Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-08-28
ENHAGED IN FUN.

ENGAGED IN FUN.
"Why, Daisy! What can the matter be
Actually crying?' And Eric Mostyn'.
grave, good face was full Of pity, as stepping
through the French window of the littl(
Swiss cottage where the sea breezes swayec
the lace curtains, he saw his pretty cousin
leaning her head on the gay sofa pillow, in
a most disconsolafe attitude.
She lifted her head and put her handker.
chief to her eyes, and then gave wintry
little smile.
''Oh, Erie, I am heart -brokenr' And
down went the fair head again, and piteous
sObs convulsed her afresh.
A look of dismay was in Mr.: Mostyn's
kind face as he drew low chair beside the
lounge and caressed the beautiful hair that
was all aglow in it's loveliness of shade and
texture.
f'Oh, no, my dear little cousin, not heart
broken, Heartsick and sore because Lum.
ley Warner has had the bad taste to flirt
with Miss Darrell, instead of doing his duty
with his little sweetheart-hurt, Daisy, but
not heart t-broken. Hearts do not break SO
easily"
| Daisy lifted her head with quick, won
dering look.
s'You don't know anything about it,
Eric. You are kind q ever you can be, but
you don't know what mean, because you
never loved anybody
He smiled graveIy. Daisy could never
have told all that smile hid.
| "You are mistaken, cousin. | comfort
Iyou from\personal experience. Hearts do
not break, OF mine weuld have broken long
ago when the only one ever loved showed
her decided preference for another"
A quick exclamation answered him, and
surprised, tender smile curved her lips.
"Oh Cousin Eric, is it possible you cared
so much for any one? How could she have
preferred anybody to you? Oh. l am so
sorry l can sympathize with all my heart,
because-I was sure he loved me better
| than anybody else"
| Somehow her distress hurt him, this dear
| little cousin of his, who all her life had gone
| to him with her troubles, and looked to
him for counsel, and who, when she had
one day confessed to him that Lumley War
ner had told her he loved her. and they were
engaged-that he hoped she would be very
happy, although he was fearful that Lumley
| Warner had won a precious prize, whose
value he had doubted her lover rightly ap-
preciated; and he had been noticing the
| time-it was just six months now-and
handsome Lumley was flirting with Miss
Darrell, as no engaged man had any business
| to do.
"And don't know what to do about it, -
said Daisy, twisting her diamond engage
ment ring-mocking token'-on her finger
''What must do, tell me Eric ?'
He bent his steady, almost wistful look
into her innocent eyes.
'Since you love him so dearly, there is
but one thing to do-overlook his detection,
and restore him to favor when ne chooses to
cease his truant wandering. who loves
much forgives much,' they say.'
| A sudden little hot flush flew up into her
face.
'You mean am TO sit down and wait
until Lumley is ready to come back ?''
"That is all you can do, isn't it since
yet
She Strengthened up from her detected at
titude, her eyes sparkling.
"But, Eric, much as l wish he would
come back, and dearly as | love him, l
never will do that? will take some other
means. will punish and pique him into
coming back. Why couldn't I play the
same game that Lumley is playing? I can
I can-and he will come right back to me
and he will think I don't care, and he will
make up and be happier than ever.'
She was smiling through the tears on her
dark lashes. Eric thought what scoun-
drel what a fool, what william the man
was who acted as Warner was acting.
"Well Daisy, and how will you do it 2"
'Don't you see ? Eric, l will take off
Lumley's ring and put on one of yours
'ttffris one, and you must let me be engaged
to you. You will, won't you? And we'll
fiirt-oh, awfully, Cousin Eric, and every
body shall know It; and then-don't you
see ?-Lumley will be so sorry, and-oh it
will end like fairy story?"
Mr.. Mostyn had got up suddenly to close
the window, the wind was blowing so keen
ly, and when he came back there were no
traces in his face of the white agitation he
sprang up to hide from Daisey's eyes"
Engaged to me is it, ma petite2 Well
it promises very pleasantly for awhile. I
assure you l will make a most divoted
chevalier. But only think what will become
of me when Pm no longer wantedp
He laughed as he took q cameo and pearl
ring off his watch chain and slipped it on
Daisy's finger with a great show of cere-
mony, just touching the fair hand to his
lips.
ooh, Lumley and l will love you so for
ever and ever, Eric! You are so kind and
good Don't you know" and looked at
him with wondering eyes. 81 cannot
comprehend how that lady preferred any
one to you"
A perfect storm of passionate pain swept
over his face for second before he replied
lightly
"There is no accounting for such things,
is there? Come, my little fance let open
the play with drive along the esplanade
with my bays y
Miss Maude Darrell was looking very hand
some as she leaned back against the cushions
Of the magnificent barouche that was being
drawn along by the pair of black horses
that were among the finest at London-by-
the-Sea. She was dressed as became a
beauty and heiress, a carriage costume of
pure white, with a white lace-covered
parasol, and the CLEAN of dead gold .ewelry
in her ears, and on her bosom and wrists.
An exquisitely beautiful woman, with a
fair colorless face, eyes that were large
dark and shadowy, and hair the very hue
and tint of sunshine on summer day.
She had only been at the seaside few
days but it was long enough for Lumley