, 1881-09-16
A RIBBON.

1t was a simple thing to do so much
a strip of rose pink silk--and certainly
harmless in itself. But it caused Launce
Lisle the worst heartache of his life. 1
will tell yOu about it.
Virginia Payne, of CRANKY, never
fiirted. That was fact patent among
her admirers. Handsome she was, witty
and charming. beyond compare; but
never had folly enough to think that
the warmest smile that ever parted the
red lips meant more than would read in
an open book. If Virginia would write
between the lines, she had never done
so, though she was one-and-twenty.
For three months she had been mis-
tress of CRANKY, a magnificent old family
Inheritance. The great mansion of pale
gray stone set among lawns and gardens,
beautiful beyond compare, was her very
own, and her home, and il had been the
home and possession of all her line for
over 100 years. From father to son, and
finally from father to daug hter, CRANKY
had come to her. And there she dSelt
with her guardian, Mr.. Israel, her Aunt
Content and goodly train of servants
The heiress of CRANKY being who she
was and what she was, was toasted far
and near, and naturally would have be-
one clause of her fathers will 1t had
been the one prayer of his life, and it
was his dying request, carefully worded
on paper, that Virginia, then child of
nine years, should marry Launcelot
Lisle. He was his stepson, already a
young man of character and weight. But
he had never lived at CRANKY, and when
Virginia, at 16, met him, she could
not remember ever to have seen him be-
fore.
1t was on the day of her fathers fune-
raj. Her stepsister had been dead seVe-
raj years, and but for the sister of her
mother, Aunt Content, she was quite
alone. Launce had almost Immediately
gone back to London, but he had come
TO her, shivering In her block robes,
under all the excitement, and said gently.
that he feared she would be very lone
some-that he wished he could remain at
Granby-that he might be of some SER
vice to her, etc. but briefly he was gone,
and she had returned to school
At IS she was at CRANKY again, and,
with he guardians approval and per-
sonal oversight, saw much company. 1t
was better she should see something of
the world before choosing a husband, he
said; and so, people argued she was not
engaged to Launce Lisle, though Vir
ginia said freely that she was so, unless
Mr.. Lisle preferred otherwise, sipce her
father had wished it. Whatever the
truth might be, the fact seemed to make
fortune-hunters at least frequent. But
one fact, as have said, was pate Mt
Miss Payne never hirted. Many argued
the proof of her engagement from this;
others instinctively read another cause
in a certain vestal purity of the girls
cOuntenance when in utter repose.
In the play of conversation it was
eharmingly vivacious and fascinating.
Her crimson lips and soft black eyes,
the white temples and radiant color,
helped make up face which, when
fairly seen. could never be forgotten.
Certainly Launee Lisle thought so,
coming upon it suddenly, for another
brief week of his life. on a hurried
business trip to New York.
1t was Just after Virginia became le-
gally mistress of CRANKY. She was
spending the winter III the city.
''I say, Launce," said Payton Les
ley, you will see your betrothed to-
night. She is to be at Madam Hy-
acinth's."
Launee made no reply, but when he
was alone with his sister, a very sweet
woman, whom he dearly loved, he
asked:
"Do you know Virginia Payne, Prue?"
Mrs. Roberts replied that she did.
do you like her?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Roberts, with de-
cision.
That was enough. Launce said no
more. But at the supper table Vir-
ginia's name was again mentioned. He
heard then that she had never firted.
He was conscious of dressing with
unusual care. for the evenings enter
tainment. Before he left the house he
took from a trunk a photograph sent
by Virsinia's father some twelve years
previously. 1t represented a slight
child of eight. with soft. dark eyes,
and wealth of dark, curling hair. He
had the pale child's image dimly in his
mind, confused by the memory of the
same at sixteen-a timid girl, trem-
bling in her black dress-when, an
hour later, he came face to face with
Virginia, in her flush cf youthful love
illness.
Mr. Israel, upon whose arm she
leaned, welcomed him warmly.
''We are going back to CRANKY to-
morrow. Come soon and visit us" he
said.
Launce did not know what words he