The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-05-07

and Livia were old friends, aud had
spent most of the preceding winter in
Paris together Kate was quite lef,
out of the conversation. Nevertheless,
she could not help admirirg Cousin
Charley's quick wit, his warm enthusi-
siasm as to all things noble and good.
II am noboddy," said she to herself,
with a sigh. "He forgets the old times
altogether.
As the DAYS went on. and Christmas
drew near, this conviction became more
fixed. Cousin Charley came constantly
to the house; but it was always with
Livia he talked. There seemed COM
plete understa anding between them. She
was invariably in the drawing room
awaiting her visit, and before he had
been there long, she and he managed
to be together on some distant sofi,
whispering. Kate could not not
help thinking this was rude; but her
heart was sore. and she forgot thst the
same law cannot be applied to lovers as
TO others. Now and then Cousin Char
| ley, as if recollecting his good manners,
would address himself to Kate, but it
was in a stiff. constrained way: and
Kate instinctively answered in the same
way and reserved fashion.
Great preparations were being made
at the Beniley's to celebrate Christmas
and New Yrar. There was to be a
dancing party and supper on Christ
mas Eve. and the diniDg-room was to
have. suspended from a chandelier, a
huge bunch of mistletoe; and woe to the
pretty girl that was caught under it, for
the old-fashioned penalty Of a kiss
would be sure to be exacted. The ar
raugements were superiutenaed by Katc
herself, she being practically house.
keeper. her mother having been
for years very much of an invalid.
She even denied herself to callers. But
Livia, as a guest, was of course, free
from all these cares, and sat in tho
drawiug-room, resplendent in beauty,
receiving visitors till late in the after
noon.
Just before dusk, Cousin Charley
came. Kate happened to be passing
through the back part of the hall, and
heard him ask the footman it Miss
! Randolph was in She noticed partic-
/ ularly that he did not inquire for her.
"He knew I was to be busy" shc said,
"aud has chosen this day on purpose;
have no doubt he IS going to propose
for her. We'll. I wish with all my heart
they may be happy. But alas! poor
girl. her sight and voc begone face be-
lied her words.
About fifteen minuSSSfster, Kate. re-
turning from the kitchen, Glanced into
the back drawing-room, the door Of
which was just opposite the font Of the
hall staircase. Livia and Cousin Char
ley were standing by the ulantelpiecr, in
full sight Cousin Charley was hand
ing Livia a miniature. which she began
Immediately tn kiss passionately. They
were so absorbed that they did not hear
Kate's footsteps. which indeed were
hardly audible on the thick Administer
carpet. and in moment she had darfed
up the staircase, and was way out of
sight.
"Oh! oh nh !" she cried VIXEN she
had goined her own room, and locked
the door behind her. aud she pres.
sed both hands on her heart. which she
thought would break. Then she flung
herself on the bed, face downwards, and
burst into an agony of tears.
She had thought she was prepared
for the blow; but she found she was
not. A little hope, after all. had lin
sered in her heart fed by looks that
Cousin Charley gave her now and then,
or that she fancicd he gave. But now
even this bit Of comfort was gone. She
had seen, with her own eyes, the en-
gagement Cousin Charley had given
Livia his miniature, and the passionate
way in which she kissed it showed how
she loved him.
Poor Kate We draw n veil over the
next half hour. By-and-by she washed
her eyes. readjusted her hair, and went
back tn ber household duties Then
she met the family at dinner. and talked
as cheerfully as if nothing had happened,
and was particularly amiabo to Livia,
who, it was plain to see, was In tho
most extravagant spirits. The conver-
sation was principally about the ball in
the evening which everybody predicted
was going to be great success.
"You must look your pretiest, to-
night. Sister Kate" said the talkativ-
little Freddy, "for everybody says you
and Livia are til" two handsomest girls
in town; and it ou'dn't do, you know,
to be pretty, ard not do justice to it;
and stunning dress goes long way "
And the precocious young critic nodded
his head as sagaciously as Lord Bur.
leigh, while everybody laughed.
Kate had no heart for fine clothes;
but knew it was expected of her that
she should look particularly elegant; so
she close a stiff, white silk, which,
with its appropriate trimmings, every
body declared made her look bewitching
She finished her toilet early, in order
that she might make the tour Of the
rooms, 20 be sure that nothing was neg
lectcd. She first visited the drawing
room, aud then passed on to the dining