Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-01-26

'hcy WeIe century hBo J ""'-
oh, Ella interrupted . fresh
girlish voice, rs q young lady stepped
through one OF the long drawing
room windows on TO the piazza, a
faint rose flush tinglng her cheek, as
she saw too late that she had come
She was q beautiful girl, dressed In
the very hight and extreme Of fashion,
from the tip lof the little boot to the
crown Of the aower-wreathed hat.
My friend, lAlr. Arnold, Maud
Miss Kingsland, Mr. Arnold
So this was Claud Arnold whom
she bad heard Of all her lie. She
was not sorry for the interruption,
after all still, stealing only n glance
at tho dark, handsome face, over which
all women raved, aud delivering the
message which had brought her, she
disappeared as she had come
who is she = qucrried the man.
Ralph Kingsland's daughter, and
an heiress. am chaperoning her for
n few weeks, as her mother is an in
valid. Not at all the sort OF girl you
are In search Iof. So see to 1t that
you do not trespass upon my manor
in quest OF idle amusement.
Notwithstanding which kindly
warning, it was straight to Miss
Kiugsland's side that Claud Arnold
wended his way, when, about nine
o'clock the same evening, she entered
the ballroom.
He had watched her as she crossed
the hall on Mr.. Sheldon's arm, and
was iain to acknowledge her The most
beautiful girl that Newport yet boast
ed.
She was exqusitely dressed, too, in
some soft, filmy fabric Of white, grace
fully draped over snowy satin, her
neck and aims bare, and void oil orna-
ment except two glistening jewels in
the pink, shell-like ears.
Not at all the woman tor a wife,
be mentally Isoliloquized 'but as a
partner for a dance, enough to make
one the envy Of all the fellows in the
room.
Thanks, she answered, in low,
musical notes, but / have not an
empty space tonight. l am passion
ately fond Of dancing, and my friends
are good enough to see that ! have no
lack of partners
OF course, an entirely unselfish ac-
ton upon their part was his reply,
with just suspicion of pique in his
tone.
Heretofore, with Claud Arnold, the
desire was simply father to its attain
ment, and now he must wait twenty
four hours ere he could clasp this
girls waist, and feel her hand in his,
as they foated through the room to
some OF Strauss dreamy music.
well, then,' he continued, 'sball it
be tomorrow night, and will you put
me down twice 2
with pleasure, she said, simply, as
her partner approached to claim her.
Somehow it was all stale and un-
profitable to Claud that night, and
when he retired, rather earlier than
his custom the thoughts which mingl-
ed with the smoke from his fragrant
Havanas, as he sat by his window,
listening TO the oceans roar, were it
anything trihe more cynical than his
usual wont-nor did he sleep as sound
ly as usual.
Il need walk he said to himself,
next morning, and started of about
nine o'clock for a solitary stroll.
In this, however, he was doomed to
disappointment, for, turning sudden
angle on the beach. he came face to
face with Miss Klngsland.
what unexpected good fortune ]!
he exclaimed doffing his hat. Il did
not dream you were such an early
riser, looking as he spoke, at the
bright color the morning breeze had
brought into her cheek, and the dark
eyes so frankly uplifted to his own.
Z "Frightfnlly unconventional, is il
not ?" she queried, with little low
rippling laugh. "But one must bt
alone sometimes, and so l am driven
to it in self-defence." ..,.'l
Rather an untaeling hint that my
mornings t,espass must not be repeat
cd" said he ruefully.
"Oh, no, indeed! We would moi
be likely to meet again ia any case. =
, Besides the beach is public property.
Again that uncomfortable sense o
pique pervaded her listeners irame.-
Really it appeared matter OF mos
Il IL ~ i,