
"Then think you will have to take
your Mamie back again, and pet
her and love her as you used to do j; for
I am as sick and tired of the fashionable
young lady as you can be, Lennox,