Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-08-13
MIscEILANE Gus.
AGAME OF HEARTS.

SSORTON LEVYLLIAN looked into his
ssS companon's face, and wondered if she
really possessed heart! Or was she OILY
as had been said-a creature of intellect
-one who required not, aud wished not, the
most precious of life's blessings-love.-
Rather difficult question and her beauti-
ful, queenly, countenance, with its lustrous
brown eyes and delicately chiseled features,
did not serve to satisfy his doubts.
He was accustomed to be n favorite with
the gentler sex. Being wealthy. Intelligent
and handsome, he was very naturally appre.
ciated by maneuvering mammas and marriage.
able daughters. Clara Vane was Unlike tho
women with whom he had been thrown in
contact. Although among, she was not of
them, and her indifference hurt him much
more than he cared to confess, even to him
self. So this evening, as they wandered to.
gether through the brilliantly lighted rooms
OF fashionable devotec, he asked carclessly,
albeit his eyes rested searchingly upon her
face
"Miss Vane, do you believe in love ?"
She laughed-and. although her dusky
cheek crimsoued little, displayed not the
slightest discomposure as she answered
"No-at least not you do"
That sentence implied certain amount of
something that the gentleman scarcely liked.
How should she know whether their beliefs
were similar
Indeed r. he commented somewhat drily;
'would it be impertinent in me to inquire
what your belief really is 2"
She bit her lip.
make no pretentions to understand any
ones ideas upon this or any other subject
better than they themselves do. 1 only
know that my own opinion of love is very
different from the latter.dsy sentiment which
is now dieuifed by the name"
He smiled provokingly.
$50 is mine. We agree thus far, at any
rate. Perhaps, were we to compare notes,
the similarity would extend still further"
Scarcely probable" she answered calm
ly, but it is not IN interesting topic, and as
it is of no consequence whether we consider
it in the came light or no, propose We dis
cuss some other subject"
OF course, after that the conversation
changed.
'Confouud IL what's the use ?" he
murmured, sadly, that night-or rather that
morning-after returning home. "Here I
am, fairly bewitched after q woman who, If
report speaks truly, is not capable of
feeling a particle of affection for any man,
and who has demonstrated beyond pefad-
venture her utter indifference to me. In
love with an iceburg! That's what's the
matter f! But l swear | won't make fool
of myself any longer. She can go her way,
and I'll go mine -
| Whether this resolution would have been
kept or no, is question that mus. remain
forever unsettled, as the next day Miss Vsne
had left town-gone, no one knew where
to remain, none knew now long.
But we, being wiser than the mstority Of
rzIt cot l. L.. IL
metropolis to a beautiful country seat, down
in Kent, where. disgusted alike with the
world aud herself, she had sought refuge for
the summer months with her young married
friend, Mary Thurston.
"Now, Clara" said this young lady, as
they sat together, some few evenings after
| Miss Vane's arrival, "of course you know
how glad am to have you here, and all that
sort Of thing but what in the world possessed
you to come? For, when l saw You last.
you gave me no encouragement to hope for
this visit"
well, Mary, to tell the truth, hadn't
the slightest idea of paying it two weeks ago;
but"
But what ?" eagerly asked her compan-
ion. "You were not involved in any love
affair, were you? 1 heard something of
serious kind of firtstion you were having
with somebody. 1t didn't become too seri.
ous-did it7"
"Yes, it did," answered her guest, impet-
uously, startled out Of her Usual reticence By
that longing sympathy which sometimes
seizes the proudest Of us. II became ac-
quainted with man endowed with eztraor>
dinary gifts OF mind and person, and un.
dertook to teach him lesson. But, alas,
for human volition learned the lesson !"
"Does he know III" interrupted her
! friend, snxiously.
"No, nor never will! And that's the reason
l have come to you so unexpectedly"
The conversation was here put to an end
/ By the entrance of Capt. Thutston.
ga letter for you. Mary. From Morton,
1 fancy" csrelessly tossing il into her lsp.
The quick blood rushed into Clars's face.
| Even the name caused her heart TO hutter
strangely but neither of her friends noticed
her sgitstion being epgrossed in their
| missives.
"Oh dear F' sighed Mrs. Mary, half nm
consciously.
Clara aud her husband looked MP in sur
prise. Her face was glowing joyfully, albeit
her eyes wer full of tears.
Whats the matter they asked in
breath
ooh, nothing much, she replied. "OnlJ
| I'm so glad. Clara, never knew thst you
were acquainted with my half brother, Nor
| ton Levyllian."
Poor Clara Her face. even to the roots
| of her hair, was scarlet; but she made mo
reply, and her friend continued, remorselsss-
| ly. "He is coming to pay us visit, and We