The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-20

"" WV l"h "pihiouof hui fou
might as well stay, she can do you no
harm and then there is the sister---or
husbands sister, rather-she is not
widow, and may be an attraction. At
least, you will come TO the ball tonight? ?"
Listeners never hear any good ofthem.
selves" muttcrcd one Of the ladies by the
window to her companion. "Did you ever
before hear yourself so coolly canyassed,
Sadie p
Before the other replied, the deep voice
OF the second man responded:
| will go to-night, of course, for | have
some friends Of whom wish to take leave.
But there can be no attraction for me in
either lady !, as you know, met my fate
years ago, and lost her"
You were too pround, Phil; too wretch
eddy proud"
"Wcll, well, it may be. At least,
shall never love again"
And you mover knew what became of
hcr?n
o, yes-likc the rest of her kind, she
married wisely and well, believe. The
mans name / do not know only know
i lost her. Let us go in
They stepped from the piazza to the hall,
passed the halfopen door, hats off, both
cigars finished and thrown away by this
time, and disappeared.
Sadie r.
Well, Laura"
81 know the one called "PhiI'-O,
Sadie, if you would help me-
"You know | will"-then cnsued long
conversation-the ladies were Mrs. and
Miss Eversman, and it may be that the
'pretty widow had planned already the
destruction of the cynical "Phil" At any
rate, that conversation was mighty in its
results.
Such a blaze of light, such an array of
faultless toilets, sheeny silks floating tulle,
flowers, diamonds, in truth glittering
array for was il not the ball Of the sea.
son?
lntroductions, hirtations, farewells, who
would think that life had any serious bust
ness for that gay throDg?
Mr.. Philip Lang had been presented in
due form to Mrs. and Miss Eversman, and
true to his colors--or was ii from some
other motive that he had attached himself
to the one named Miss-for he had started
when his eye rested on her, yes, and grown
pale even, though she was fair creature
to look upon, plump, dimplcd, and blue
Dyed, with waves of yellow hair creeping
to her temples in rebclious curls that one
knew at once were triumphs of nature, not
art. Her white dress was simply lovely,
her manner charmingly, sweetly sly such
a lovely, lovely foil she was for the widow,
a tall, pale creature, in black grenadiue,
whom Mr.. Philip Lang thought, as he
glanced at her, widow indeed, if looks
were any indication. He had asked Miss
Eversman to waltz, and she had answered
that she never waltzed, and had looked
down, with smile that dimpled her pretty
check. lie cssayed TO speak; failed; again
looked at her; again began suggesting
some other dance but Miss Eyersman did
not dance at all Strange Why was
she there, then?' 30, only to please Sa-
die. Sadie likes gay crowd and lights
and music, and she had so few pleasures,
poor creaturel' "Yes, she would prone
made she rather liked that, and on Mr..
langs arm she swept up and down the
room.
How did it happen how do such things
ever happen? for Mr.. Lang and his com
panion were out on the piazza alone gazing
into the night, listening to the boom of
the sea murnuring bits of poetry.
"You look SO like one whom | knew
long ago, said Phil at last. "Sweet Laura
Graham, could almost swear she stood
before me when was presented to you
tonight
"An old fricnd?" qucried she.
"0ne whom loved long ago, he cried
"and for whose sake have never loved
since-perhaps never will'-hc finished
in dreamily sad tone.
She is dead then ?"
"No; but married. was poor and she
was rich. l never told my love-
1t may be you wronged her in that
"No danger he said bitterly. II do
not dream that she ever thought of the
poorest and bumblest Of her train"
"Yct she might; at least, you should
have given her chance, Mr.. Lang"
Miss Evcrsman---"
"iIold 7 she said IN an agitated voice,
81 am Mrs Evcrsman"
"You-you-I thought
Fnnkly, Mr.. Lang, intended to de-
ccivc you, but | will carry the deception
no farther heard your bitter words
about widows this evening, and dctermin-
cd to punish you before | saw your face in
the hall.
D
Miss Evcrsman,' he said haughtily,
this is unpardonablc-'
wait-hear me out. can tell you
all in few words, | am Laura Graham,
and lest pride should separate us, will
tell you that in those days I loved you,
even as you loved me. How could you
be so crucl?-"
" But could not boar the imputation
Of fortunc-hunting, | was SO wrctchedly
poor, and you an hciress. ?
H.. Z. 49,. \ 49,. -. II, Il. ~