The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-03-11

The s~o stood togethsr at the %
trance Of the Lighted and pssfunst
bali room. They bad just meved "a
from smoog The ooaples o. The Aose
vaers they had been weltxioG ip tim
to the strains Of The sschsnting mud
that came from the screen Of flower,
which hid the musicians.
The girl bresthed quickly, . fush
soft and delicate Was % her f6ee. and. I
lovely glow was In her syei & 80,
The man, lookiag d0wa ss hse, fsl,
bis pulses go quicker and quicker
When he had 6rst bsea presented 4
Mercy Cbeevsr. he had beoo told ths
she was . regular dist.' and bess
warned not to fall into her tolls. Ill
laughed at tho vsrning; six wesks sftn
y knew this woman could make hin
uSest miserao ole ot most happy.
Shall we not 60 ON. Il 10 cooler ia
tue next roem.' said M Spencer.
The two vent forward to the sdiois-
ing room. whose vide. half.shadowJ
spaces were very inviting sfier thl
bsii!isncs and heat Of the dance
1 have made IN importsst dscisios
tonight. said Spencer. leas,ng over d,
chair on which the girl lad seated her
self.
She looked up. for there WAS an i'm
pressiveLsss in his toue which startled
her. She WAS going to speak lightly
but instead sLe ssked, gravely:
What IL it,
1 have decided to tell you what il iu
my heart-to tell you that l lese youl'
He bent lower - hs spoke an6 biz
burning eyes sought t., read her face
He could tot know that her heart had
given sudden and almost sufYocatina
bonnd. then had seemed t. stand still
She did not reply instantly. Whs,
she did speak. her voice was perfectly
calm. and the man beard the scoiinv q
t.
'Ireslly had not expected thAt n,
Speu.er would carry his Irritation ta
this extent. she said.
S,~nser turned white. II, dill not
speak, and Miss Chrev-r went on:
Il VA told that you c"unsed many
hearts which Lsi ben given over into
your sacred k-epi"y. bat / really hxd
uo' KIP c'e,i You would ask fsr mine.
The sirl l.ughe = little
Spens-i's face turned frcn ~hite "a
red. aud his lips tseublsd ct the meu :
ory Of bis folly in boosting Of the kis6.
ness to him. Hs bed thus boasted. Il
MAS . dsspicsble thing to have done.
aud be had opportunity now for repent
auce.
Mercy Cheevsr rose. anil raid, - il
nothing had happened:
i an sufficiently rested now. Will
you take NE back {, the ball ro1m?'
No. yet. he snswered
Mercy said nothing. hut stsod look
ing 1t him hsughtily. In y moment,
however. she remarked:
1t will not harm NE t" 90 slons.'
i beg you will wait. Did I make
you understand that love yoa-thal
you have inspired passion stroo9 a
life in me7 Oh. can you not be msrci-
fal to me?'
His voice v,brated with his emotions
and M.rcy's face changed. her sysl
chasged. her eyes wavsssd, bot only
for . breath. Sss drew herself up q
che said. With icy bittsrness:
Mr. Spenser. you have doubtless
acted ihs part of ardent loyse 20 -oetai
that that fact sccounts f,r your porfec-
tiun ir the rOle.'
Spencer stepped ssids. bowed low.
= UA ..NE,s.A ~. hsa ~,... n
ed in silence back 10 the ball rooa. b
conducted her to . seat. bowed lov and
agsi" left her.
The glance that she gavs him showed
that his face looked cold and cot d
marble. He left the room and did not
return.
A fsw moments later. ssd Mercy
Cheever Was dancing again. What
was she thinkine2 What wes Shs
fe~liDg? It was Impossible to tell froo
her taos
Two hours after midnight the hotel-
parlors where the publio hall Nd beeA
gwen were deserted and dark. II hel
r"om in the hotel. Mercy Chsever ~
in dressing.gown. her hair about hss
shoulders. her eyes 6xed on . note-a
uots shs had just written, foe TIE ink
Was +, ct yet dry. This vas vhAt ~
had written:
.lY DRA1 DoRA: I have ooon NJ.
Sperser. and hs he's nsdo low - ~
- you predicted thst be would. Iaa
under the Impression thss have rsfus-
Cd him. - l prouised 70 d. ian
afraid I laughed ct hin. which was M
necessary. shalt psesaade naona te
leave THE city. I think ie . bossid place.
IQuits hsss it,
After . time che aroes and eaclossd
the note in an snvelops. sayiag to hsf-
ELF
That il the eod Of that
She did not 60 10 bed; che aoved
rs<tlessly about the room, fro~ sas Oh
iect to another. her eye scarcely ~
iog anything. Oncs ehe sai1:
There vas nothing elos q do. Bet
hox o,uld be ssem - much h easnesef'
Finally the nantsl closk -sGssck ths
hslf hour after three- She told Aersslf
that she mast 20 to bsdD Tue sDunca
in the hotel had a.l ssbsidsd; every
body seemeds to b elesping. ah1 ~
clerk. in spite Of the gas burning just
N front Of his ices. vss fully hsli
asleep.
AZ Msnry vsiksd T. her ows does. "a
see N II waro Looked. kha honf6 = Aanl.