The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-15

s. the same polite, calm nOnohaldat ,manne
!. with Which he met other women, Jessi,
grew thoroughly piqued. Exercised all he
arts and pretty coquetries, and still failing
10 win the special admiration, nay evci
love, on'whieh she had counted, she fount
herself bestowing much more thought OF
this provoking man, than she had eve
wasted on ono of his species; before.
Of course he knew nothing OF hll this
WhateVer may have been his ownSfceling
on the subject, it never once occurred to him
mat She was thinking of anything more
serious than the mere amusement of the
hour, or did she herself know what it
Matters were IN this state when tho
ltnrtons, whose place adjoined Lynde
hurst announced their intention of giving
pail, to which number Of city people
were invited. Jessie, by this time, had
determined to try Indifference also, but OF,
her first aftempt had her temper ruffled by
the flash Of amusement which succeeded
the usual expression of half dreamy
calm, in- tue eyes of her tormentor.
Harry Hazelton was rather a handsome
man. He had fine figure, and whatever
his features lacked of perfect symmetry,
was atoned for by. the bright intelligence
an q frank truthfullness of his expression.
"A few days before Mrs. Burton's ball,
Hazeiton ANNOUNCED his intention of leav
ing the country as soon as 1t was over. The
time he had allowed himself for rest and
recreation was nearly over, and he must
return to the city and to his work. Then
jessie learnt, as by flash. that what she
had thought only Disappointment and p1uuc:
this feeling that had filled her thoughts
with his imuge; was something deeper
Something that terrified her, and made her
understand, somewhat, the pain which she
had too often carelessly inflicted On others.
Hazelton was looking at her earnestly,
though, so, with some laughing remark
she changed the subject, and soon after
left the room.
From this time, her mhiIiloT 10 him WAS
more indifferent and coqucttlsh than ever.
She was trying to prove to herself, as we'll
as 10 him, that she cared not for either his
presence or departure.
The nj ght of the ball, Jessie, and several
friends who had come up from town for it.
were waiting in the drawing. room lor some
more tardy individual, when Harry Hazel
ton dropped in, en- passant. Jessie was
making up little bouquets to decorate the
coats oi two gentlemen, who, in full partv
rig. were earnestly watching the process.
s'There, Captain Roland, could ANYTHING
be lovelier IL she exclaimed, as she handed
to one of them Gil exquisite combination of
tea-rose buds, heliotropc and geranlun
leaf.
'Nothlng could possibly be more lovely,
bliss Conrad, he answered, not looking
at the Howers at all, but into her face in
stead
JUST then Jessie saw HaZelton approach
ing, and smiling up into Captain Roand's
face, she gave him acoquettish q glance from
ner sort eyes. Dut no 0tlv ..J1IuGu tic tight
closing Of her lips, or the: y sh that over
spread her countenace, as she bent over
the table for more blossoms.
"And what shall yours be, Major Colder"
asked Miss Conrad.
"Oh, anything you like, Miss Conrad.
leave 1t to your taste entirely. Knowing
how perfect that is always"
rms was safe thing for the gallant
major to do, under most circumstances, as
he didn't know one flower from another
But tonight, Jessie, seized with a spirit
of mischief, arranged a little bunch of
marigolds, and pinning them to his coat,
bade him 20 ask Marie Burton the name of
his flowers, and they might serve him a
double purpose. The poor lran was deep
iy smitten with young lady in the neigh
Dorhood, but being bashful, could never
muster up the courage to propose to her
Jessie thought she would help him a little
Major Goide looked puzzled, and there
was general laugh, in the midst of which
she heard Hnzelton's voice saying softly
81 choose forget-me-nots for mine, Miss
Conrad"
But Jessie pretended not to hear, and
exclalming. Come, come, good people,
we are sadly forgetting Mrs. Burton and
those delicious Strauss waltzcs!" she
moved slowly toward the door. singing
softly to herself. - { "
Some time before, she had promised
Hazeton certain special dance for this
ball, but changed her mind afterward, and
was quite ready to ignore his claim. She
was just going of with some one else, when
he Came to remind her Oft, and she had a
saucy, half petuant answer on her lips,
when he said eagerly ''t
Don't say you have forgotten these.
You must at least remember that this is my
last dance with YOU"
Ills lace and tone were morc earnest
than she had ever known thcm and, half
against her will, she yielded. AS soon rs
the much disgustcd young man to whom
Jessie made her excuses had taken himself
off, Hazelton said ~ .r.
80. ~ 40 wv Whlll 10 uanCe CnlS evening;
will You come into the gardens with me in.
atead2" and Jessie asscntcd, much mar
yelling at his sudden indifference to the
long promised German. -,
They stroled on for somo minutes, talk
ing lightly and caroessIy of indifferent
| subjects, until their path crossed pretty.
sparkling little stream, spanned by rustic
bridge. The moonlight was floating all
things with asoft radiance; streaming over
the golden hair, and deepening the lovely,
liquid eyes of the young girl. Jessie
looked like veritiablc Undlne that night,
in her robes of pale green gauze. with the
jewels sparkling about her like drops of
purest water where they catch the rays of
light. Turning to one side Harry Hazel
ton arranged seat for her ut the foot Of a
Tree, and half reclining on the grass at her
feet, began throwing pebbles into the water.
Neither spoke for some time, for Jessie
dld not understand this new mood of bis,
and was occupied besides in trying to unr
| md n,,Ip <l,ot ~.,lt