Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-08-21

was contagious, both laughed, and in
moment more We're chatting away lik
old friends. VIVA talked well, an,
half hidden behind the silken window
draperies, entertained him with drol
criticisms on the people. about them
treated him to tiny doses Of fiattery nov
and then, and grew more charming ev
cry moment. 81 lu
BY and by they strolled off to thu
billiard room, and spent desultory
half hour in knocking the balls about
Ned, it is to be feared, finding more in.
tcrest in his companions graceful poses
than in the game. They returned in
time to finish off with delicious waltz
and as he went off to his room Ned
made up his mind that first impressions
are nothing, and that Viva Datheridge
was decidedly the incest girl he ever
had met-something in fact quite out OF
the usual order of womanhood.
At rehearsal the next morning he was
disappointed. From the slight knowl-
edge he had gained of her character he
was prepared for some clever acting,
but on the contrary, nothing could have
been more tame and uninspirited.
Philip, to whom he communicated his
disappointment, treasured him with
Never you worry, she's saving up for
tonight" .r[
And so it proved; the moment the
warm-hearted, impulsive little ballet
dancer appeared upon the stage Viva
vanished; it was the true Polly and
none other who ordered the Corporal
about and tantalized Sam. Ned watch
ed her with undisguised admiration,
and in the scene where Polly goes
through with her military evolutions
found himself giving an involuntary
encore. Gf--
| And so it went off and was bril-
liant success. The fresh, unstudied
acting and perfect appointments would
have carried off play less interesting
in itself, had not the indulgent criti-
eism of the audience supplied any lack
ing dramatic power. Et
Dancing followed, but Ned, who had
been looking forward to this as the
crown to his theatrical martyrdom,
found his expectations, somewhat
blighted by miss Vivia's retirement to
her own room. i ---..s ..+..
She was tired to death, and sick of
dancing, too, she declared, with the
perverseness of wilful child, when
her sister remonstrated-incite there
to, perhaps, by that match making spir-
it which turks in every feminine heart,
and Ned's unconsciously depressed Wis
age below. ss,,fs...,.i. 9Gsii ~
For the week that followed twas the
old story over again-Apollo in pursuit
of Daphne, and very wicked little
Daphne who was gracious and bewild-
ering one moment, petulant and mock
ing the next, and knew just what she
was about, too. 55...l-
twas not alone the spell, of her beau
ty that attracted, but certain fresh
ness, and the inimitable charm of sun
ny, unspoiled nature. She never tired
like the regulation bellies Ned had been
accustomed to, but kept him alternate
amazed and fascinated by the varied
phases of her changeful character. To
be sure she was desperate little fiirt,
but then the descent into the valley of
humiliation was made SO pleasantly be.
quilting that it was almost pleasure to
be victimized. @
Birth and culture had stamped her
with that nameless something which
separates the high from the low, and
with her dainty high-bred beauty, she
seemed one "To sway empires by a
SMILE" But looking down into the
depths of the lustrous eyes, one caught
glimpses of the soul beneath, loyal and
true, whose wayward sweetness would
blossom into royal womanhood.
Festivities were to culminate in a
grand ball, extensive preparations had
been made, and as Viva floated down
the staircase Ned suddenly realized that
affairs were about to culminate with
him. She had never looked lovelier,
her cheeks were stained with vivid
bloom, and in a dress of maise tulle
caught here and there with pomegran-
ate blossoms, she looked like some bird
of foreign plumage.
The music rose in the Intoxicating
waves of DoUechnal1en, as they floated
down the ballroom, and to his dying
day Ned could never forget that mo-
ment, the lovely dropping face so near
his own, and the wild, delicious lhrob
OF the music, i-d3llls AsiiI
Moments are small eternities some
times, and so it seemed before he had
swung his companion into a leafy al
cove opening out of the conservatory,
and was telling his love in few pas
sionate words. The fragrant breath of
the flowers floated over them, while the
fountain rose and fell in tinkling ac-
compartment to his pleading.
"Vivia," he said, coming closer,
while a new tenderness stirred the mans
voice, twill you not love me ever so
little, darling?" -iil -
= Viva drew back with the pet,llant
grace he knew so. we'll. "Certainly
not" she said, saucily "what could
have suggested such an idea? Take
my advice and don't be presumptuous,
my FRIEND" aud with mocking adieu
she was gone.
The last carriage had ratified away,
and the servants were gliding noiseless-
ly about putting out the lights, while
few of the kdbitues of the house linger-
cd In the library for moments talk
ing over. Viva stood aloof with a
thoughtful expression most unusual
shadowing her face, and from afar Ned
looked and took hope, as lovers will.
His voice arrested her, saying: " l
come to say goodbye as well as good
night" then in lower tone, "vivia,
shall go?" jas
a" C'est necessai'e, / suppose, or your