New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22

4
contrast with her remaining pallor She had had
| several nsters who had died Of speedy con-
sumption. Her eyes were black, and would glitter
\ as she moved them; she was always moving her
| eyes; like herself. they never seemed at rcst She
| constantly smiled. and the smile would have had q
| charm of its own if it had failed to reveal some
what ruinous teeth. Claire had always liked her
vivacity, though it had seemed to possess spur
| that came from unhealthy impulse like the
| heat of internal fever. She wore ide-brimmed
| hat of dark straw, with q great crimson feather
| and a costume of some cheap maroon stuff, vio-
lently relieved by trimmings of broad white braid
| The ensemble was very far from ugly. She had
copied its effect from popular weekly journal.
| whose narrowing fiction would sometimes be sup
plemented by prints of the latest fashions, given
| away" to its devoted patrons.
| Claire having drawn nearer to Josie, took IN all
| her details of costume with ready swftness. This
feet sort of observation was always an easy matter
for Claire. In mos. cases of like sort she would
both see and judge before others had accomplished
even the first process.
"You seem to be waiting for somebody, JOSIE"
she said
ayes, am, returned Josie with another lsugh.
She put slim hand TO her mouth AS she laughed;
she nearly always employed this gesture at such
! time; it came. doubt, from consciousness oil
|
Twining," she ursued. "Why should II I'm e1-
pcctn q gent'man friend o. mine We was Roin'
| over the city together. We was goln to Mbo's.
| There's an ergant play there. they say. :"
| Here Josie paused drow backward for an instant.
and then mpulsively seized one of Caire's hands n
| both of her own. "Oh, Miss Twining!" she sud
| denly exclaimed, ~ KNOW hadn't ought to ask
you If you'd along. TOO. bat do wish you Just
| ,could! You amt the same kind as me Dit, ana
| there's moro n me in GreenPont-now. pom my
word there is-thats said when they see you that
You ,cas a reel lady. But still. you might come
with me and my friend, Mr.. MacNab and just get n
spell OF ',nusemeut l know you amt had any
'museuent in goodness sAkes how long! It's reel
elgant playl DO say yvu will Now amt bit
soft on Mr. MacNab. P'aps he'd like me to be, but
| amt So three won't spoil compny. Now, DO!
oh, Miss Twlnlng. I'd be awful glad il you road :"
| Josis's tones like her words. were warmly per-
suasve She still retained Claire'o hand Nor did
Claire withdraw it. She tempted. She
turned her head toward the dsrking city, III whose
REALM of deepehed shadow many new lights had
begun to burn
ooh. JOSIE" she said, ayou are very kind to ask
me- But Pm quite shabby beside you. you know"
"Pshaw!" fatty objected Josie; "you look fast
rate. That amt no sort of reason. Do! Now,
| do!"
Claire laughed nerv ously. She was thinking how
pleasant it would be 20 hear orchestra play to
see curtain rise. to watch n drama roll Its story
out behind viz id footghts between painted scenes
al am sure Mr. MacNab wouldn't like It," she SAID.
And then she thought OF how her father would soon
come home and miss her. and have to be told, when
they next met, that she had been TO the theatre
over in New-York with the girl who brought them
vegetables thrice a week She seemed quite TO
have made M her mind. presently. She withdrew
harb md vi n
force.
"No, Josie, can't she said.
Yes You can :" was the feryid reply. Yes, you
Just shall Miss Twining; now there! amt goin'
& let you of! When get mind set right onto
any thing I'm as stubbn as over | can be! An I'm
sure you'd Ike to come. There amt no doubt OF
not one single grain"
JOSIE was laughing while she TINS spoke, and had
again caught ClaIre's unwilling hand with more OF
entreaty than boldness
"What makes you suref" Claire asked. She |
smiled now though the smile was sad
Josie's laughto became a high treble ripple. She
put both feet visible beneath hef short skirt, sud
denly very close together. and curved hei 1.-the
body in AN abrup. burcsque bow. The trick was
graceful, though vulgar it savorcd OF the cheaper
variety entertainments. where Josie had no doubt
foundIt She still held Claires hand. and she was
looking straight into the eyes OF her companion
with her dark brisk eyes.
What makes me sure you'd like to got" she said.
Why, sakes alive, Miss Twining can sre the
need of "A little fun oozin right out of your face
now, pom my word and sacred honor Just can
Oh pshaw Wen DO home early 'nough. 1t won't
he much Inore'n quarter past evcn gness Bsides.
who'll knopY 'lain't ybody's business but ours"
Father would know. 1t would he his business
Claire thought. But she did not answer aloud. as
yet. She permitted Josie 20 retain her hand whlle
she Turned and gave another glance toward the city
across the river.
The rapid darkness had thickencd. Where New
York had lain dim as mirage. hundreds of lights
had clustered; their yellow galaxy more than
walled the pale specks of lire now crowding with
silent speed into the heavens domed so remotely
above them.
perceptibly. Dropping her eyes. at first she then
raised them. Well" she said " i'll let you per-
suade me. ] will 20 W tb you. Josie"
1t the first time she had ever made A resolve
whose fufment she felt would displeaso her
father The certainty that he would not sanction
her going IN companonsbip Of this proposed sort
made Clare's decision a sscrileee TO herself even
while she perversely took IT. She trampled ON
her own flial loyalty. and she seemed TO feel il
tremble in panied protest under the outrage IL
was in vain that troop of self-excusnz pleas
sprana to battle against her shained aftcrtbOught.
She knew that remorse already wetting Tor her
ito pohiard. The gloom Of her fathers future re-
buke had already made itself part of the increas-
ing nightfall.
"Oh, amt glad, thought" Josie broke
forth. gleefuy. Her triumph was one of
pure good natured impulse but at the same time
she bad fattered sense that her evenings
amusement would now gam stamp of distinction.
One two girls in Green point had derided her for
encouraging MIR. MacNab a deyotee She herself
secretly derided The young man in that same tender
Office For this reason she had arranged that they
should meet here tonight at the foot OF the LITTLE
bullock near the river. aud invest their nnrnosrd
trip with enough candcstine association TO defeat
the couchant raillery of certain uusparng NEIGH