The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-19

Grayson had told her that he should
not be able to come early to the ball-he
was 80 busy getting ready TO sail but
come he certaiuly would, to dance at
least one dance with the "sweetest lass
in all the round world, /" to whisper some
thing besides "good-by" in !" the ear
| that no sea-shen of any shore he ever
trod matched"
Perhaps some memory of words like
these haunted her brain, for her cheeks
were like rose-leaves, and her mouth
smiled as if some one were speaking to
her as she stood by widow alone.
1t was but for moment then some
bright smile for Basil French. Wasn't
he Charley's best friend-the man who
owed his life to her gallant lover2
| He WAS a handsome, frank, open
hearted looking fellow, you would have
said. His forehead was broad and
white, with brown hair waving back from
It hls nose straight and shapely, and his
mouth smiling. If there was any fault
to be found with his face, it was with his
| eyes. Perhaps it was their being SO very
/ light that made them seem cold. At any
rate, the smile of his lip never crept
up to them. Of easy address, notably
| good-tempered, Basil French WAS a uni
versal favorite.
! :" Do try to console me, Miss Lawton, -
said French. ''I'm as much in the
dumps about Charley Graysons going as
II l were Laura Rice herself. y
1t can't be denied that q little sudden
pallor came over Virginia's cheek at
these words, and q strange feeling of
construction seemed around her heart.
But she answered lightly, And who is
7 Il L.
dlsconsolate about Capt. Grayson's de-
parture !''
tOh, little girl over at Ellington
that he's saying good-by to now, I sup
pose. Charley always tells me all his
| love affairs ; and as it's off with the old
| love and on with the new at every port
with him, they make quite list. But
| there's Danenant, that I've been trying
to find all the evening. Excuse me, Miss
Iawton and he was gone
Virginia felt one minute as if she were
| ice, and the next fire. Basil French
had spoken SO carelessly and yet SO as
suredly, and she knew very we'll that il
| Charley Grayson had friend in whom
he confided it was Basil French. But
yet he could never have spoken of hel
to him, for French's manner hadn't q
shade of meaning in it. She couldn't
think he lied; for even if he had the dis
| position, which had never been attributed
| to him, where was the motive9 Then
came little memories that stung like
scorpion bites. How often Charley
| Grayson rode over to Ellington, town
| four miles distant, and it was to be re-
membered that he never spoke of why he
went. Laura Rice9 Yes, she had heard
of young lady by that name there, said
/ to be very beautiful. How willing Gray
son was not to speak to her father OF
their engagement
"His first, his only love-" he had
called her.
"a love in every port" had said Basil
| French.
ssWhat does woman know of men2'
she thought, bitterly; and then Virgins
Lawton, fiery and impulsive, made up
her mind that her name at least should
be off this gay gallant's list. And all the
while these thoughts ranked in her heart
| she danced and smiled as if she hadn't q
care In the world.
Capt Grayson was late, very late
ssquite ride to Ellington" 5" thought
] Genie, scornfully lly-but when he did come
! Genie never gave so much as a look his
way, and when he did come up to her,
| just the least toss of a word and her card
was full to the very last dance.
This was bold game Basil French
was playing, but he had planned it well.
! Virginia Lawton was high-spirited, he
knew-it would not take much to rouse
/ her; and at this late moment Graysor
would have hardly time for inquiry ol
explanation; and as for letters hereafter
he would look out for that. For him
self, why should Genie suspect him o
falsifying his dear friend, Capt. GraysonI
and least of all would she suspect him O.
doing it for love of her, to whom he haC
never seemed much more than politely
Indifferent.
A nobler, truer heart never beat THAI
Charley Grayson's, nor a baser, more
treacherous one than that of Basi
French. How two such could be friend
for years, without the true discerning
the false, is hard to explain.
| Some three years before, Grayson hat
rescued French from drowning, he hav
ing been seized with cramp while bath
ing. French was man who simulated
gratitude gracefully, to say the least
and, indeed, so long as Grayson did no
stand in his way in the slightest, b
doubtless liked him as well as he coult
anybody.
As for poor Capt. Grayson himself, OF
the particular evening when our stor.
opens, anger and mortified pride swal
lowed mp every other feeling within hin
as he turned his steps from the gardel
to the shore. He had never loved
woman before, never had even passing
. fancy; and he had disclosed all the pas
sion of his heart to add to the triumph
of this jiling girl. He wondered j
many women were such adopts in simu
lating love.
There was rough sea running for
day or two after Capt Grayson sailed
but he was more tossed about in min
, that in body.
AS the first heat of Grayson's ange
subsided, the face of Genie Lawton, 8
innocent in its childike lovehness
seemed ever before him. What if ther
. were some mistake - some misundel
standing? If he only had the chance t
ask an explanation But Basil had sal
/ he was only one OF her numerous VIZ
! tins. He never thought of doubtin
! Basil's word-why should hes But pei
/ haps report had wronged her. So, !
softer mood, he dwelt on this idea unit
, he determined to write and beg some el
; planation.
5 6 I cannot give her up 80, said poe
3 Charley, to himself. Why, it SCENE
D to me was as sure she loved me as tbs
the stars shone over us when she whli