The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-05
VOL. vi.
"NO; I Iremember my promise. "
@ And thnk ,u.nn ~

And that was ?"
3" Not to claim her until she wrote or
uttered the word EsperanEa.
" Really, yoa have kept your word,
and told veritable romance ; the lady
has only to turn out q ghost or n ghoul
to make II complete" said Miss Lund;
but as she spoke, she started and turned
pale it was only with m effort that she
completed her sentence.
Bertram, looking round for the cause
OF this emotion, saw that new arrival
Mt Spa, man whom he knew slightly
in England, had Just entered the room
and no experienced that pleasing
thrill which animates n pointer on snuff
ing gamey scent, or dramaticauthor
when the idea Of a plot comes into his
head, for he relieved the tedium Of a
somewhat lethRrgic existence by watch
ing the little social romRnces going on
around him. II he had been tattler,
this might have proved n mischievous
propensity but he kept his discoveries
to himself, or only intimated them to
the principal actors, for his amusement
consisted in knowing what other people
failed to perceive. The young man
who had Just entered moved up tho
room, looking right and left for ac-
quaintances. Presently, he saw Ber-
tram, who came forward and shook
hands with him, asked him when he
had arrived, what hotel lie was staying
at, and other little commonplGces,
while he was answering which he saw
Miss Lund, aud could not prevent a
slight start before he bowed coldly.
The young lady replied with distant
bend Of the neck.
You know Miss Lund 2" said Ber-
tram.
81 had met her once or twice. But
they are going to dance again, and as l
am not in mood for violent exercise,
having onlyjust swallowed my dinner,
l slall go md have q look ut the Irentc
CT Quaranto,
Though not gossip himself, Bcrtram
by no means objected to takeoccasional
advantage Of the gleanings gathered by
members Of that fraternity, so ho went
and sat down by Mrs. Crdcket.
So you have been making love to
the heiress;" said she.
crash, under your very eyes, wasn't
it p he replied. But what is there
between her and Graham 2"
"Do you mean to tell me that you
don't know%
of Miss Lund's existence till this even;
ing"
so long ho was at her house every day;
most improper, with only that poor old
Miss Corney to act as chaperone; when
suddenly size broke Off the match. Tho
airs these pRrvenus give themselves.
"Was there no cause, then ?"
ooh, / suppose it 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
auiries. But he enlistoned himself in
thetroopoi the heiresi's admirers, which
was pretty numerous, took the Lund
shilling, as he himself expressed II, and
being IN 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 of respectively 10 Miss Cor
ney and the lnpdog. This distinction did
not put him up unduly, Tor the dcscrim-
mating young man perceived that the
preference was afforded him because he
seldom approached the topics Of love or
matrimeny, and when he did, it was al
ways in n ton eoi badinage.
Yet there were times when she assum-
ed n coquCttish air, which seemed to ins
vite him to more serious flrtation, but
this was invariably when Graham was
present, and appeared to be observing
her.
"Now, said Bortram to himself, "thcre
are two courses for the male spoon to
pursue: either to clear out OF the place
altogether or follow the spoons lead.
Graham adopted tho latter course,
and harnessed himself to the car OF
handsome young widow, who dressed
gorgcously, rode iearlessly, talked
slangily, danced untiringly, and sat
dotcn 10 play.
The manners OF the little English
community assembled at Spa were very
much relaxed from the standard set up
by each individual member at homo.
Persons, even Of different sexes, spoke
to one another without formal intro
duction; young ladies danced some
times twice consecutively with the same
partner. The majority only went once
to church on Sunday, and devoted the
rest OF the day to long walks in the
woods, the perusal OF secular journals,
and listening to the band, which played
other music than Handel's. Many who
frownel at sixpenny whist Mt homo rs
gambling, staked their forms 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
babe them to take seats at either OF the
play.tables. They might stand behind,
and mike their littlestakes over peoples
shoulders, with an air OF assumed indif-
ference as TO whether they lost or won,
II they pleased. That was considered
TO be mere looking.on. But to sit down
like regular Gambler, with o big @,
was held to be a fearful breach OF pro-
priety
And this crime Mrs. Geylass, the
young widow, committed. She con-
stantly took q seat, which was obsequi:
ously vacated for her at the unsocial
board, removed her gloves, took card
and pin, piled her stock Of napoleons
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, l suppose, that imitation is