Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-06-07
HOUSEHOLD. saaa
rzoE's Fir ATIoN.

have encouraged Mr. VavaSourB attentions, aud
people are beginning to remark the intimacy.
You must put stop to II" .t......
"Which-people talking, Of Mr.. Vayasour's
stientiens7" asked Zoe, demurely.
Effect q stoppage Of the latter, and therell
be no room for the other" returned Miss Muir
ray, with asperity. lite moral wrong to firt
with every gentleman in the house. as you have
been doing"
ooh, suntie," cried Zoe, with merry twinkle
in her black eye, which contradicted the grave
expression OF her long-drAwn countenahoe ''you
know have scarcely spoken TO Jones Ferring-
ton and I'm sure you haven't had eyes for any
ont else. except as 1t seems your favorite, Mr..
Henry VsvaaOur ''ts l'-
Zoe executed pirouette about the room, and
disappeared within her own room. quite uneonH-
cious that Yayasour had passed beneath the open
window, and had heard all the conversation that
10 ohronioed here. He flliped the ashes from
the head Of his cigar, and walked on with . med
ttative frown contracting his brow. n.a.t
Vavasour was lady killer and in his own way,
fsultless, His broadoloth was OF the 6uest his
bo0ts and gloves tiny, unwrinkled and perfect
He was tall and Stylish his complexion scarlet
and white, his teeth dazzling, his hair wavy
silky and brown. Yet, despite all these perfeo-
tions, his whole expression was marred by the
undecided culver OF his full mouth, and the
shifting. selfish light in his clear blue eye
The wrinkle in his forehead smoothed itself
gradually out, and he bit the end from cigar
with q c0mplaoent SMILE arlu..
all the better for that but what an ariful mink
10 10 Why. I was actually experiencing com.
Functions, qualms. and debating pro or con il
l should turn oyer 9 new leaf towards her.
Rather hard on q fellows self-eHteem to find
himself beaten at his own game but consider
ing all the circumstances, I'm quite reoonciled
this time. Now can enjoy my little amuse-
ment without misgvngs, during my fortnight
Of probation. And then, my dear Zoe, must
yield to superior claims" ..,.. ia r....
trippad hnWu In aaAaida
hotel, where hs awaited her couple Of hours
later. She had trim little figure and q dainty
foot and the puffiugs and loopipgs Of herwhite
Organdie walking-dress, just disclosing the butt
TO behold .H44s-s t.s4Is
There was & bright flush upon her cheek, and
softer light in her wide, black eyes, that droop-
ed shyly as she met him.
FINISHED little coquettel" mentally comment
ed Vavasour.
And Zoe, with her glovsd finger tips upon his
arm, felt her heart quiver aud thrill with rap
turous sensation, which was something new in
life experience.
Alb, Zoe little enchantress, who has walked
unconcerned over half score of hearts In your
one season out, was your brAvado then only the
vaunt of spirit unwilling to acknowledge its
enthrallment until verbally compromised Aun-
tie, left behind in the fume Of discomfort, and
Vavasour besideeher self-Assured by the CONVEX
sation he had overheard, were ignorant alike OF
the stsong passion budding into life in the girls
intense and undisciplined nature.
Words 80 meaningly sweet murmured in Vava-
sonr's melodious tone, tender glances 30 falsely
expressive resting on her radiant face, nurtured
the germ into active life. and for the time salts
fed Zoe's newly awakened craving for loye-his
love. ....-... BIZ.
She was lost in maze of sweet delight-ex-
ploring unknown paths, where every turn was
drawing her closer-closer to the GAL OF life and
love, and happiness, or humilatn' and despair,
bitter, blank and baneful. And Sue was so sure
of the heaven on earth she lao traced on the
canvass OF the future in such glowing oolors
She kept no reckoning OF the days and hours
IS they foated past while she ~ lost In the
sweetness of the hesting dream. Hlt she walked
and talked, ate, drank and slept muck IN the or
binary way, except that she brenthed in an GO
static atmosphere, which, to her own senses,
seemed TO change her into a rareted and ether
allied iransmogrihcaiion Of herstlf.
Mics Murray was too thoroughly engrossed in
her wedding outfit and her prospective BRIDE
groom to interest herself much in Zoe's proceed
ings. She came to re- tli1ation Of hsr charge
once In q while long enough to deliver an expos
tulAtion spiced by a modcum of advice and gem
orally wound up by taking Zos's opinion regard
ing some minutim pertaining to "losseau. " b.
In every grade OF social life there are always
some persons more observant Of their neigh
bore act than careful of their own aud these
began TO whisper that Zoe was wearing her
heart upon her sleeve.
Vavasour himself wavered now and then. He
could not always dstrust the sweet young face,
with its flashing orbs grown liquid aud deep &C
his approach. He had his good traits beueath
the crust IT selfish woTldliness which prevailed
and the shallow depths were stirred sometimes
by mingling of remorse aud longing that he
crushed out again with the cruel blindness OF
will that would not be convinced. -. .-,..
The blow fell upon Zoe with only the faintest
premonition to herald it.
She danced in through the side entrance OF
the hotel one evening with her short black curls
L. 4, aha had haan al.
ing along the shore She came upon VaVasonr
suddenly, to his i'll concealed discontinue. He
held flower pot containing royal purple fnch-
sia in full bloom. Zoe stopped short, and put
out her two hands confidently.
. For me 2" she asked " know 1t must be,
for you heard me call it my faVorite."
I" And have been ungallant enough to forget
the fact. Pardon nae that must refuse this
one /; II is otherwise promised" 5.5r
"oh!" she said laughing to cover her con-
fusion. bow fortunate that didn't squander
any gratitude Auntie shall order me one like
it, IL / don't overrate my persuasive powers.
Pray, pass on, Mr.. vavasour.
'tFirst let me remind you OF apromise to walk
to the top of the cliff with me. How soon can
you go p
."Now, il you are not critical, she replied with
n shake of her rumpled honnces. "ln ten min
utes, il you prefer smooth curls and fresh cos
tune. There I'll not put your choice to the test,
but you may wait for me in the time have nam
ed
CHANGING back as she skinned up the stair
case, she saw him enter doorway which did not
communicate with his own apArtments.
''Thoee rooms were vacant through the week
abe thought II wonder who has taken them -
one of his friends perhaps,
She had quite forgotten the occurrence when
she presently climbedthe narrow pathway which
led up to the cliff, and stood with Vavasour.
watching the light az it faded on the surface OF
the sea
He was manifestly uneasy. and roke his sub
iect with the abrupt haste of one who breads to
pass an unavoidable ordeal.
Never mind the scene out there, Zoe. Who do
Won suppose is coming tonight 2" ytT. .-E.-
How should know" she asked laughingy.
s'You forget that our friendships are not mutual
and that our paths were the paths OF strangers
until we met here You must enlighten me-
II am expecting friends, and with them my
wife. hope you two will take to each other.
He would have gone on uttering common
places Zoe lifted her face, gray as ashes &c
search his own with an agOnized glance. Hei
half hope that II might be only cruel Jest ne
was uttering WAS blotted out by the cowardly de-
hance she read there.
i'Your wife Heaven help me j. she murmur
ed huskily, and sank down at his feet in striek
en- heap.
He thought she had tainted; but she shranl
away from him when no would have raised he
In his arms. -,
"Go awayl Leave me here alonel" she i'm
Vayasour shuddered as he glanced toward th
precipice, q hundred feet down, with the sei
rolling at it's base. ,, ..s-
'Will you go 2" she demanded angrily;
L., latEafF ran