The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-21
man paced up and down with quick,

toms governess-this girl, whose sudden
transition from comparative luxury to
bitter poverty had only awakened the
dauntless daring, the answering reso-
luton underlying her lighter, happier
nature.
Hark! was that her step?
He leaned forward eagerly, then,
though he raised his hat with gentle
manly Difference, drew back disappoint-
edly as he caught sight of the elegantly
attired young figure of his widowed
neighbor, Mrs. Caryngton.
''Mr. Deane!" in sudden surprise,
with one of the coy bushes that practice
had made perfect, and holding out a
Titanla-hke hand, exquisitely- gloved
'tyou here?"
''Yes. though l scarcely expected to
have the pleasure of meeting Mrs.
Caryngton. had made an appoint
| ment-"
"Indeedr' with charming sympathy.
Gentlemen are SO frightfully opposed
to punctuality"
'But my appointment was not with a
gentleman. II may as well tell you
how it is, Mrs. Caryngton, as we are
such old friends"
Mrs. Caryngton slightly WINGED.
Gas Miss Grantley is resident Of
your house at present, you of course
know how sudden and totally unex-
pected was the death of her father,
three months ago. I was engaged to
Miss Grantley, but the very day of the
sad affair, ignorant of the calamity,
left England. Arriving in London
again only a few days ago, l learned all,
and wrote to Vivian, requesting meet
ing here to-day. She has not come.
Pardon my troubling you with these
| personal details; but" with quick anx-
iety, ''could there have been any mis-
take? Mrs. Caryngton, do you know
| If a letter came for Miss Grantley yes
| terday?"
She had been looking at him all this
while with sympathetic blue eyes and
face, in which the searching March
sunshine could find no flaw.
Yesterday? Let me Think
A meditative droop Of the head, and
one faultlessly-gloved index finger laid
on the babyish, rosy lips.
"Oh, yes," looking up suddenly,
"there was letter for Miss Grantley
yesterday-square, white. l took it to
her myself
''Did she read itP'' he asked, breath
lessly.
Eyes. Tore it open, glanced through
it, laughed little, and flung it on the
school-room firer'
He clenched his hands tightly togeth-
er in all the anguish of q mans dead
hope.
.'Oh, Mr.. Deane.' in pretty, fearful
distress, "what have I said? Perhaps
it was not your letter. am SO sorry"
Thank you, Mrs. Caryngton, for the
shock which probably my conceit de-
served. But" with bitter laugh, ~
own l did not think woman could be
loyal for three short months. Good
byer'
He held out his hand with q careless,
friendly gesture that stung her; fol
friendship is, perhaps, the worst enemy
real love has.
For the first time, she whitened to the
very lips. Under all the glittering sham
and tinsel of her life lay a love as true
as natures like hers are capable of feel
ing, and that for the man before her
''Au reUoir, is it notp''
mo, it is adieu. am going away.''
She was playing for high stakes.
Was she losing? One moro venture
"Mr. Deane," leaving her little, grey
hand in his, speaking with shyest,
trembling confusion, II am sorry for
what have said-sorrier still for what
feel obliged to say For" lifting hel
troubled blue eyes to his anguished
grey ones, lit will be cruel kindness"
go on!'
"Well," faltering Just little, and ef-
fectively dropping long, golden lashes.
-''since Miss Grantley accepted my
proffered position as governess to my
little girl, "a gentleman has been at
the house almost constantly, and-oh,
Mr.. Deane, how l shrink from doing
you this harsh favor!-''she seems to
like and
s'Stopr" he cried, hoarsely. ''Miss
Grantley is privileged to choose her
own friends. 1 cannot listen to this.
You mean well, but-forgive me-good-
byer'
Her poisoned arrows had gone home.
But none the less terrible is the death
stab if the hand which plunged the dag
ger was small and jewelled; and fair!
Three years later.
Such q crowd as blocked Grosvenor
Place had not been seen for many
months. For tonight that brilliant lit
tie Parisienne and society pet, Madame
de Vivarol, gave ball.
Carriages rolled up to her door In an
endless string. Ladies, stepping dainti-
ly out on the carpeted, canopied pave
ment, swept up wide, marble steps, and
into very bower of bloom and beauty
into the softened radiance of many
lights, the tremulous crashing of mas
ter-music, the fragrance and glow of
tropical flowers.
Many, outside the fairy-land of mighty
Midas, and participating in this event
of the season only through the newspa-
pers, wondered, with a vague surprise,
why their 'little affairs did not go off
so well.
They forgot that very seldom do
the wheels of artistic taste run smooth
ly, unless bound by the magic tires of
wealth.
Within, the graceful little hostess fit
ted here and there, laughing, chatter
ing, bewildering; ready ever with
flash of repartee, the diamond-like
sparkle of wit, the latest mot!
She dropped her cavaliers arm with
quick lighting of black eyes, as girl
came towards her down the long-waxed
room.
"Ah, Mademoiselle Grantley, you
here? And you too, mon aatiz''
Vivian, radiant, girlish vision, all
pale rose-satin and foamy lace, laughed
and bowed as the vivacious little French
woman chartered on with her pretty for
| eign accent.
f.And you do look $3.50 beautiful
Yes, rarely beautiful, with those large.
dark, lustrous eyes ashine, that drift OF
carnation in the oval cheeks. Changed
| somewhat since we saw her three years
ago-a little more womanly, but inf
nftely more charming.
Sitting there, in the balcony, with the
silvery gardens before her, and the de-
licious. dreamy wall of Strauss waltz
floating to her ears, she fell to dreaming
of the past
She lived over again the time when
she found herself penniless and an or
phan. When, with obstinate pride, de-
clining the home which her then un-
known uncle had offered her, she had
taken a position as Mrs. Caryngton's s