Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-07-12

in with its shrill. persistent little treble
in manner distracting to Dicks over
sensitive ear. He thought OF Mozsrt's
saying that the only thing in the world
worse than flute in an orchestra was
two flutes, and wondered at Mrs. Grey's
choice in music. Nevertheless, as long
as he was there he might as well dance,
and, looking around for familiar faces,
his first glance fell upon a brown-eyed
maiden when he had met at party
only the week before, and whom he had
admired with the guarded and half SUI
percilious admiration of a veteran So
ciety man. In another minute they
we're on the floor contending with their
fellow-creatures for a little room to
whirl around in, and seemingly success
full in their struggle, until slight lurch
sent them rather suddenly against an
other pair of dancers.
"That was stupid, wasn't it," said
Dick, as they stopped to take breath af-
ter the concussion.
"Yes," replied she of the brown eyes,
raising them frankly to his face. "You
are rather poor dancer. Perhaps you
are out of practice?
"Indeed ought not to be-" protested
Dick, in unutterable Indignation at the
charge. II never danced more tn my
life than have this winter"
IT'S that so? It must be awkward
ness them" said his companion gently.
''Some people never can thoroughly
learn. I think it is natural gift"
Dick wondered ifhe could have heard
Alright, or If that wretched little flute
still piping away so complacently, had
absolutely bewildered him Ifthere was
one thing he prided himself on more
than another-one gift, natural or other
wise, which he felt sure of possessing
it was his dancing. Was the brown.
eyed damsel out of her mind, or was she
simply an ill-bred little thing who did
not know good dancer from bad one I?
Which ever was the case, he lost no time
in citing rid of her, and, mute with
amazement and disgust, took revenge
among group of men at the door.
"You here, Turner ?" said one of them,
II hardly recognized you at first, you
look SO yellow"
"Do I, indeed ?" said Dick, shortly,
and wondering what he was doomed to
hear next.
II should rather think you did," was
the friendly answer. II just said to-
Smith here as you came up that between
your sallow skin and that bald spot on
your head you were beginning to look
like an old man before your time. Why
don't you take to country life and early
hours and freshen up little bit ?n
"Why don't you mind your own af-
fairs and kindly leave me to attend to
miner" retorted Dick, now thoroughly
aroused, and without waiting for anOth-
er word he veered around and left the
group, who one and all seemed pro.
foundly astonished at his ill-temper.
By this time b 9 began to feel little
uncertain who to approach next. Having
been told already that he was stupid,
ugly and bad dancer, what was there
left for him to hear? He certainly had
never met 80 many disagreeable people
in all his life, and he had serious
thoughts of beating permanent retreat,
when he caught sight Of q blonde head
half hidden behind the azaleas in the
conservatory. It was Florence Redifer,
whom he had never expected to meet to-
night and whom two hours ago he would
have Indignantly avoided. But for some
reason his contempt for her fattery and
falseness has been strangely modified in
30 short . time and he felt q positive
yearning to listen to her pretty nothings
and to see her blue eyes uplifted with
that tender glance of admiring trustful-
ness to his. It must have cost her q
great deal Of time and patience to culti-
vate that glance up to its present perfec-
ton and 1t was unkind, after all, to
sneer at the result of such honest and
enduring toll.
The.next minute he was by her side
She did look very pretty her fair hair
tumbled in some mysterious fashion on
the top of her shapely little head; her
bright face lit up with smiles, and her
white silk cleaning under the colored
lamps with . soft and shifting radiance
that pleased Dicks cultivated eye. He