The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-05

he Watched the scene Tor Some time
amused, as trifles will amuse one under
certain circumstances. There is an ex-
preston Of figure as we'll rs OF face, and
attitudes. often betray as much as the
countenauce. The attitudes in the
present instance betrayed good deal.
"The man is in earnest, the woman in
different" ne said to himself. AS the
thought passed through his mind, he saw
the man suddenly take ono Of the lady's
hands and raise 1t TO his lips. The sig
ni6cant little action made Thurs,on draw
back with sense of playing the spy.
He rose and left the window.
A moment later the bell for which he
had been waiting ruDg, and he went
downstairs. AS he entered the drawing.
room, full of sunset light and gay with q
ripple of voices and laughter, his hostess
met him with the same cordiality which
made her welcome so charming.
"YOu have no idea what lion we are
to make of you, Cousin Philip"
she said, smiling brightly sit is not
often that we have n genuine ninetcenth-
century frcc-lance in our midst, and if
we bore you with questions about life in
Egypt and the court of the khediye, you
must excuse us. You shall take mo in
to dinner, and then / will have an oppor.
tunity to ask my questions first"
Needless TO say what Thurst0l replied,
and when o few minutes after he found
himself by Mrs. jennings. side, over
looking q dinner-table round which n
COM pany Of eight or ten were gathered,
he began to feel more and more that Fate
had been kind to him. Before leaving
the drawing-room he had been introduced
to the majority Of tho guests, but, glanc-
ticed two r:hich he had not seen before,
and which instinct assured him belonged
to the figures which had played II bit of
comedy below his window.
| have written "two faces" yet in truth
he saw for some time only onc-and that
was feminine. Not strictly beautiful
face, t,s.,: face that he felt at once might
hold fascination deeper than mere
beauty. = palo complexion, clcar-cut
features, odd limpid eyes unfer dark
lashes, dark, straight brows, and Greek
forehead, from which rich masses of
dusky hair waved-thesc things made up
a whole which wakcned not 80 much adj
miretion us interest. The mouth was
cold and almost disdainful when at rest,
but, when the mobile lips spoke or
smiled, their play of expression was sin
gularly winning.
The man by this woman's sido-evi-
IDENTIFY the same who had kissed her
hand-was dark, slight, and handsome,
with something Of French grace in his
manner and bearing. Thurston watched
tho pair with good deal of interest, and
presently under cover Of an animated
conversation near by, asked Mrs. Jcn.
nings who they were.
''Those," said she, care the most note.
members of our party. fancy you may
have heard OF the young lady sine Il
Miss Loring, famous belle and beauty"
Thurston's brow lowered.
"Do you mean," he said-nnd uncon-
ssciously his voice grew stern-"that she
is Agatha Loring?"
Mrs. Jennings shot significant glance
ut him.
eyes, that is Agatha Loring," she On
swered. "You have probably heard of
her from poor Berties who was one of her
victims. No one can deny that she Is
O heartless coquette, and yet one cannot
help liking her. Even you will find
yourself fascinated by her before you
know what you are about"
He smiled little grimly.
"You must allow me to doubt that"
he said. Nevertheless, ] vii! ask yo,:
to present mo to her after dinner, and, if
you will he so kind, should prefer that
you did not mention my relationship to
Bertie."
."If you desire 1t, certainly not" said
Mrs. Jennings, who was very quick to
take q hint or suggestion. mo one here
Knows Of the relationship except Came.
ron aud Z will request him not to men-
ton 1t. Do you observe that handsome
man s;.s:ng By Agatha? He belongs to
the genus lady-killer, and is as noted in
his line as she is inghers. r It was a case
Of Gifesk aieesing Greek, but 1 think
Agatha has vanquished hi.. already,
.teugh they only met three o. .aur days
ago. His name is Viricn, and he is from
New Orleans"
After dinner, when tho ladies retired
to the drawing-room, Mrs. Jennings sat
down by Miss Loring's side.
pcarance before dinner, Agatha, that 1
was not able to present my cousin, Col.
onei Thurst1n, to yon," she said. "Z
shall do so, with your peS:::.;;sss;;;oIi, pres
Cuuy uluu ue IL NOt 10 serve QS
food for powder"
ION what ground is he to be exempt Z"
asked Miss Loring, with laugh. ~
rather like his appearance, If you mean
tho sunbarncd nian who was talking to
you ut dinner"
: "He has q right to be sunburned,"
said Mrs Jennings. "He is in the Egyp-
tian army" Z 81 2 a'RS -
Indeed Well, did not question his
right; you know; aud have often felt
that II I were man I should go to Egypt
or Spain, or somewhere eiss where fight,
ing was to DO done and honor wcs, in.
stead of sitting down in the old, old rou-
tine of social and agricultural life. ala
tired to death of Tho ordinary men on }
meets. If your cousin brings fresh
element into my life, shall be pro.
fonndly grateful to him."
II doubt if he will be profoundly CRATE
full to you in the end but have warned
him, and CAT dc &c .ao..e."
"You were very unkind, then. Do
you Imagine that with man like that
n ample, straightforward soldier, have
no Doubt should DO tho same creature
that am with Antoine Virien, for in
"You are like Cleopatra in your 'infin-
Ito variety know very we'll, my dear;
but I have never heard that you were
less dangerous in one form than another;
and q simple, straightforward soldier is
Just the person you will take pleasure in
!HfYou DO me injustice--but hush here
be comes. Introduce him, pray
Mrs. Jennings beckoned with her fan
and 4 III obedietice to her SUMMONS. !.
Thnrston crossed the drawing-room. A
moment later he had been presented to