The Princeton union., 1879-02-12

ing at the Cornthwaits'."
"He is to be there, then?" eagerly
calculated Isabel.
Il suppose so," rejoined she, with al:
air OF petulance; she is friend of the
Cornthwaits. But I fail to see what there
is to gush about in that assurance. Doubt
less there will be others at the party as
nice as he. One would think you were
smitten!''
To these rude and ill-natured remarks
Isabel vouchsafed no reply, and as they
had reached their hotel, neither of Gin
drella's elder sisters troubled to note the
effect on Cinderella of the malicious lit
tie speech. It was clear that the Misses
Chadwick were put out by the knowledge
of the accident which had brought Mr..
Lionel Grant and Miss Isabel Shelton to.
gether. On returning from their own
apartments to the cofee-room, to supple
ment the apology for a breakfast which
they had had in Jersey by partaking of a
more substantial 1epast, the young ladies
found, to the distress of one of them, that
part of the luggage had gone forward to
Southampton. Isabel's trunk was miss
ing! She could have cried with vexation
as she thought of the party at the Corn
thwaite's. Clara, the grittier Of the two
sisters, said:
ooh, well, it can't be helped; you will
have to send an apology. You might
have one ofmy dresses, but it would not
tit; ind as for ANY,
II have it," exclaimed better.naturea
Amy, interrupting her sister. She was
just the least bit sorry for Isabel. "You
know that bloomy gray dress of mine !;
wear that. The trimming is rather
shabby, but what is to be done? And
fine feathers do not always make fine
birds you know"
"Thank you," exclaimed Isabel; q"
shall be able to make that do nicely"
In her joy she kissed Amy, which mark
of gratitude that young person received
with slight feeling of compunction.
CHAPTER III.
1t was a merry dinner party. Mr.. and
Mrs: Cornthwaitc could not do enough to
please their guests, both then and sub
sequently; and being of that order Of
people who have sunny notions of life.
and never grow old, they succeeded TO
admiration throughout. Twice only dur
ing the evening had Lionel Grant found
himself in the Immediate society of Miss
Shelton, once as her partner in quadrille,
and again as an actor with her in a cha.
rade.
In their interchange of the ripping
amenities of society, there appeared to
each converser more meaning than those
littleness usually carry. His words we're
earnest, hers haltingly timorous.
II had no idea this morning that was
to have the pleasure of meeting you here.
I am acquainted with Miss Chadwick
and her sister. I met them great deal
in London last season. Is it not singular
they never referred to you2''
mot at ALL" Isabel replied. "Our
lives are so different. I am farmers
daughter, and I live in Kent. We are
all busy at home in quite another way
from theirs during what you call the
London season."
After the charade, in which Miss
Shelton and Mr.. Grant enacted parts,
Isabels two cousins, who had separately
and con- jointly observed the what thev
were pleased to term brazen Irritation of
the pair, took Isabel to task. 1t was
Clara who spoke.
''1sabel Shelton, Amy and are more
surprised than words can express Are
you--are you aware that your frequent
conversations with Mr.. Grant, who is a
hardened flirt" (this falsehood coined
on the spoD, "have been noticed by others
beside ourselves? Pray be more circum
spect; otherwise I shall feel it my duty
to tell papa"
Nothing was farther from Miss Chad
wlck's intentions than the fulfillment of
this threat, but she hoped it would de-
press her cousin, and it did. The min.
utes which sped so joyously began to
drag with Isabel, who gradually became
intensely miserable, and wished herself
miles away. When Mr.. Grant next &C.
costed her she replied to him with an
air of constraint. Looking unconscious
ly from her face to that of Clara's. he
saw there malicious sparkle which let
| light into the cause of Miss Skeletons
change of manner. So. she had been
interferingl
"Oh, Mr.. Cornthwaite, what lovely
moonlight night" exclaimed Miss Chad
| wick later on, as she looked from the
veranda across the shining sea; ''do take
us for walk to MAulin Huet.' The
amusements we're by this time tagging,
and Clara feared that, during the luiI.
Mr., Grant and her cousin might come to-
gether again.
ITO Maulin Huet tonight, my dear?
Are you mad2 Remember the moon is
inconstant, and, alas, my climbing days
are over! But If you will promise to be
very discreet, and Lionel will act as
guide, 90 by all means. I consign you
especially to his care. Let us to cards,
my friends, while these madcaps 20 in
search OF the picturesque.
The arrangement harmonized with
Claras views, but not with Grants.
However, he put che best face he could
on the matter, and led the wav, accom-
panied by Miss Chadwick, and followed
by Amy Isabel and two Guernsey young
ladies and their respective cavaliers.
Isabel was attended by an ancient beau,
II