Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-11
And thus our hero was flung hither

and yon on the waves of the fair, draw
ing nearer. however, with every descrip-
ton, to the table over which shone the
blue stars of Fanny Clen's eyes.
But when he got there he was smitten
with sudden silence.
Fanny looked wonderingly up.
"It's fine evening"" he hazarded.
SIS it?" asked Fanny. "Why, I
thought it was showing"
$50 it is" said our hero, growing
very red, and ovsrturning with his elbow
a crimson Venetian flask (for which he
Immediately had to pay a sovereign.
ell mean it isn't very fine evening"
"Ohp said Fanny.
eyes," said Martyr, feeling acutely
that he had made donkey of himself.
Then he went away, and didn't see
Fanny Clen again the whole evening
probably because she was the only per-
son in the whole room that he cared a
| fig about seeing at all. But SO unkind
is fate to love and lovers.
| Just as he was edging his way out Of
the place, in very dispirited and de-
jected frame of mind, there was rush
and futter, and he heard his own
name called in all the notes Of the hui
man gsmut.
"What is it % he asked, vaguely
staring around him.
"You've drawn the big doll |" cried
little Sibyl Percy, dancing up to him,
and laying in his arms the huge waxen
abomination. with its fossy yellow curls
and imposing pink and white COM
| plexion while somebody else brought
the big trunk and little band-box. "1t's
just like travelling with a wife," said
Sybil, mischievously.
| "But what the-ahem what am I to
do with it" asked our bewildered
hero.
"Give it to somebody" said Sibyl,
inwardly hoping he would act promptly
on the suggestion and bestow the prize
on her. 'Any one would be delighted
to receive such present"
"Do you think he would2" asket
Mr.. Ellerslie, vacantly. And then ht
went away.
"Great stupid fellowl" cried Sybil
spitefully, and she tripped back to hel
table.
81 never saw such goose, said
Laura Darlington, who had three sisters
of her own at home
"But what am 1 to do with it?' said
Martyr to himself, as he traversed the
wintry gloom Of the midnight streets
"Oh, I have It'll" I'll give it to Fanny
Glen and she can make Christmas
present of it to her little black-eyed
cousin i
| He laid the doll, rejoicing, on {
sofa, and went to bed, sinking into
dreamland just about the time thai
Fanny Glen was taking the hair-pin!
out of her magnificent golden hair be
fore the dressing bureau in her owl
apartment.
"Why, Fanny, what ails you ?" criet
Dora, her eldest sister. "You're cry
ing?"
"Pm SO tired" guiltily confessed
poor Fanny.
And she wept herself to sleep, think
ing how foolish she had been, and tina
of course Martyr Ellerslie didn't care
straw about her. Why should he?
Mr.. Ellers,ie rose the next mornin
. full of his momentous resolve, an
made such toilet that the very land
lady's little boy, seeing him go out wit
big doll, neatly encased in her paste
board box, under his arm, elected, pre-
fanely,-
" Oh, my eye, what swell !"
The black eyed, little cousin admit
ted him. Yes, Cousin Fanny was 6
home-would he walk into the parlor
And our hero, before he had fairl
made up his mind in what terms to b,
stow his gift, found himself bowling
a fair-headed vision in sunny littl
room, surrounded by heads of cut fov
ers.
"How do you do, Mr.. Ellerslie
said Fanny, coloring and smiling ."
am making boquets, you see, for to
night"
" EXACTLY so," said Martyr, and the
he reflected how much more appropr
ate remark he might have made an
turned very red.
"Pray sit down." said Fanny.
1.-the fact is, Miss Clen," sal
Mr. Ellerslie, plunging in sheer despe
alton into the midst of his subject "
have called-I hope you won't be vexe
you have only to say so if you dor