The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-02

Npvins followed his friends glance until
II rested on the lady in the window He
made no comment, but SIMPLY inquired,
"Who Is shpY'
THAT is the question" said Egerton.
at IL An entirely new fucc; one that has
never been in sOclcfy-at least i'll our set.
| shlull say some djbuGHiC.'
At this moment MIS-. DE Iancev entered
on the avn ct Mr. DclauO. Both gentle
men paused IN their CONVEX atom hut
furious ration which was in fun progress
rendered Il impns .ihe for either Of them
to iliu her foe the presvnt E-eItOn was
the lirst To r"suine his comments Oh the
6nkuown lady.
How he deuce did she ever get into
| that corner OF the bow windowf' he pres
| emily remarked.
"fIowr said Nevins. "why, every
| one OF those worthy dowagers OF the plat
| form has daughter or proielee OF some
| sort, whom she comes normally to cha
| peron, but really to push forward by every
| means in her power; ono of which IL, OF
course, to crowd out every other woman
who Is sufficiently tlmid to be crowded
out, aud is sufficiently attractive to be a
| possible rival for her daughters. l dare
| say the young lady commenced her even
| ing on the floor, ! ke the rest OF the girls;
but every one who stood near her COM
menced to spread out her skirts, and grad
ually press back in order to diminish the
| standing room in the strangers neighbor-
| hood. Then, when the dancing began,
what chances TO hustle her accidentally;
/
In front Of her; TO crowd her from post TO
| pillar, until IN despair she took refuge on
the platform. Then the mammas took 1t
| up; such drawing together or chars:
| such m increase of confidential communi-
| ca ion; such "A welcoming OF every new
| arrival, and such pointed regrets express
| ed that there was not more room in the
| neighborh0oi, until the poor Rlrl, moved
| on from char 10 chair, and quite defence
| less among MI the women who had leagued
| against her, Mt last took refuge in the
depths of the bow window, where they
were careful not TO disturb her. VOici IL
| mot dc L engine"
"She is wonderfully pretty" said Her
man. Did you over see such blue eyesV
Take care, Herman" said Nevins in a
| low tone, Mrs. De Lancey Is observing
us, and | think also studying the young
II hope that she likes her" said Eyer
ton, laughing. ~ shall be glad TO have
my taste approved by so undoubted an
Herman" said Nevins, changing his
| tone. "are you able to talk thus hghtlyy"
"Of whom OF Mrs. DE Lancey2 Why
| mott"
"Is it not true that there is an engage
meni between your"
is there any reason why you should sx-
poet TO know more than the world re-
portsY returned Egerton, becoming sud
denly grave.
Eyes. the strongest of reasons" answer
| ell Nevns, earnestly. "Of course you
know something OF the affair. Egerton.
tor know that 1t was pretty freely can
vassed AT the clubs. from the ironioal ex-
pressions of sympathy that l received
| when Augusta Lorlmere married Walter
| De Lancey. My kind friends took care
that | should know that everybody under
stood that WAS attached to her, and had
| believed her TO return my affection. /
| will clnfesS 10 you now that when | heard
| that Mrs. De fancey had reappeared In
society. and laid aside her widows mourn
| ing, l applied for leave of absence and
re urned TO New York for no other rea-
son than 10 ascertain for myself whether
there were any feeling existing on her
| part which might justify me IN asking her
| to become my wife. | returned; and the
nrst news | received was the report of her
! engagement to you. l See now on your
huger the very ring which she wore at
dinner party whore we met her few Gays
ago IL II strange that should have be
lieved the port, ard made up nv mind
henceforth to regard Augusta De Lancey
merely In the light of ffieudi You we're
formerly n good fellow. Herman. before
the brokers and the women spoiled you.
| Try and be like your old self. aud answer
me frankly what wish to know"
My dear fellow" said Egerton, caress-
ing his moustache and making his diamond
sparkle IN the gaslight, " never could
| quite understand YOU army men with your
heroics. If you want 10 try your chances
with Mrs. DE Lancey, why try away. There
| Is a pause IN the dancing Mt present must
who IA ready TO burst when he secs me;
and then shall have to give Mrs. DE Ian
cey "a turn on tue door. But come up when
You like and III give you chance; only |
warn you You'll get nothing IKE that"
| giving his diamond final flourish rs he
crossed the door to join Mrs. De Lancey.
Although this conversation was carried
on IN "a tone little above whisper, under
| the protection of the most noisy OF noisy
gnlops. Mrs. De Lancey had sufficiently
cOmprvhended their looks and gestures to
have her interest excited and her atten-
! ton directed TO the stranger who formed
| the subject of discussion. The appearance
of the unknown was, she felt constrained
To admit, well calculated to attract atten-
ton.
She was apparently not moro than nine
teen years Of age: small and delicate IN
person, with n chldlise grace and beauty,
rendered stu more attractive by the look
of helpleS-ness ard sadness which" as
Mrs DE Lancoy aiIgrlly remarkL,. TO her
self, they 80 well know how to assume"
fns interest which the stranger appeared
To inspire both IN NJ. EgeTtou and Col.
NcvIns piqued her excessively, aud she
WAS relieved when the conclusion of the
dance permitted the former TO cross the
uOOr and JON her.
50 occupied was she at present with the
stranger, mat for the moment she forgot
her dread OF a complication between Eyer
ton and DClano, and permitted the latter
TO ret lin his place 10y her side, instead OF
making, rs she had intended, some excuse
TO send hln away.
Deano stood awaiting Egerton with the
calm AIR OF superiority winch all the lat
ter's dpiOnb was not proof against; ana
turning ms back to him, took II position so
directly IN front of Mrs. DE Lancey. rs to
render II almost impossible for Egertou to
approach.
" | wish" remarked Mrs De Lancey, in
stincuvcly fore eeiug the complication
from the relative pos tions of Delano aud
Egertou, 81 wish, Mr.. Delano, that you
would ask Col. Nevins to come and speak
to me. | feel "A little curiosity to know the
name of IA lady whom | saw HIM noticing
~ the bow window, ana who, think, must
be an acquaintance OF his"
Mr.. DeauO, who was short sighted,
raised ms eyeglass and took IA survey Of
the room, carefully avoiding looking to
ward MIR. EgertOn. The next moment his
countenance changed; his arm fell by his
side. Ills check CrinsOned, then turned
paIe; aud with sudden movement oil im-
patience he brushed past Egerton and dis
appeared into an adjoining room.
"lle knows her also" thought Mrs. De
Lancey, who had observed the direction Of
MS eye.
A. Herman Egerton stepped boldly INTO