The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-08
Who greets him with cordial shake of

oSNSPtoy anu iOt ASSAiiiiS ga
together satisfied with Miss French .
account of Ray, makes casual mention
of her absence from the ball, and is elee
trified by the Judges answer! "Oh. YES,
poor little girl; she burned her hand to-
dav with some sweetmeat or other she
was making for her aunt; dare say she
feels the disappointment greatly, as she
was in high spirits this morning about
some Flowers she had got to match her
Dress" blunders the honest old Judge,
sweeping away his daughters little in
trigue, completely, and sending Hugh
Hastings away from his presence with
an abruptness which is past comprehen-
sion.
The pain in Rays hand had subsidized,
but she felt gloomy and dispirited, as she
stood under the single gas jet in the
French parlor reading over again the few
lines she had received with the lilies.
This little note was more to her than
words could express, and yet she scarcely
dared to hope for such brightness as this
mans love would bring into her lonely
and loveless life. "He was SO good and
true, fit mate for the loftiest lady in the
land" thought Ray, slipping her dead
mothers poor little wedding ring off and
on her slender white finger.
"No, no, am mad to think Of such a
thing," thought she, aloud; "it must be
Amy he comes to see. 1t is Amy, whose
life has been one cotinuous round of JOY
and delight; and Ray Leigh you are lit
tie fool to think that Hugh Hastings
meant anything by his delicate floral
gifts" and here she turned suddenly
around, attracted by firm, quick step in
the hall, and the next moment Hugh
Hastings himself stands in her presence.
He crossed the strip of carpet which
separated them, and set her heart to
throbbing strangely under the sweet,
magnetic influence of his tender, solicit
Gus eyes.
as this why you did not wear my lilies
tonight" he asked, eagerly, touching
her bandaged hands
eyes" she answered, briefly, a deli
cious primrose color mounting slowly in
to her cheeks; then, with a sudden lift
ing of the brown-tringed, delicate lids, she
sees that in his eyes which changes the
primrose into flaming scarlet.
"My darling" was all he said, gathering
her into his arms, where he could feel her
heart beat; "look up, my darling, and say
when may claim my little wife-look
up, my dear one, and speak, for am a
terribly impatient lover
81 thought it was Amy" she whispered,
lifting shy dark eyes moment to his face.
"No," he said 4lphatically, and was
about to tell her ,.;,l Amy would have
had him infer q "eearded the lilies, but re-
membering his OWN temptation when un-
der the glamor of that young ladies beau
ty he desists, and while he is engaged ir
the delicious position of fitting beautiful
diamond on Ray Leigh's slender finger
Amy French, annoyed and perplexed al
her knight-errants protracted absence
complains of weariness, and is at once
offered the infatuated Majors escort home,
which she ungraciously accepts Very
tenderly he adjusts the satin-lined cloak
around her dainty shoulders.
"Shall we walk or ridej"
"Oh, let us walk, if the night is fine
Garry my adieus to Mrs. Farley, and tell
papa that prefer not to wait for the car
riage"
He obeys her impetuous commands
and together they go out under the beau
tiful star-lighted sky-he filled with admi
ration for the fair blonde face which is
turned so persistently from him, and she
rIent and absent-minded, trying to solve
the vexatious problem Of Hugh Hastings
sudden disappearance from the ballroom
The problem is too visibly explained
| WliCll lilCS IolilC III oi3 III vi tHS iShSi
mansion, and the pretty tableau of ou
hero fitting the ring on Rays little hand
is revealed through the lace curtain, muci
to the disgust and astonishment of Mis-
French, and we must say it, to the secre
exultation of the Major, who thinks nov
is his best time to make his grand matri
monial charge. He does it without hesi
tation, and is waited to the seventh heav
en- of bliss Gf there be such a place. b.
receiving from Miss French's poutin!
red lips rather pettish acceptance of hi
heart and hand as she tears Hugh Has
tings lovely valley lilies from the lace
her throat, and filings them down impa
tiently in the dusty street.
Poor valley lilies, they had failed t
serve her purpose, and their faint, dyin
perfume was too suggestive of her ow'
defeat, and so she flung them there 70
any passerby to trample out their swee
life, and with all the skill of traine
diplomatist very soon erased from the ga
liant Majors mind any little misgiving
he may have had concerning her pencil
ant for Hugh Hastings.
| A Eard Decision.