Omaha daily bee., 1883-11-10

to him:
at was very thoughtful in you, Mr..
Marcy, togcome so early this evening"
"Am | not always thoughtful2" he re-
piled, SO Familiarity as he held her hand in
his, that Nhlly saw a great friendship, If
nothing more, existed between them.
81 will not detain you now from your
visitors Conrad went IN to say; 'but l
hope you can find time to read a letter |
have for you"
Milly was standing behind them and
could not help seeing Conrad take from
his pocket a letter and place it in Miss
Lefeyre's outstretched hand. She saw the
unmistakable look in her eyes, the quick
blush on her check. Milly waited for
nothing more. She felt sick and dizzy;
and strange lights danced before her eyes;
but, knowing she must compose herself,
she struggled for strength to accomplish
it, and the color that had left her face
rushed back again. She returned to the
dressing-room and, unmindful of Conrad,
who was really waiting for her, found an
opportunity, under the cover of Judge
Morton's broad shoulders and the volum-
nous folds of his lady's stiff silk dress, to
steal unobscryed past him, down into the
dancing.room. She felt that the man
she had trusted had proved false to her
before her own eyes; but should the
world know it and her rival triumph in
her DISCONTINUED No! she would bury it
all in her own hart, and none among that
careless throng should ever suspect she
was a sighted woman.
Watching her opportunity, Milly took
possession of a low seat Mt the end of a
sofa, where she could escape observation
and yet command a view of the door at
which Conrad stood chatting with Mary
Derwent. All the time, however, he
was looking eagerly about as if he were
expecting some one to appear. Milly's
better nature asserted itselfas she thought
he was surely looking for her and how II n
ladylike she had been acting, when she
saw Miss Lefevre cross the hall and place
her hand on his shoulder. How beautiful
she looked with that smile and blush,
while the glance she lifted to his face was
full of consciousness.
Come, sir" she said to him, show
shall W. begin the evening" Shall | sing,
and will you accompany me? | am in n
very obliging mood tonight" And again
that conscious smile flashed over each
face.
1t is needless to tell how NIilly suffered
as she heard her lovers voice blend with
that of her rival, or when she saw him
bend over her to turn the leaves of her
music and whisper soft words in her ear.
At last the girls heart began to harden;
n flush came to her face and she took n
sudden resolution. Yesl for the rest of
the evening she would be the grayest of
the gay. Why should she make herself
miserable for a man who did not care for
her. She would show him that she, too,
could forget.
The singing being now over, the hired
musician took his seat at the piano. At
the first notes of the dance music the
gentlemen strolled away in search of
partners, and Milly was not sorry when
she saw Miss Lefevre approaching her
with Il mischievous smile on her face,
bringing with her the elegant Mr.. Ches-
ter.
There was an evil look in Milly's eyes
as she acknowledged the introduction.
She intended to supply the place of her
recreant lover with this city dandy, for
one night at least. The shadows were
chased away from her face and q smiling
beauty summoned in its stead. Nothing
could be ~lovelier han her appearance as
she took Mr.. Chester's arm for a prone
made before the dancing commenced.
Milly's bright head was seen passing and
repassing the open door of the hall, and
Mr.. Chester stroked his mustache as he
listened to her gay conversation, thinking
complacently that he had again met with
his usual good luck in procuring for his
partner the prettiest girl in the room.
Little did he think of the jealousy and
rage in her bosom, nor did he see the
eager glances she cast into the room be-
You'd them.
Milly's anxiety would not let her re-
main long in the hall. Conrad caught
sight of her as she entered the parlor,
and, starting from his careless position by
the piano, fastened to her side.
"Where have you been all the evening,
little woman2" he said: 81 missed you at
the dressing-room door and have been UNI
able to find you since until this minute.
Milly, have | been 30 unfortunate as to
offend YOU"
sob, no, The beauty and goodness of
Miss Lefevre quite overshadowed me, p"
Milly replied, looking carelessly up into
his face with a gay smile.
Conrad wondered what could be the
matter with his little girl. She had for
saken him entirely, and would not re-
ceive any attentions from him. And
what could she mean about Miss Lefevre.
He both smiled and felt vexed as he
thought about it.
The musician o struck up a brilliant
waltz, and Milly, almost before she knew
it, found herself whirling round the
room, encircled by Mr.. Chester's urn,
her white hand on his shoulder, her
glowing face turned up to his, and his
breath amid her flowing hair. Conrad
stood and looked Il moment with folded
hands and quiet brow, while Milly's
floating drapery touched him as she swept
by. Then, with a sigh, he turned away
and fastened to Miss Lefevre, who well
coined him with a pleasant smile. Milly
saw it all and felt her heart grow sick
and cold; yet she carried out the pre-
grammed with great spirit-danced, ate
ices and ilirted, scacrely conscious of
what she was doing.
At last the sociable ended. Conrad
did not escort Milly to her carriage nor
accompany her home, but stood looking
on while Mr.. Chester carefully adjusted
her wraps and kissed her hand as he babe
her good night.
"How painfully ] have been deceived"
thought Conrad, as he took his hat to go
home. "Milly seemed to me a perfect
gem Of purity and artlessness, and she is
iust like all the rest OF the husband
hunting young ladies'"