The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-28

Not long after this, he smiles bitterl,
as he sees Diana rise with most amiabl
look and begin to float over the floor will
Walter Shelton.
The ball is not more than half over
the German has not even begun as vet
but Norman Pomeroy walks away, never
theless, from every vestige of its festivity
and finding wholly deserted tract o
piazza, annihilates a cigar in solitude
After the cigar is smoked he goes VI
stairs--tO bed.
Two or three weeks pass. Walter Shel
toms attentions continue unabated. Nor
man is still at the hotel, though in ,
halfdesperate mood he has more thar
once told himself that it will be far bet
ter to 90 away. Unfortunately, however
he can not 60 back to work and there
absorb himself, for he has made such pos
tive arrangements for a permanent va
cation with the remaining partner in hi
prosperous little firm that he is simply
ashamed to return before the stipulated
time has elapsed.
One afternoon he calls upon Mrs
Hoadley, crossing the lawn from the no
tel with bent head and generally pre-
occupied manner.
Mrs. Hoadley receives her favorits
most cordially. "I am sorry that Diana
is not at hOme," are almost the lady,
first words, after they are seated. "She u
land here there follows a rather con.
fused-looking pause on the part of the
speaker)--
Has gone driving with Mr.. Shelton, u
finishes Norman, composedly. I saw
them start. But it was not Miss Diana
whom I came to see, Mrs. Hoadley."
"Whom then, Norman"
"Yourself. I wished, however, to talk
with you concerning your daughter. !
know that what / intend saying is no pos
sible affair of mine, and doubtless / am
taking the most reckless of liberties"
"Speak on, Norman" Mrs. Hoadley
softly encourages.
Norman Pomeroy's dark gray eyes are
fixed very steadfastly now on the face of
Diana's mother.
"Mrs. Hoadley, l believe that your
daughter has become greatly interested
in Walter Shelton"
Mrs. Hoadley looks right troubled at
this. ooh, Norman" she presently
bursts forth, eff you only knew what an
effort it has cost me to bring myself into
acknowledging that Diana really is fond
of Walter Sheltonl / do not like the
man; I have never liked him! And,
Mountaineering her voice to regret
full semi-tone =" there acas a time, you
know, when firmly trusted that-that
eyes, / know" he breaks in, little
coldly, though his eyes shine almost
as if from unshed tears. But
that is all past now - all irrevoca-
bly, past, Mrs. Hoadley." Then he sud-
denly rises and walks toward the win
dow, stands gazing from it for moment,
knits his brOws worldly once or twice,
and at length turns toward Mrs. Hoadley,
speaking with most rapid tones and in
an excited voice: "Close observation can
show man great deal, and it has
shswn me this: Every fresh day that
Diana Hoadley is in Walter Shelton's
company she becomes more and more
attached to him. He fascinates her, as
he is trying to do. 1t is his trade.
"What do you meant"
"He has no other occupation in life,
one might almost say. He is the sort of
man who counts up his 'conquests' every
year very much as an Indian brave
might count the number of scalps he has
taken. Marry? Not he! If woman
believes the nonsense he talks to her and
pines for him after he has gone away
among fresh fields and pastures new,'
why the more fool she--that is ALL"
"Do you mean to tell me the man is
like this, Norman?
81 know it. But in the case Of your
daughter l propose to give him the ben
eft of the doubt"
~ don't understand"
"Let me explain: With your permits
sion / mean to meet this man and hold
an interview with him. As an old friend
of this family shall ask him whether he
has matrimonial views or not. If he
tells me falsehood l shall very soon de-
tect it, Should he positively state that
it was his intention to ask for your daugh-
ter's hand, then shall have no further
words with him."
There is slight silence, now. Mrs.
Hoadley levels upon Norman looks of
ill-concealed admiration.
"This is 80 noble and kind of you'll"
she at length burst forth. "There are
not many men who would behave in so
disinterested spirit!"
"Oh do not speak of that" Norman
murmurs. "There is one point in this
coming interview" he progresses, (which
somewhat bothers me--where to hold it.
My room at the hotel is 80 small, and
what one says is so nearly sure to be heard
among the next door apartments that"
"Let it be held here" interrupts Mrs.
Hoadley.
"Herep
"Why notw
"But you can not arrange it"
"Do not be to sure of that" Mrs.
HOadley looks thoughtful for few sec
onds. Presently she goes on, with con-
siderable earnestness: +" Altogether, Nor
man, I would rather have you meet
here, for more reasons than one. And as
for its not being practicable, ! really
doubt if you can have thought much
on the question, to decide 80. We can
very easy arrange the whole matter"
On the following morning Diana Is oc-
cupying the sitting-room, with visitor
on the sofa at her side. The visitor is
Mr.. Walter Shelton. Helooks extremely
handsome this morning, in his elegant
suit of white duck, relieved by rich
blue cravat. He is reading Tennyson to
Diana, who bends above some embroidery
that seems to occupy her attention much
more closely at certain times than at
others. Reading, that is, in a very ir-
regular way; for both he and his COM
panion pay Mr.. Tennyson the frequent
disrespect Of intruding their own thoughts
(Often common place enough) among the
poets charming numbers.
Suddenly Mrs Hoadley enters, fol-
lowed by Norman Pomeroy. The look
of dissatisfaction that crosses Walter
Shelton's face is indeed ill-concealed, as
he rises to pay his greeting. Diana is
lady enough in her own house to smile
with the proper amount Of courteous
ness.
T am very sorry to tell you, my daugh-
tarv Mra Hoadlev Immediately COM