Fair play., 1881-06-25

tHAPEf- N.-tDSTlSCED.
The girls fac flushed rs his hands
touched the rippies of dark hair. He
parted it so as TO show the pretty little
ears that were like pink shells. He
certainly took more time than was re-
CURED for the "itica Either the rose
was the most stubborn of roses or the
hair the mos; tiresome of hair. The
touch Of his hand was like caress.
and the beautiful head dropped with
the shy grace of child. 1t seemed TO
her quite unnecessary that he should
hold the heavy braids of her hair in
his hand so long-and yet she was
spell-bound.
THAT is perfect he said ut length,
with a deep sigh. '.You ought always
TO live in Spain aud wear roses. Lean.
You are matchlessr'
Then a sudden stir near him recalled
Lady Viola to his mind. He left Lean
with an effort and went up to her.
Now. Lady Viola" he said
Are you sure, Mr.. Ross, that You
are quite at liberty. and that YOU have
leisure to attend to me?' she asked. But
the sarcasm was lost on him.
tifnl Lean looks with that crimson rose
In her dark hair! Now let me find
something for you. All. see some Ill
les! Nothing could be better! l will
get you some"
He returned in a few minutes with the
flowers in his hand.
These will suit you rGrir, Lady
Viola,' he said. "The white, snowy
leaves will contrast well with the gold
of your hair.'
But her heart sank within her He
had spent several minutes in arranging
the red rose in Leans dark ha'r: but
he made no offer t" place the lilies in
hers. He put them into her hands and
smiled with a kindly, honest smile into
her face.
What are you thinking of. Mr..
Ross" she asked, a few minutes later,
when Lean stood bv her side.
81 was thinking,' he answered. slow
ly, THAT as you stood there together
you were each perfect in Your different
WAYS. was wondering which an artist
would prefer-the dark head with the
crimson rose, or the golden head with
the lilies; and could not decide"
THAT is 4 terrible confession 10
make" laughed Lean; ''but the COM
fort of it is, neither of us can be jeal-
ousr'
The little dance-as Lady Cumnor
persisted in calling twas great sue
cess. They all enjoyed it very much;
but. long before the evening was over.
Lady Viola saw that Ross had given
the whole passionate love of his heart
to beautiful Lean DynevOr, although
he himself hardly knew it. Lady Viola
was not one TO bear malice. She was
generous enough to admit that it was
no fault OF Leans. Her faultless
beauty and grace. her dark. bewitching
eyes. and face so full of passion and poe
try. would have lured away the heart of
any man. Lady Viola sighed as she
thought of it all.
Il am only twenty" she said to her
self. They say that the women Of
our family are all lOng-iived. l may
live for forty years longer: but, long rs
may live. there will never again creep
into my life one gleam of sunlight or
one hope of happineSs-never again.
OF what use is it that nv hair is like
god and my eyes like the color of a
heartsease, as these men say? They
have done no good for me The only
love care to win has been won from
ME in one brief hour. and is given for
ever.'
She made her escape from the ball
room: and. leaving her partner to look
for her in despair. she went to the blue
drawing-roOm. She had strange de-
sire to kneel at the window and look at
the silvery mere. That would comfort
her, She iel,. and she could say long
farewell to the spot she loved so well,
and where she had once dreamed her
life might be spent. There was no
trace of resentment in her heart. no
anger, but some little wonder that Ross
had been so easily won, and that her
beauty had been less than nothing to
him.
The blue drawing-room was not
lighted; it was not near the suite of re-
ception-rooms that were used for the
dance. The moon poured in food of
silvery light which gave to everything
weird. ghastly effect. 1t did not
daunt Lady Viola; she liked the thought
OF being alone in the moonlight where
she could do battle with her feelings
She sat down by the great window. her
hair ike q crown with the snowy lilies
in its golden depths. her fair sweet face
with It's radiance dimmed. and tears
trembling on her eyeiashes- So she sat
watching the mere. and thinking how
man, happy hours she had spent on the
water-hours that could never come
again
Ii was all over now. the sweet dream
of her life. She would 90 away from
Larchton Mere ON the morrow. she said
to herself, and she would never return