Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-29
GaIes arro Skftfkts.
CONTINUED from yesterdsy.)

This was the celebrated beauty, Lady
Norieigh, once Miss Talbot. She was still
lovely, though there were hard lines now
round the beautiful mouth, and restless
look Of WEAKNESS and discomfort in the
large blue eyes-a curious contrast to Flor
RES serene content.
Glow do you do, Alice p said Miss
barley. Il decline to argue the point:
thought you were in London What
brings you into these parts ?"
"0h. came" said Lady Norleigh, flip
PANTY, because Norleigh wanted me not
TO come"
Norleigh, standing by, laughed ieebly,
and tried to look as if it were a joke. in
which attempt he failed. He was that
miserable-l looking little man who bad how
cred 30 humbly round Alice in this very
room years ago. Several unexpected
deaths having considerably altered his
worldly position. had also altered Miss
Talbot's sentiments toward him. Never
theless he looked none the happier for his
double good fortune. Lady Norleigh
passed on in her diamonds, lace and satin
the cynosure of all eyes-while Florrie.
in her sober black gown, placed herself on
q bench, prepared to amuse herself by
watching her girls amuse themselves.
though her attention wandered good deal
to her former rival.
"Auntie," said one of her nieces, sud-
denly startling her from an intent. half-sad,
half amused observation of Lady Nor
leigh. II want to introduce" the name
was lost.
II think have had the pleasure Of
meeting your aunt before, Miss Darley."
said the gentleman In voice which in Is
years had never faded from Florrie's
memory; which even now brought such
rush Of mingled pain and pleasure, such
suffoeating heartbeats, that, for moment.
the sedate old maid was unable to speak.
She shook hands with the speaker as if in
a dream, was dimly conscious Of his sit
ting down beside her and making trivial
remarks about the weather. the decora.
tons of the room and so on. Gradually
she collected herself enough to look at
him, and to take in the changes time had
made In him. They were not many. He
was still handsome. but very mach older,
both in manners and appearance. more so
than even the lapse of years accounted for.
but Florrie decided that she would have
known him anywhere. He did not stay
long beside her, and presently Florrie
saw him talking to very pretty woman,
whose youthful appearance, combined
with her exceedingly smart attire, pro-
claimed her bride. Whose bride? As
Florrie noted the affectionate admiration
with which Colonel Peyton looked upon
her, she thought she had no need to ask,
and, indeed, almsst at the same moment
her niece said to her:
"Is she not pretty? Mrs. Peyton,
mean"
''She is very pretty Florrie said. with
q smothered sigh. With profound half.
painful interest she watched the fair
young wife.
"She looks good" she thought, las il
she would make a man happy. Heaven
bless him. Heaven bless them both"
Col. Peyton, however. did not spend
the whole evening in attendance upon his
bride. He presently went in search Of
Lady Norleigh. with whom re had al.
ready resumed his acquaintance. She
was extremely gracious to him. and
smiled as brilliantly as ever, but it was a
hard smile.
There was a certain defiant harshness
now in her whole bearing.
"Well," said she. as they took their
places in quadrillc exactly opposite
Florrie, chow do you find England after
80 many years OF absence ?"
II find it," he replied, $50 changed
that l am tempted to return tn India and
never repeat this experiment"
"Oh, nonsense" she said gayly. 81
suppose you did not expect TO find every.
thing just as you left it,"
"No," he answered. smiling, 81 was
hardly so unreasonable as that, but was
not prepared for so many changes"
Come now. What changes ?" she
urged. "For my part could almost fancy
not an hour had passed since" She
paused and then said: do you remem
Der ball here about-well, won't say
how many years ago."
II do remember" he said gloomily.
"And here we all are again." she con
tinued; '.most of US at least. Here am
/, here are you. and there"-with slight
change in her voice and glance at Flor
rie-"is Florrie barley"
His manner changed too.
"Yes." he said. "She is not changed.
"You fatter her," said Lady Norleigf
sharply.
He looked confused for moment, bu,
went on undaunted.
'.She looks a. good. rs sweet. as con-
tented as she did eighteen years ago
Hers is indeed face to make one feel the
better for looking at, to save one from
believing that there Is no truth or faith
LEFT in the world
The meaning Of this TRADE being
said Lady Norleigh. sarcastically, THAI
you are conceited enough to believe thai
Miss barley has been wearing the willow
for you all these years. Don't look sc
innocent and indignant. You know a
we'll as do that you nearly broke hel
heart once; only. luckily. hearts are no
made of breakable stuff. and hers wa!
mended long ago." Then, with a sudder
softenlng Of tone. perhaps with som'
vague wish to atone for the wrong she
had once so deliberately done Florenc'
barley, she added. half to herself: "Bu
the scar remains, / think. Yes, you arr
right; she is brave, true woman, ane
you-were = fool"
II know it." he said with a quiet EN-
phasis that Lady Norleigh quite under
stood.
When the dance was over and Colone
Peyton had left his partner he went owe
to Florrie and sat down beside her.
."Do you remember" he said ''that yor
nromised To dance with me the first time