The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-27
A Lover in Spite Of Himself
CHAPTER II (Continued.)

'1t's little idyl-a bit of romance,
you know, that | had imagined. | hoped
to take you back to America with me,
when ] went, and / expected nay sister
would come, too. Well, she's there al
ready. But I thought, don't you see,
that you meuld meet and perhaps see a
good deal of each other; and Pm certain
She's a girl of fine character, though she
may very likely be no great beauty to
look at; and of course she has half OF all
] own, and will probably decide to settle
down over there; and I'll defy any wo-
man who knows what you are to help
falling in love with YOU"
Floyd was actually stammering and
getting red in the face. | never felt my
heart so go out to man before or since.
Dear old Floyd, how little he knew what
an impossibility he was proposing.
"Pm not marrying man, Floyd"
was d I / was able to reply at the mo-
ment. but knew that he understood,
from my tone and look, how deeply his
suggestion had touched me.
After this ensaed rather long silence.
AT last he remarked. carelessly taking up
the note which old Joanna had brought
in with the beer,. and which I had quite
forgotten.
apparently I'm TO take your asser-
ton that you know nobody in town with
reservation. This looks like an invita-
tion from some of the upper ten. The
monogram is big enough"
"An invitation!-that can't be-" On
opening the envelope, however, found
that he was right. 1t was an invitation
to private fancy ball, at the house OF
no less person than my banker.
otis very strange; l never spoke ten
words to him in my life, and my balance
is none of the largest. It's tonight, too
short notice."
He didn't want to give you time to re-
fuse. Of course you'll 60. Let me look
ht it-Mr Wyndham and friend-that
means me. Well go together"
A good deal to my own surprise, |
found that Floyd's proposal was by no
means so distasteful as ! should have
supposed.
The truth was, I much needed some
distraction. This fancy ball would
serve to pass away what otherwise bade
fair te be a very uncomfortable evening.
After little discussion, therefore, I con-
sented to accompany him thither; and as
evening was already coming on, we sal
lied forth to procure dominos. A few
hours later saw us ensconced in adrosky,
rattling over the uneven pavements to
our destination.
{" shouldn't wonder, by the way" re-
marked Floyd, as we alighted, "if that
divine creature were to be here"
Had this suggestion been advanced
earlier it would have made an important
modification in my plans; but it was now
too late to draw back.
bethought myself, too, that it was
highly improbable, considering how short
time she had been in town, that she
should have received an invitation; and
if the worst came to the worst, could
slip away whenever l chose.
We went on up the illuminated stair
case, therefore, and having delivered our
credentials to the doorkeeper-a warrior
of the sixteenth century, armed cap-a-
pie in panoply of proof-we advanced to
pay our respects to the host and hostess
of the occasion, who smiled to US in the
guise of Nutcracker and Sugardolly.
"It is the greatest pleasure that meet
you,' said the former, in broken Eng
lish, but with entire cordiality, holding
my hand afectionately as he spoke. owe
have too little seen of you here--you are
too MUCH to yourself. 1t shall be our
hope that you now do us the honor very
often. You shall find some of your
compatriots here tonight, I think, all
very anxious to enjoy the favor of your
presentation. Dear sir, till our next
meetp
Meanwhile, Madame Sugardolly was
saying something equally as civil to
Floyd.
That was natural enough; his wealth
and consequent Importance were proba-
ably well known, but l was at a loss tc
II understand such sudden access Of fat
! tering attention to me. l was nobody,
and accustomed to be treated according
3tly. Could my worthy banker be labor.
hing under the delusion that l was some.
5ody else?
Leaving this question to solve itself, ]
look Floyd's arm, and We threaded oul
Iyay slowly through the brilliantly and
.,rotesquely attired crowd.
Many quaint and graceful figure was
here, but none with which either of us
Vas familiar. l saw that Floyd was
keeping keen lookout for some one, and
lad no difficulty in guessing who il
might be. But we made the circuit Of
sll the rooms in vain. We drifted al
length into the haven Of small side.
oom, curtained off from the other apart
lnents by heavy portiere hanging across
The doorway, Lights were burning in
st, and comfortable sofa stood at one
tnd, but there was no one there. 1t was
h discovery Of cur own.
"Tell you what we'll do, old chap"
laid Floyd. ut is now eleven o'clock
Let us separate here and pursue our sew
,ral fortunes for the space of an hour
iafter which-that is, twelve precisely
1--we will rendezvous in this room and
notes. What saw your
~ ...I~ - ohfon+.o,,a ax.d u,o !