The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-13

ten for the occasion, IL suited ne Illllht
brilliant style. one would have singled ne
out The instant of entering thcroom. She wa
as usual, holding lcycc; the center ol
group of gentlemen, made mp partly ol sen
sib,e men, held Dy the charm Of her CONVEX
satlon. She was witty and sarcastic; sh
made them first laugh, then think, l. wa
wonderful how many homely truths an,
pointed hume-thrustS this girl covered VIII
ruisc of fun and irony. Her voice was loN
and cultivated, aud never changed rs Soii
musical uttcrance, no matter how ahl"ale'
or dsCOrdant her theme.
He was standiag outside the circle, app1r
emily giving unbrokcn attention to the lrSipIo
platitudeS of Il pdsSe belle. HIS organs OF
hearing must have been remarkably keen, loi
he answered correctly every time, and yet ne
heard every word that passed in the circle
At length, glancing up, she caught ms eye
The recognition was instantaneous. her ldcc
flushed he cody twirled his taWny mus
tachc, and Contradctcd some tritllnE remark
OF the p0SSe bcauty's, who looked at MN II
blank amaze.
At that moment one Of Strauss wal2cs
foated through and filled the rooms. lie
abruptly excused himself to his astonishcd
companion, who had been counting on his
asking her to dance; saying, as he did not
waltz himself he might be the means of pre-
| venting her. As the dancers began to sway
tbrnIrth thn rooms he sauntered 10 the con
scrvatory. Fannie Iiadley saw him 60, and
followed him. He was their guest, thus 1t
was her RIGHT. and the most casual observer
mi,,ht see flat il was her Measure. From the
conservatory door, where they stood, they had
a fine view of the dancers. Fannie was gay
and lively, and had bit Of characteristic in
formation about each ~ they glldcd past
Her fresh, school.rirli-h wavs--ior she was
lint sixteen. and moi in society vet, evidently
plcasod aud amused him.
Presently Hag4r Southcy hoalcd by That
is the most beautiful girl in Buffalo, said
Fannie, enthusiastically; then added, every.
body is in IoJr with per; even Joe would
put himself JG' 90 win tr', and YOU know
how lazy hc is.'
HnWds Jor'a ,!.i'Jr-thry had been friends
for wears Of course, he asked her name. \
moment later Della Howe entered the con
,cryatory on her partners arm. They stop
ped 10 speak to Fannie, and were introduced
to the stranger Della didnot recognize him;
he knew her instantly, and before the evening
was out she WAS highly faltcred by the at
tCutiOn he gave her Once, when she and
llagar happened 10 be a minute together, she
went into ecstacies over this stranger Joe
lladicys friend, and finishing with the Qucs-
ton:
"IIagar, vino dyty he look like: II has
puzzled ne ever since he WIS introduced"
Himself" was the abrupt reply.
But he must look like some one, or his
face would not be 50 familiar for never saw
him before" persisted Della
You only think sol" was the provoking
reply, and iiagar was gone Della naturally
took the answer for the first part OF her re.
mark and poujtu
\ few minute, later Il&gar Southcy was
listening to very sentimental offer OF mar
riage, in the conservatory She rejected the
young fOp, and lie went away with detected
micn, his very mu-iacho looking wiltcC She
urucd to rclracc her steps to the drawing
room, and there, seated in lull hearing, shield.
ri by the shrubbcry sat Joe IIadley's friend.
Her eve, flashed he cody twirlcd hi, tawuy
nustuchc again. and arose 10 let her pass
She svcp by him. her head erect. the folds
If her silk drapcry BRUSHING his feet in the
narrow passage. lie watched her ont Oft
sight, then whi.tIing a low tune. comfortably
took his seat again.
About an hour later She met him face to