The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-03-15

the prettiest grace in the world A walt
followed, then polka, then another quad
nlle, and still she monopolized the lion 0
the evening, apparently to the lions salts
\ faction
"And now" he said, as they returned tt
the piazza, knitting his brows over hi
dance card-"now | must go and dane,
with Miss Honoria Clapham But | shal
come back to you You will give me th,
rest OF the dances after supper, Won
you9"
"Oh, haven't you any names on youl
card 2''
Not one. But perhaps you would like
TO dance with some one else %
'Oh, no nobody wants to dance with me.
Then YOU will wait for me here til
after this dance ?" he said hurriedly, a,
the music sounded
"Christy felt as it she were in q dream
as she sat alone. the moonlight falling
around her, the music drifting out to her
waiting for Mr. Ross TO come back. She
had rude awakening therefrom \ hand
grasped her shoulder SO harshly that she
almost cried out, and Bellies voice said in
q fierce whisper:
"Co straight up stairs to bed, miss dc
you hear me? Go this instant :" and each
pause was emphasized with a shake.
"Oh, Belle"
"Hush not y word aloud. You've been
making yourself ridiculous, and mamma
and are ashamed of you Go straight
round the piazza and up stairs"
Christy never thought of disobeying
Her rose-colored visions all tloated away.
and Shn wont u la jI-u tI,, 4
up the back way to her room There she
sat down in the moonl ght with wide eyes
and burning cheeks. oh, what had She
done? And finally all her wondering
resolved itself in a bitter burst OF crying.
When Belle came up stairs, after the
last guest had gone, and looked in her
sisters room. Christy was lying across the
loot OF the bed, asleep, her pretty dress all
crumpled and her cheeks stained with
tears. 50 her indignation did not break
upon Chrsty's head till morning, ut the
breakfast table, when her piqued pride
sought revenge. Poor Chrsty before the
meal was through she saw herself y for
ward, pert, bold chit. at whom Mr.. Ross
had laughed in his sleeves, and of whose
simplicity he had made capital
''lt you could have seen yourself whirl-
ing around with that silly smile, and he
playing mock devotion I"
Ibid he say anything about me, Belle ?"
bah why should he We had better
things to talk about" said her sister, with
a little conscious toss of the head.
Why need tell Of the days that tol-
lowed? Surely every girl will understand
the change that came over Chrsty's school
girl lite, Why say that her cheeks grew
pale, that she had frequent fits of crying,
and that the very mention Of Mr. Ross
name brought guilty flush to her cheeks !?
She would not have met him tor the
world, and it would have been hard to
calculate how many times she avoided
HIM on the street; yet evening after eve
ming she waited and hoped he would come
lhe evening after the party he had come.
She heard him ask for her in the hall, and
she heard Belle say, with a laugh that
"these school girls always We're deep in
study evenings Then crouched in the
dark, after Dayid had been put to bed, she
listened 10 his rare tenor voice as he sang
song after song, his notes blending with
Bellies, his laugh mingling with hers.
" hat Il tool she had been She thought,
as She closed the French grammar, whose
90 - ~ -,
But after that evening he did not come,
which was strange for Bellies beau. Nay,
more; his lady mother mentioned, in the
course Of a call, that they would return to
New York in the middle of October,
1--WE have stayed in the country much
longer than usual this year. she contln-
ued, "and I wish | could persuade Charl-
ton to 90 at once
"Iie wants to stay on Bellies account"
museh Chrisiy; ''but wonder why he
does not come and see her.
One thing was certain-Bello was I'M
usually cross; so cross that Chrsty was
tain to DO her studies out OF doors or lock-
ed in her own room. A little summer
house covered with vines was her tavorite
retreat, and thither she repaired every at
ternoon upon returning from school, She
had no more river expeditions, tor, poor
child, she was afraid Of meeting the pro
prietor of the scarlet wherry. But perhaps
the secret of her liking the summer-house
whelrg pass and repass, and watch the
ROVER from behind the sheltering vines.
Two weeks passed. Then a crisis came.
One Indian summer afternoon, when Belle
and her mother We're out calling, Christy
was out having romp with the dog on
the side piazza In the midst OF this romp
she was Mortified to perceive Mr.. Ross en-
tering the street gate. Her first impulse
was to run away; but knowing he had
seen here, there was nothing tor it but to
meet him with flaming checks and disor-
dered attire. The dark eyes that had
haunted her waking and sleeping dreams
so long were lit by a merry smile.
why, Miss Christy if had not just
shaken hands with you should have sup
posed you 4 myth" +" he said, with one of
his bright laughs. "Nhat are you going
to say 10 me in excuse for running away a
fortnight ago, and keeping away ever
since? DO you know you robbed me OF
five waltZes?"
"l-I Belle-that H. mammal mean
| couldn't stay. And you danced the
waltzes, you know"
"Indeed | didn't | searched for YOU
Not finding you sat still the rest of the
evening. Then The next night came to
let you apologize, and you wouldn't come
down to see me. tried to see you on the
street, and you always vanished. Now
what have l done2" asked the pet Of So
ciety, looking sincerely puzzled.
ooh, did you really not dance ?' asked
the delighted Chrlsty.
"Really no. Why do you ask ?''
'Oh, l-I--thought-they said
"Who said?" the young man asked, sur
prised at the simmer Of tears in Christy's
eyes.
"Nobody'
Mr. Ross. not knowing what to say attei
this climax, sat silent. Christy desperate
ly attempted to explain herself.
"Why, ought-people thought-yor
were just dancing with me for fun. anc
laughed at me because didn't know how
to act, and Here Christy broke dowr
and burst into tears.
For moment NIr. Ross looked con,
founded, then exclaimed:
Thought | was laughing at you
Why"
81 know Pm not grown up, and oughtn'
to have gone to a grown-up party. hac
never been to one BEFORE" sobbed Christ,
pititully
| NNh,, ,,,y ,,nor l,ttla rr | nova,