Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-20

this was what Paris and London called beauti
ful-Why Paris and London must have odd
tastes. And her dress, too! They had antici
pated some dazzling wonder Of the toilet and
could not understand the tulle dress and the
black hair without ornament, save some
keener judges, saw in this young lady agrea'
capacity to charm; recognized in the soft flow
OF her garments, the slender grace of the flow
ers she had chosen, an artistic beauty and fit
ness. Long ere the evening was over they
fonnd tneir opinion justified. Miss Mortimer
at rest was not effective. Neither is the pi-
ano when nobody is playing You can easily
look at it; dark CLEAN of rosewood, SO much
of ivory and ebony. But master hand strikes
the keeps and JOY and passion, glory or grief,
rise from the swelling chord, and bear you
onward resistless in their course. 30 with
this girl when she dropped her mask OF
| apathy. The slight features grew mobile with
expression, the pale cheek warmed, fire lit up
the great orbs. She was TRANSPORTED.
| But her dancing was the entertainment. The
young ladies in Candelford had not the bene-
| fit of French master, and they went through
quadrille and waltz with an honest enjoyment
aud the music. Not one of them had ever
imagined anything like Miss M0rtimer's float
ing grace or the atmosphere OF poetry that
encompassed it. 1t was picture to gaze at
and to hold in memory years after.
'What do you think of her" whispered
Maria to the young doctor in the course OF
| the evening.
81 hardly know what think of her." he
| slowly answered.
| "Have you spoken to her?"
"Not yet. Will you dance this quadrille
with me?''
They moved away amid the dancers; and so
the evening came to an end.
"Well, Nelly" cried Miss Mortimer to Eli
nor Paxton, after they get home and were
"What question:" replied Ellinor, Sue
ceed of course you did. But what interest
can you have on these,little rustic triumphs
1t is like prima donna singing at shilling
concert"
81 dare say the prima donna would wish the
audience to applaud. She wouldn't like her
voice to fall cold and lifeless, even there''
sit didn't fall so. | mean the impression
you made, Sophia. There was no end of en-
thusiasm. lam not going to make you vain
by telling half heard"
sDon't. 1t would be pity to spoil such I'M
conscious innocence as mine" laughingly re-
torted Miss Mortimer. "Who were the men
Nelly? Any one worth captivatingw
For you probably not. The best match in
the room was Arthur Lovel. He was very
attentive to you"
eyes: a pleasant young man; but can see
fifty better than he in town any day"
ITO be sure. | know we must all seem
very awkward and tame to you"
"Who was the tall individual talking with
that pretty girl in pink?'
Somebody entirely out of your line; a
young doctor, just beginning the world, after
going through much hard work to get the
chance of doing it,"
"And the girl?'
marry Leigh. The Leighs are one of our
best families. Still, people think it may be a
match in time, for they evidently like one an
other, Edger Mervyne is very much thought
Of"
"In spite Of his being fortuneless?
eyes, spite of that. He showed so much
energy in fighting his way through all sorts
the best son in the world"
"Of course your neighbors are bound topat-
ron,ze solid virtues! It is pity that all these
excellen' qualities can't impart little attrac-
ton to their possessor. What does Miss
Leigh see in him?'
him-yery nice; not the least in the world
gallant; he meyer pays compliment; the
most sincere, straightforward man in the
woodland so clever! I don't suppose you
would appreciate him at all, Sophia; or he
you"
lIduk you, IcSpOuuCu SOPHIA, Laughing
"And now we will say goodnight"
Meanwhile, as the time went on, it was
found that Miss Mortimer did appreciate Ed
gar Mervyne, and most perfectly. These
three or four years she bad been in society;
and had become rather base of the artificial,
| frivolous men she had met in it. This young
doctor, earnest single-minded, was of quite
Mrs. Martins rooms, she had noted that fine
head, that firmly-set mouth. A little cha
| grined that he had not approached her, she
determined to fascinate him the next time
they met And she did her best for it-that
| tune, and the next and the next.
| Sophia Mortimer. She liked power, and here
| was a fresh object to exert it on. She under
| stood the men of her own world pretty well ;
good deal of seeming and very little reality;
Of elegant polish on thin slip of veneering.
Sincere, aightforward, not a particle Of
of Mr.. Mervyne, they were precisely what
took her fancy just now And so Miss Morti-
mer set he,selfto attract and win the young
doctor. Win him for what? All! Just for her
own amusement, her whim of the moment
Any claim to him that Miss Leigh might pos
sess did not trouble her in the least. It add
ed to the pastime.
For the first two or three interviews that
took place after their introduction the aspect
of affairs was not encouraging. Edgar Merv.
| yne admired her, it is true, but much as he
| did the moon, a remote resplendency which
he had not the slightest notion of appropria-
ting. He talked of her sometimes to Maria,
| who talked back again without shadow of
foreboding. Such GOODNESS piqued Miss Nor
timer; she became more than ever deter
mined to assert her power. For this, decided
advances were needful, but she made Their.
It gradually grew evident to even his un-
presuming observation that this enthrallng
| beauty liked to have him near her, looked for
him on entering room, was pleased to have
him come and sit beside her. He felt gratified
at this notice from her-for she had become
the fashion, and all Candelford ran after her;
how could he help running too, the frail human
man? There was nothing like Irritation be-
tween them, no coquettish glances or linger-
ing tones. They talked of every day matters,
sometimes harmoniously. sometimes with
amicaple dissent. Once in a while, not often
or obtrusively, she spoke of foreign lands,
their scenery, customs, manners, and he could
not but notice The charm of her descriptions
for it had not been his privilege to stir beyond
his own country. Something unique, ideal
tinged her thoughts and their expression. He
said as much to Maria Leigh, who made but
slight reply. In poin! OF fact, vague uneasi-
ness was already cropping up in this poor
girls heart. And the time went on.
Invent on SO smoothly and gradually that
Edgar Meryyne himself could hardly say
L L =