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


really possessed heart! Or was she Only
as had been said-a creature of intellect
-oue who required not, and wished not, the
most precious of life's blessugs-love.-
Rather difficult question and her beauti-
full, queenly, couutenance, with its lustrous
brown eyes and delicately chiseled features.
did not serve to satisfy his doubts.
He was accustomed to be u favorite with
the gentler sex. Being wealthy, Intelligent
and handsome, he was very naturally appre>
ciated by maneuvering nrammas and marriage.
ablo daughters. Clara Vane vas 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 devotee, he asked carclessly,
albeit his eyes rested searchingly upon her
face
Miss Vane do You believe in love 2"
She laughed-and, although her dusky
cheek crimsoned a little, displayed not the
slightest discomposure as she answered
'No-at least not as you do"
That sentence piled a certain amount of
something that the gentleman scarcely liked
How should she know whether their beliefs
were siminr2
Indeed T. he commented somewhat drily;
"would it be impertinent'in me to inquire
what your belief re ally is ?"
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-day sentiment which
is now dieniied by the name"
He smiled proyokingly.
| $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 an interesting topic, aud as
it is of no consequence whether We consider
it in the came light or no, I propose ws dis
cuss some other subject"
OF course, after that the conversation
changed.
"Confound it'll what's the use ?" he
murmured, sadly, that night-or rather that
morning-sfter returning home. "Here
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 persd-
venture her utter Indifference to me. In
love with an iceburg! That's what's the
matter But l swear I 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 a question that must remain
forever unsettled, as the next day Miss Vane
had left town-gone, NO one knew where;
to remain, none knew now long.
| But We being wiser than tho msjority Of
folks. may follow her away from the crowded
metropolis to beautiful country seat, down
- Cd 10 he
| world and 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 Vaue's arrival, "of course you know
I how glad am to have you here, and all that
sort of thing but what in the world possessed
you to Gomez 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 q eagerly asked her compan.
| ion. '.You were not involved in any love
affair, were your 1 heard something of
serious kind of firtstion you were having
with somebody. 1t didn't become too seri-
| ous-did iii"
- eS, II Olu, answered 0eE guest, lnpet-
uorsIy, startled out of her usual reticence By
tina. longing sympathy which sometimes
seizes the proudest of us. II became ac-
quainted with a man endowed with eztraor>
binary gifts OF mind and person, and no.
dertook to teach him lesson. But, alas,
for human volition learned the lesson -
"Does he know it?" interrupted her
friend, snxiously.
Know 2" she repeated in scorn.-
"No, nor never will! And that's the reason
have come to you so Unexpectedly"
The conversation was here pu. to an end
| by the entrance of Capt Thurston.
ga letter for you. Mary. From Morton,
1 fancy" csrelessly tossing it into her lap.
The quick blood rushed into CIars's face.
Even the name caused her heart to futter
strangely but neither of her friends noticed
her sgitation-both being epgrossed in their
nissives.
"Oh dear p sighed Mrs. Mary, half I'M
consciously.
! Clara aud her husband looked mp in sur
prise. Her face was glowing joyfuIly, albeit
! her eyes wer full Of tears.
What's the matter they asked in
breath.
ooh, nothing much, she replied. "Only
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 no
reply, and her friend continued, remorssless-
! ". "He is coming to pay Us visit, and We