The Van Buren press., 1874-03-03
MISCELLANY.
4 GOOD STORY.
Written In the Sand.
BY MAURICE +. EGAN.

Thus far the course of true love had
run smooth Laurence Esmond ant!
Ethel Lynn were engaged No cruel
father tlnclured that sweet 5 ason pre-
cedng the honeymoon with gall Be
nevolent uncles and aunts ransacked
their brains and the jewelers. stores for
appropriate presents; in fact, things had
gone so far that certain clergyman had
added costly set of the Greek Fathers
to his library on the strength of certain
alas, now uncertain fee, when society
suddenly became aware that the match
was broken off! This was a great shock
to everybody.
Society was not aware that the fracture
was the work OF Dorothea ID Essiin, the
dashing, western belle who had lately
come to dazzle the eyes of Philadelphia
people but Dorothea had caused it new
crtheless.
This is the way it occurred.
Ethel Lynn was a paragon. Her father,
mother, unces, avnts, and cousins, had
always been accustomed to mention her
name with notes ofadmiration. She was
the clever girl Of the family, she Was the
pretty girl of tho family, she the best
regulated, most perfect maiden in exist
ence. Having been paragon in her
own family, Ethel "came out" with a
comfortable idea Of her own merits, and
as she had expectations, people were not
unwilling to take her at her own valua.
ton.
Ethel had long been used to give ad-
vice, aud she could scarcely credit the
evidence of her senses when Laurence
Esmend presumed to advise her-nay,
almost dictate to heron a question Of
propriety.
Ethel was at home one evening, bent
on comfortable enjoyment. in a cosey
arm chair, with an interesting book in
her hand and box Of chocolate creams
at her elbow
"Ill be civil in the future" she
thought, gazing into the bright CRATE.
"Ill be civil and nothing more. Doro,
thea was a reckless girl at Madame
Revanche's s, and because we struck up a
boarding school friendship there, know
no reason why we should continue it
now, particularly as Dorothea is rather
fast. Her costume was really so oute
this afternoon that wasn't surprised
that eyerybody's notice was attracted by
it. Well, I'll not ride out with eragain. "
And having come to this conclusion,
Ethel complacently betook herself to her
book and her chocolate creams.
Her composure was rudcly disturbed
by the ringing of the door bell.
"How provokingn she murmured
:" Say I'm engaged, Rose" she called
to the servant
But a well known voice in the hall in.
duccd her to countermand the order
She flew to the mirror, smooted her hair,
twitched the ribbon at her throat, cast a
comprehensive glance at her reflected fig
ure, and then resuming her seat, said
swectly:
" Oh, it's YOU Come in. "
Laurence Esmond entered the sitting.
room, Ethel held out her hand with q
smile, and pointed TO a seat near her.
You may read to me- lazy Laurence, "
she said, extending the book
:" No, 4" he answered, gravely.
came to talk y
GAS it pleases you, she said Talk
Say something funny. y
In spite OF her playful tone, she saw
that he was more serious than usual.
He did not reply to her challenge, but
toyed Rervousy with paper weight on
the table
My lord is silent.
"Well, he began running his fingers
through his hair, 81 hare something to
say, and in view of our present relations,
| think ! am justified in saying it--tha,
is, hope you not be angry.
4" hope so, too do not think I've
ever given YOU reason to imagine that
my temper is violent "
She was becoming alarmngly digni-
fled
He cleared his throat A few moments
past the task of acting the parting OF
Mentor had seemed to him very easy
one, but now he wished he had not un
dertakonit
"You were riding with Miss D'Esslin
this afternoon.
"Ycs, she called for me in her aunt's
carriage She is an old acquaintance OF
mine She was pupil at Madame Re.
vanche's
"If | were you, Ethel, i would not
continue the acquaintance.
"Whyf" she asked innocently. "Tvo
known her ever so long"
WE'LL" he returned, with dignity
"it's time you dropped her for ! do not