The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-02
THE DAILY STAR
A STORY OF INDIA.
lLondon Society,"

versing.
"That Campbell girl is the prettiest of
the new importations this year; don't
you think 50, BryantT asked one, Mr..
Stevenson.
81 like that dreamy face of hers" he
answered. "The most of the girls about
here have so much nonsense and atfecta-
tion about them. Miss Campbell looks
\ genuine, steady, English face, and |
always admire expression more than mere
features"
There's an affection that savors of high
down nonsense, too, you know" said Mr..
Stevenson, with careless laugh. 81
confess I never can get much out of Miss
Cissy ;but my wife thinksof her as only a
little below the angels. Burton, you
came out with her; what do you think
of her, eh?"
Graham Burton had been regarding
Cissy as his companions spoke. She was
sitting with her face turned towards the
sky, where the setting sun had left faint
streaks of opal and amber, and a quiet,
sweet look rested on hre face; the face
was pale, the features delicate; but the
lips were pale and firm, the eyes deep
and gentle. His face softened as he
looked at her, and after moments hes
itetion, answered.: 81 think she is what
she looks, gentle and true, but shy and
reserved; the old dragon, Mrs. Ricart,
was 50 vigilant, however, one really
could not get to know her we'll"
"And the aunt is perfect Gorgon,"
interrupted Mr.. Stevenson. "She brings
out her lambs every second year to the
slaughter; that is number three getting
into the carriage; she looks more snake
like than ever in that clinging habit, and
is sneak like the rest, no doubt"
"Looks it" said another of the group.
"You bet mother Ricart sets her at Lam
bert"
"Never a Bit" replied Mr.. Stevenson.
"Miss Cissy is to get chevalier Lambert.
Mrs. Ricart daren't iterfere. Mrs. Camp
bell is too much of rich sister for that"
"Well, perhaps not by fair means,'
said the other, Struggling his shoulders
carelessly; "but l would not mind taking
two to one that if Alice Ricart can
catch Lambert, she will. The sides are
not equal, you see; it's mother and
daughter against the other mother. Miss
Campbell is evidently neutral, though
maybe it is most telling; soft too of a
girl, if she is indifferent, to let herself be
disposed of so passively" And the speak
er moved off to another group, while
Graham Burton looked rather savagely
after him.
Lambert is to stay the race-week
with them," added MIR. Stevenson; "it
will be rather fun to watch the game"
"Will 't?'' said Graham to himself, as
ne sauntered off towards the lake, and
gnawed his moustache with true English
vigor.
In truth, matters had gone further
than Mrs Ricart knew, or than one would
have conjectured from the composed way
in which Graham Burton had answered
his friend. AS he stood by the lake, his
thoughts riveted to the moOnlit night on
board, when he had stood by Cissy, had
seen the trembling of her lip, heard the
tremor of her voice, as she spoke of the
morrow's parting; and almost persuaded
as he spoke of the determination
and confidence he had that he would
make his way quickly to see her again,
that she would be true to their unwhisp-
cred love. For Graham Burton then
was proud and poor, and would not let
his feelings overcome his reason; and
Graham Burton now, though proud still,
had become suddenly and Unexpectedly
rich. To win the fruit he had before
withheld himself from plucking, though
it trembled within his grasp, was still his
resolve; but to win it for himself alone.
In the uncertainty of the present he half
repented that he had let the favorable
pass, half repented of the resolu-
ton which must place many difficulties
in his way; but smiling quietly to him
self again, he muttered firmly to himself:
"No, no; if money is to do it, had rath-
er his bought her than mine." Neverthe-
less, his heart beat as he neared the car
riage where Cissy Campbell sat; and as
he pressed her hand, and stood by her in
the fading light, something very like love
cleaned in the eyes of both, and Graham
was very happy as he watched the girls
sweet face flush and pale beneath his
glance.
She introduced him to her mother,
whose bow was the chilliest of the chill,
and Mrs. Ricart's manner was no less
freezing; yet he kept his stand in spite
of the cold looks directed at him, and the
warm welcome accorded to
Captain Lambert and Others who came
near.
The scene in which they formed part
was gay and busy. Among the carriages
and vehicles gathered together, the horses
prancing about, or standing meekly still,
gay figures bent over to chat and flirt
and gossip, or, like butterflies from fow-
er to flower, fitted lightly from one
group to another; while men went wan
dering up and down, now laughing here,
now whispering there. The dark figures
of syces in fancy liveries by the horses
heads, or ayahs in their picturesque garb,
carrying children about, lent strangeness
to the scene; and above the merry laugh
ter and hum of voice, music swelled out
ever and anon. Soon darkness
crept over the scene, lamps began to
twinkle, and now and again carriage
with its pair of glowing eyes would issue