The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-10-20
A GAY DECEIVER,

A clea., warm night, late in June; the
sky starless, yet beautiful in spite of It's
darkness, for the air trembles as with a
delicious sense of perfected summer.
Short, green grass, dry and soft to the
foot; over 1t move crowd of people in
evening dress. The women are mostly
IN white or very pale color; a few flash
and glow IN gorgeous crimson, well suit
ing the hour ana place. On every side
CLEAN a myriad of colored lamps; flower
beds are outlined with innumerable little
brilliant lights, while here and there a
tree Is changed from itself into a
falry-hke mass of strange foliage by a
brilliant light beneath it. The air is full
of music, full OF fragrance. Suddenly the
band begins to play Good Save the
queen. There is a general rising of
those who are lounglng upon chairs, a
general taking off of hats; and the royal
party passes down the broad walk
among the throng of well-dressed men
and women.
1t Is a fete-night at the Botanical Gar
dens; nothing more extraordinary. Yet
the superb un-Euglish stiffness of the
night, the warm sweetness of the air,
fills one with a certain excitement
There is a contented gaiety about the
crowd; it is so delightful to stroll over
the grass instead of being packed like
behring's in hot and gas-Iit drawing
rooms. And the sky seems perfectly
honest; there is no rain cloud harbOred
above; even the grass Is innocent of dew.
Who could help being happy here?
Lord Ferdle was unhappy, merely be.
I. ri, L
anyone who interested him. The women
of his set whom he met oa the promen-
ade were dull or dowdy; he cared for
none of them; TOR he was hungry for ex-
element; he had drunk well at dinner,
and he was young enough to be affected
by the soft midnight air. He felt in the
vein for adventure; but he preserved a
superb cOmposure, and walked the pro-
menade with an air of Indifference which
would have done credit to much older
masher. For Lord Ferdie, though a
magnificent specimen of our gilded
youth, had one great fault-he was ter.
rlbly young. His close cropped hair,
his perfect shirt-front, his solitary dia.
mond stud, his broad shoulders and adj.
mlrable coat-all were unimpeachable
but his upper lip had yet but the faintest
of downy growths. But the anxiou!
mothers with manageable daughters
liked him none the less for that. They
bore down upon him, but he evadeC
them all. For Lord Ferdie had founC
out what a bore it is to be made love tC
by anxious mothers and manageable
daughters. Their attentions had already
given him a great opinion of his Owl
worth, and of the superiority of his fas-
clnatlng powers; so he walked abou
alone, the admiration alike of the womer
and of the less gorgeous members of his
OWL sex; and he was hungering fOI
amusement as schoolboy hungers fol
tarts. The brllliapce of the scene, the
scented warmth of the air, made him de
sire something different from the dull
society he saw about him.
Suddenly flash from pair of CLEAN.
ing black eyes came straight into his
own. The look was so direct and full OF
meaning that it affected him almost like
an electric shock. He turned and saw
passing him slight figure draped IN
masses of white lace. Two dark red
roses were fastened on her shoulder.
lie went to the end of the walk, and
when he returned kept keen lookout
for the white lace and crimson roses.
and the burning black eyes. At last he
saw her coming. She seemed to be
aware OF his approach; for Just as she
passed nm she lifted her eyes and fas-
tened them again upon his. There was
something fierce and gypsy-like about
her face. Framed IN the cloud of white
lace, 1t looked strangely handsome.
1he fuI crimson lips trembled. as if
they were ripe for kissing. Lord
ferdle realized suddenly as she passed
nm, that she was walking alone. He
turned immediately and followed her.
In few moments she left the promen-
ade and went to an empty chair at the
side; here she sat down. Lord Ferdie
fingered near and watched her. Ev1-
IDENTIFY she was perfectly we'll aware of
his nelghborhood. Now and again she
would turn her eyes upon him for one
swift instant. At last she rose and
wandered slowly over the grass. 1t
looked awtully tempting, thought Lord
ferdIe. He hesItated one moment
only; the next he followed her. She
walked very slowly across the grass,
among the people who were moving over
II, toward thick group of trees, where
there were no Examinations. This ia
yored spot had already been discovered.
Here and there white dress cleaned:
ana very, very close might be seen the
tar surface of shirt front. Evidently
the NOOK was well approved by lovers.
Lord ferdle's fair unknown" moved
on with slow step, and at last paused
altogether. He was at her side. Sh