The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-11-17
WEIGH wow
CHAPTER ~.


sidering the fact that she's fancee
Meta vane Is carrying IL on raihel
strong with Thrale. vargray dom
like it-see him scowl after the two
but, TO be consistent, our friend Glenn
cut can't very actively object to thu
course of events. Took latitude in the
same way himself--you understand 2
"Ah yes I've heard the story. 81
that little divinity with the amber
hair was the couquering powcrf She's
a beauty, that's fact. but not exactly
the sort Of woman men are apt TO g.
mad or die for, and Rose Sharswccd
is. Can you tell me II the other one
is here, Fern' The game lay between
three, il I remember rightly"
miss Dunbar, you mean' That is
she at the right of our Queen Rose,
and an admirable foil they make
The questioner looked. A tall,
snowy brunette, with sloe-black eyes,
with glowing color, with FURNISHED,
-purple.black hair, her dress of gold
tissue like a living fame about her,
met his gaze Near stood Sharswood,
in billowy white from head to foot,
truly Queen Rose" in midst Of the
thronged, glittering reception rooms.
There is no comparing the two
said Ferns interlocutor. The one
looks like an angel from heaven, and
the other, meaning no disparagement,
savors of the opposite place. There's
deviltry in her eyes If ever ! saw in
any woman's. There's no love lost
between the two, Rumor says
There is a rivalry between them
which began when they met first,
which will last 10 the bitter death. But
come, my dear fellow, turn your atten-
ton elsewhere. These matters are too
personal to discuss in such q crowd. y
The two saunted away together, and
a by-stander who had overheard every
word which passed between them,
drew back into the shadow. II was
Rube Drexel, and the weight of q
grave apprehension was pressing upon
him us he watched himself unseen,
Rose Sharswood, with whom, at the
moment, vargray was conversing.
at can't be that she is maneuvring
to SOW discord that wouldn't be like
Rose" thought Drexel, dissatis6edly.
"Something is wrong. but I have faith
enough in Rose to believe she has no
hand In it. To think he should have
thrown her over for that pink-and-
white doll !"
And, meantime, the pink-and.wh;te
doll was undeniably Airting-Airting
with q high hand, in the face Of all
the proprieties, with Raleigh Thrale.
A Spanish-looking young man this
last, his darkly southern face all aglow,
the affection Of languor common to
him changed for once to an earnestness
which more than one there marked,
shich caused the exchange of mean
ing smiles and glances.
Hard hit" said one. And i never
suspected Thrale of spooneyism be
fore. l shouldn't take him for the
sort Of fellow to lose his head fol
nothing"
"If mischief doesn't come Of It
lose my guess. II Vargray has the
pluck Of mouse, he'll put a climax
to that turtle-dove nonsense; assert
himself as master Of the situation, you
understand :"
Vargray was asserting himself al
that very moment.
Grim as an Egyptian deaths head
his face set white and inhexible, he
stalked the length Of the room and
brought up before the two, who had, to
all appearance, forgotten the existence
OF other beings upon this sublunary
sphere.
The earth moved, brilliant gaslight:
shone, soft music pulsed upon the air,
to their enraptured senses in that
moment, for them alone.
you are engaged to me for the
waltz, Meta, Gomez
Netta's soft blue eyes were uplifted
.deprecatingly.
Ill think not, Clement. have
just promised Mr.. Thrale."
II claim all the round dances; Mr..
Tbrale must excuse you. j object 10
any promised bride doing that sort OF
thing with every aspirant for the honor
in the rooms"
The tone was domineering to q
degree, but Mr.. Thrale only smiled
very pleasantly.
Every aspirant in the rooms Is moi
SO fortunate as have been, my dear
fellow. You don't know the strategy
it has required to keep Miss Vane Il
myself. You are lucky dog viii
your prospect, but not even for yo'
can l relinquish my promised treat
Come, Meta, or we will miss on
waltz after all"
And under Mr.. Vargrayis wrathfu
- l. ......