The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-07
A STORY OF INDIA.
London Society,"
CHAPTER iii.
THE MASQUERADE.

retired to their room to prepare for it;
the former sprightly, and more than
usually gay, for her dress of scarlet and
black and gold, as Esmeralda, was likely
t0suit her to perfection; but Cissy had
not glanced at hers Wearily she had
thrown herself on chair, and leaning
her cheek on her hand, babe her ayah
wait awhile.
Are you not going to dress, Cissy dear?
You are out of spirits surely said Alice.
Silly, stupid thingp thought she to her.
self. We'll, have as much right to
Burton as she has; she's abominably
Cross The accusation was false; but
Alice did not choose to reproach herself;
she meant to have her way; she did not
care much how; and tried to blame Cissy,
In her heart, though she kept up great
semblance of affection for her outwardly.
lido feel tired tonight; ! wish had
not to 60 to the ball; Pm sick of the
meet she said sadly.
Dear me, Cissy, l wonder at you; but
you always were sentimental at school;
10 much gaiety and waste of time goes
against your conscience, suppose, and
makes YOU religiously melancholy. | was
telling Graham Burton last night what a
goody you used to be, and he laughed
and said, "What rot?' Not very ee-
CANT; but really, think, very appropri-
ate. ] do wish you would give it up; it
makes you so ridiculous, Cissy.' Miss
Ricart had happy knack of inserting
what might vulgarly be called lie
more politely speaking, slight fabrica-
tion-into her conversation at times, a
habit she had in all probability acquired
from her excellent mother. A low CLEAN
shot from Cissy's eyes as she rose and
proceeded to dress.
4 have enjoyed this most immensely
continued Alice. 4 shall be very sorry
when it is over; but mamma says l may
go down to Calcutta for a while, while
my dresses are fresh
To Calcutta? 70 whom% asked
Cissy.
TO the Tweedies; they asked me on
board, you know, and | have kept up
correspondence with them.'
Those vulgar people, can not bear
themp
Alice shrugged her shoulders.
They have lots of money, and go out
great DEAL she replied carelessly; and
the cousins proceeded to dress in silence.
Cissy was to be Undine; her dress was
Of pale sea-green gauze, over pale-green
shot-silk skirt, and masses of seaweed
were festooned here and there. She was
to wear pearls as ornaments, and her
bertha and band consisted of bright
shells.
'Will you be long, AliceY she asked
at last
No, whyT said Alice, fitting about.
The small brunette looked her best in
the dress she had chosen, and was in good
humor.
4 have bad headache l thought
would wait till the room was quiet, and
get my old woman to brush my hair well;
it is to hang anyway
'Ah, | can 60 now, responded Alice
G'll take the rest of my things to MANI
mas room, and she'll fix me up all right
and bidding her servant bring what re-
manned of her dress, she fitted off
through the verandah to her mother.
Cissy threw herself back in low
chair, and gave herself up to thought
what is the meaning of it all? said she
to herself. Alice would not marry him; !;
then why does she run after him SO? She
can not be taking so much trouble merely
to thwart me; it would have been more
like her to relieve me Of Captain Lam
berts attentions, and / had almost
believed she would. Every one is talk
ing of her; and it is she who is ridicu-
lous, not |. have tried to show Captain
Lambert that I do not want him; but he
will not see it, mamma fawns so abomin-
ably upon him. Anyway, I shall refuse
him in the end; and after tomorrow
surely | shall have little peace. 1
fancy they are all working to keep Gra-
ham Burton and me apart; and had it
not been that he seems to care for Alice,
Iwould have spoken to him again and
again, and told him that offended him
but accidentally. All, God help me, and
make me more unseltishv she murmured,
as the tears fell over her cheeks, and a
shiver passed through her. She thought
of the moonlit nights on board, of the
stolen glances, the tender, low words at
stray moments, which even the vigilance
of her aunt could not prevent; of all
this intercourse, from the first delicate,
distant attentions, to the last sad parting,
when his lips were dumb; and though he
would not say it, she knew he cared for
her, and acknowledged the love lying
hidden in her own heart. How she had
hoped against hope that they should
meet again! How sweet it would all have
been, even had it passed into the region
Of dreams! But to meet again SO soon,
and he SO changed aud cold, and wooing
Alice! Her heart sickened at the
thought. 'Ah, God, if he had only
never come, if it had all died out and
become distant and sweetp She sighed
and laid her head wearily on her clasped
hands, regardless Of the ayah, who had
unfastened her long golden hair and
brushed it till it shown like silk.
Mrs. Campbell, gorgeous in a Queen
Elizabethan costume, which suited hel
etatoJv fuura WaIl aptarad and 1ookpf