The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-19
MISS GAlR.

Egalite did not think Miss 0air hand
some; but her face had beautiful ex-
pressions. He had come to Balsam Hill
prepared to see beauty. Everywhere
he had heard of Miss Gair as pelfec-
ton. He expected to find q woman of
brilliant personal appearance and suave
department. She was the half sister of
his friend, Fay Sommers, and the heiress
Of Balsam Hill.
He found her quiet, fair and gentle
woman, with breadth Of white brow an
inexpressibly soft and brilliant smile,
musical voice, and q serious manner. He
looked at her IS she gave him half an
hours tete-a-tete before dinner, and
could not imagine her either flirting or
receiving compliments, and yet Miss
Gair had the reputation of breaking
hearts by the score.
At dinner she gave him seat by her
side. There were a half-dozen other
guests. There was q fountain jet at one
end Of the long marble dining hall, and
the scent of the roses came into the open
French windows. There was a water
lily in Miss Gair's dark hair. links of
gold upon her white wrists. How very
softly and unsteady she chatted with
Them all.
After dinner they went to the billiard
hall. Miss Gair did not play, but she
selected q cue for Egalite, wished him
success and then went away to the sofa,
where . group of gentlemen instantly
gathered around her. The sound of her
soft, occasional laugh distracted Egalite's
attention. He played badly and lost
the game willingly 80 that it left him at
liberty to seek her side again. He told
himself that he was curious to see where
in her power lay. How was she pref.
tier or sweeter than hundred other fair
women he had known.
He could swear that she was not, and
yet he sat beside her, more content than
he had been in FIVE years.
Purity. He thought for a moment
that that was the charm which held him.
When he heard her laugh he thought it
was the sweetness of her merriment. The
across the lawn and rested on the dis
tant hills, he believed it to be faint
tinge of sadness which seemed to rest on
her.
Whatever it was it held him at her
to stay so long. To be sure, the shoot
tue Wos Soou, Ous ~ "oe AeAo NC noo
had of it.
The morning Of his departure came,
and IS he stood on the long vine shaded
piazza, she came out for few friendly
words of parting. he retained her hand.
Fguratively he threw himself at her
feet and begged for hope.
She looked startled for q moment, and
then her face looked constrained and
pale.
II have made q mistaken"
You have"
Her voice was hard, startled and un-
natural.
81 beg your pardon"
They stood apart. A servant appeared
at the door.
"The carriage is waiting for Mr.. Egal-
ite."
The man departed. Egalite did not
venture to touch Miss Gair's hand again.
She had never looked 30 lovely or uac-
cessible.
GOOD by, Miss Gair."
"Good-by, Mr.. Egalite."
How frigid that was! How hard and
cold she had been. he thought, when he
vas in the carriage. After all. had she
NO hearth
The next year he spent in Europe. He
cav the Alps, st. Peters, the Seine, the
Louvre. he ate Naples grapes sent
home wine from Bercy. He watched
the Partisan coqusts and sketched Flor
enes beauties, bat never saw one Miss
Clair.
He came homo ct last. To be sure
home seemed . little dull since there
vas no one to welcome him but an acid
maiden sister, and Turk, his horse. but
one must work to live.
There Was news from Bslsam HILL
Fsy Somers had been killed by being
brown from Q carriage. Niss GAR had
OFT her property and gone TO live with
IN aunt in Vermont.
He was vexed n SEQ his cheek grew
pals. Why should he shrink - il = lash
had been laid scross his heart? Was he
still 20 weak - to have . woman who
had scorned him?
All night his eyes were Get wide open
in the darkness. Nov that he thought
at her, poor. ssd-po longer merry and
artistically beautiful, in silk and costly
lace-he dared TO call her "Madge," as
h had heard others who loved her call
her: and - he pronounced the name, his
hsart melted over it. II he might see
her once more, he would try again.
And thinking this, it came about that
oae September night found him among
u green hills of Vermont He vas ct
= inoommodious little inn, but near
ua1es Gair. His landlord said:
ssl1fw Mehitnh3o Mathew lives in