Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-08-05
A FAIR ING0NSTANT.

Miss Dudleigh Rhodes had honored
Mrs. Secretary Van Pedigree's fancy
dress party by appearing as Greek.
say honored, because Miss Rhodes was
a professed beauty, who lent eclat and
Importance to any assemb blage which
she graced with her presence. She
suited the costume she had chosen She
had the Greek beauty of form, as well
as the Greek beauty Of feature, or rather
of countenanee, because the harmonious
irregularity of her features suggested
only certain phases of Greek art. But
she was indisputably beautitul-grand-
ly, royalty beautiful
To her presently came her host, pre-
senting stately parsonage in the guise
of an Oriental, but whether represent
ing the fowery and celestial kingdom
or the empire of Yapoun. Miss Rhodes
could not determine. The band was
clashiug loudly, and she failed besides
co catch the name pronounced by the
graciously smiling secretary; it was a
foreign name, however, she opined-
Italian, perhaps. The man himself
looked Italian; olive complexion, dark
hair, dark eyes, strikingly handsome.
1t struck DadIeigh as odd that he should
be in COSTUME. There was a dignity, a
composure about him at odds with the
friyolity, semi vanity OF masquerading.
The secretary moved on. with parting
smile upon coDquering beauty. Con-
quering beauty opened the conversation
with hcrne ar acquaintance. He replied
in accents that were foreign past all
question, and with a C rtain impressive
ness of mien which arrested the some
what base attention of our spoiled child
of heroine. She gave him a second
thought and a second look. It ;curred
to her that the costume he wore must
be very accurate; it was made of heavier
and darker stuffs than other costumes of
the kind she had seen.
You are not dancing?"
"No; | only dance quadrilles.
Therefore do not like balls"-with a
pout and frown combined that just
missed being disfguring.
mo? LIDO not dance either. But 1
like to watch the others
q detest watching at other people do
things that lcok like enIoyment."
"Oh, then you would enjoy this
yoerself? Why do you notP"
Dudleigh owned two or three reasons.
She mentioned one. 81 have no ear
for music"
Her companion's deficiency in this re-
spect WAS 50 marked that he had actu-
ally sunk 10 that lowest level of ignor-
ance OF his ignorance. He had vague
notion only what his beautiful compan-
ion meant. Verify, Strauss would need
an interpreter for him. A Frenchman
sauntered up and entered into CONVEX
sation with the beautiful Miss Rhodes.
Her Oriental and he were already ac-
quainted. The Frenchman was fluent
only II his own tongue; therefore of
necessity that must become the medium
of intercourse. The Oriental used it as
readily as English; but the Frenchman
was SO much more loquacious that he
presently monopoized the reins .of the
conversation. The Oriental, in lieu of
talking, observed: for example, the diff
ferent points in the beauty of Miss
Rhodes; her tranquil aspect; her wavy
dark hair. arranged low over the brow,
and low IN the neck; her fine white
throat, encifcied by u single row oil
pearls scarce winter; her serene dark
gray eyes; the purity of her complex
ion.
He was recalled to himself by Dud-
leigh's addressing him. II was trying
to put this into French for Mr.. LIE Noble:
''' Better hity years of Europe than cycle oil
Dudleigh realized directly that he was
familiar with the quotation. But she
was at a loss to understand the look he
gave her. lie Helped her with her
French, however. Then he added,
quietly: 'As for the subject-matter OF
your quotation, that may be matter oi
opinion. Let me quote back to you, in
the words ofanother poet:
"iThere is nothing either good or bad
But thinking makes it so.'"
Dudleigh Laughed lightly. "Ol
course you are bound to uphold Cathay
tonight, NJ murmuring the name
You must converse in character.
He gave her another look, half smiled
mo not so much as that-quarte1
smiled. M. LIE Noble asked her to prom.
enade, and she left him. He looked
after her with grave admiration. His
hostess being unengaged, he joined her,
talked to her for while; presently
went home.
The next day Mrs. Van Pedigree and
Miss Rhodes were paying visits together
A tall and stately individual passed theil
carriage as it drew up to the sidewalk
Mrs. Van Pedigree bowed cordially
Dudleigh was almost too much aston
ished, at seeing her Oriental of the prev
ious evening still in costume, to bow a
all.
''How astenishing!" she gasped
What on earth induces himP"
Induces whomp To do whatr'
That -Italian-to go about in broat
daylight dressed like Chinaman. y
Mrs. Van Pedigree looked after th
z relreating form Of her acquaintance
r " dear hs = not - 1tsIi1n. He 4