The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-11-28

soon group Of young people were
threading its graceful mazes.
Clifford Marsden had arrived in the
last steamer, and had taken his friends
by surprise by appearing among them.
He excused himself from dancing on the
plea of fatigue, and stood watching the
changing scene.
He had taken his station by the alcove
in position where, through the leaves
OF blossoming azalea, he could see the
musician seated at the piano, with her
back towards the guests. The slight,
graceful figure, the proud poise of her
head upon the small, round neck, the
abundant hair wound simply about her
head, all formed an attractive picture.
For some time he had watched her
white fingers fly over the keys, but be-
fore he had caught glimpse of her face
he was surrounded by merry circle of
girls, who commenced to rally him upon
his abstraction. So he did not discover
that Theodore was the young musician
who had so stranb ely interested him.
After while the guests, or rather
several of them, adjourned to the music
room and, when Clifford Marsden en-
tered, he was still surrounded by bevy
of young ladies, and, though he listened
to the soft voice of lady who was sing
ing plaintiff ballad, and was enchanted
with the brilliant playing of the young
pianist, he still failed to wrest himself
from those who surrounded him or even
get glimpse of the features of the fair
musician, whose face seemedto be turned
persistently from him as her fingers
rolled over the keys of the superior toned
instrument.
Later in the evening group of young
people were assembled in the dressing
room to put on their wraps. They were
chattering about the events of the eve
ming.
I" Is not Clifford Marsden improyedP"
said Susan Dinsmore. He always was
nice, but now he is perfectly splendid. "
Il give you fair warning, Mamie Liv-
ingstone shall contest the supremacy
with you next time. You had the mo-
nopoly of him this evening. 'All's fair
in love, you know"
Mamie tossed her pretty head, and
said, disdainfully--
"You are welcome to him. Such an
absent minded escort never fell to my
lot before"
Where were you at supper? I
missed you from the dining-room, asked
Allie Durant.
VIC lGdGe MI NbJeeFSlp bYatp gtbhhp GIANT ia acaaia 3
was rural bower, but even that did not
make him thaw, though 1 did my best to
captivate him."
II wonder if he knew who presided
at the piano. Did he glance that way p
"No, not he; he stood like statue,
gazing into futurity. It's shame that
such handsome specimen of the genus
homo should be so stupid"
"He must have changed, then Maybe
he was disappointed at not meeting Miss
Lisle. Report says he was hard hit in
that direction before he went abroad"
"Hard hit ?" said Allie Durant.
"Susan, I'm ashamed of you! OF
whom do you take lessons ?"
Susan was Allies cousin and took the
reproof good naturedly. Making deep
curtsy to Allie, she answered:
81 have learned that purely classical
phrase from my respected cousin, Mr..
NTinturn Durant. He acquired it most
probably in the fastidious society OF his
club. y
At this moment Theodore appeared at
the door, and her friends clustered
around her.
"You dear, brave darlingl"
"You naughty little girl, to keep
yourself SO completely out of sight"
.'s'Are those tender fingers completely
worn out ?" and other similar exclama-
tions saluted the ears of thefew strangers
present as they viewed the scene.
Theodore was white as Parian marble,
and suppressed quiver about her SEN
sitive lips told of mental suffering. She
had left her position at the piano, think
ing the iparlors deserted, but as she
came forth into the glow of light she
found herself face to face with him whose
| whispered words had once made her
hearts sweetest music. =
Instead of fastening to meet her he
had stood like one in dream. Theo-
dora understood the pause to mean re-
nunciation of the past, and, without
glancing at him again, drew her slight
figure to its utmost height, and with
more of the dignity of her proudest days
swept by him and disappeared up the
broad stairway. This was their meeting.
| And it was for ber sweet sake that
Clifford Marsden had thrown off the
fatigue of travel, thinking that one
pressure of her little hand would bring
him rest, even in the midst of the fash
ionable throng.
But trife light as air had already
separated them. A word of explanation
unuttered. and a veil of doubt and mis-
trust was woven out of materials as i'm
palpable as the mist, yet perhaps as en-
during as time itself.
The understanding between them il
the old time had not been ratified by al
engagement, SO they had not correspond
ed, and Clifford had received but meagr'
news from home. So he was still to hea
of tba Tiale,s ravarsea Ar