Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-01
A was very silly, che knee yhAt she
would like e, ses again the ese Of thas

QtiQ lOI uCI ldluckt WhCu uAS NOASo AA->~@A
the drawing-room window told her thar
it was time to be going; and In rev
minutes later she was seated In allow
pony.czrriage, driving q pair OF light
chestnuls, while her father,a hand
some old man, sat by her side.
"My dear, met Mr.. Foster In town
to-day, and he wishes to introduce US TO
two young officers quartered at East
Fort. He has asked them over today
and he and bis wife find them very
pleasant young fellows. But Of course
Mr.. and Mis-. Foster have not many
amusements TO offer young men,"
"Nor have We, papa"
"Well, we might ask them to come
out on Saturday and play tennis. Ask
some girl to make the fourth"
''Ges, papa; I'll asked Oracle Foster"
and Alice wondered What the two
young officers might be like.
Alice drew up at her destination; and,
as she crossed the garden to meet Mrs
Foster, she scanned the crowd OF girls
and young men who were gathered
round their hostess. From them her
eyes wandered to the few who watche |
the three energetic games Of tennis lat
were being played; but she did not
make out clearly in her mind which
were the two young officers. Then her
attention was engrOsed by her many
friends, to whom she gave gracious
bow or friendly nod, according to their
sex or to her degree Of intimacy with
them.
At last she was again at liberty to
watch the assembled guests, and she
found her attention caught by one Of
the lawn-tennis players. A net serve
which his opponent failed to take at
tracted her, aad she looked at the
server.
"Who is that very handsome young
man, Gracieo" she asked Of a girl stand
ing by ner.
This young lady, who was two years
Younger than Alice, devoutly believed
that her friend was the most beautiful,
the eleverest and the noblest woman
who had ever trodden the earth.
'sI,H ask my aunt" she replied, aud,
Fastening to Mrs. Foster, had asked
the question and was back with the an
swer before she could be prevented.
ale is a Mr.. Smythe, quartered st
East Fort, and that other playing with
him is Mr.. Smith, another Of them"
"NIr. Smith. Can it be Bob"' thought
Alice; and she turned her attention
from the handsome tenuis-player to his
brother officer.
The latter was a well made through
rather heavy man.
II am sure Bob's hair was not so red
as thatw said Alice to herself.
This was rather hard on Mr.. Smith,
as his hair was not really red, only in
clining to that hue. His complexion was
perhaps too ruddy for beauty, though
bis whole face was expressive of one
quality-good nature.
"Wen,n sOlilOquized Alice, "'Smith'
is rather a common name, 50 why
should il be Bob? Certainly this man
is lust % unlike Bob as am unlike now
what was then; but dare say it is
not he"
With this idea Alice contented her
self, and turned to look at Mr.. Smiths
partner.
What she could see OF his face pleased
heritage brown eyes, well cut nose,
firm mouth and chin. All this Alice
saw and noted at glance. In 3 few
minutes more the game of tennis was
broken up, and Mrs. Foster advancing,
] introduced the two young men to Miss
Markham, and with her niece, Oracle,
10 make the fourth, sent them of to
play.
IL fell to Alice's lot to be the partner
Of Mr.. Smythe, and merry game they
had, After il was over the four sat and
watched their successors on the ground,
chatting merrily. Oracle did not speak
much, and the two young men devoted
themselves mainly to the entertainment
of her friend. Very lovely Alice looked
as she talked and laughed with her rev
acQuaintanceS.
Before tho party broke up Mr. Mark
to come to his house on the following
Saturday for lawn-tennis, and per-
suaded Gracie's aunt TO allow her niece
to make the fourth.
As Miss Markham diove her father
home she was very silent. Just A. she
was leaving the Browns, she heard Mr..
Smythe address Mr.. smith as bob"
and somehow she was very sorry. OF
course, there might be two Bob Smiths
in the world, and until this afternoon
she would have been very glad to meet
any one of that name, particularly If he
were soldier and about the right age.
| Then why was she not glad TO have
met this young man, which, besides
| fulfilling these conditions, was perfect
gentleman, looked very good natured,
| and, as she said to herself, altogether
mice" Vet somehow she was disap-
| pointed.
In the meantime Mr.. Smiths dog
cart was bowling along the straight,
| dusty road towards the East Fort. Its
| occupants did not speak to each other
for some time, but pulled away at their
| cigars in silence. At last Bob Smith,
! taking his cigar from his mouth, said {:
"Awfully nice, that girl, Victor"
Very"
"Only daughter of that rich old chap,
| Markham.
"Ges."
"Iucky dog, you, to get her for u
partner, instead of the little school
, girl"
THAT little school girl, as you cali
| her, is very pretty little thing"
AYES; but Miss Markham is q very
lovely girl. | wonder what her name
is? lilly, III bet"
Alice"
"How do you know"
Heard her father call her by that
name"
Silence again fell upon the air, and
] lasted until they were IN sight OF the
East Fort, when Mr.. Smythe said:
"Iou'I drive over in the dog cart
Saturday, suppose, Bob"
Thanks, | will. / say, Victor, shall
you fall in love with that young lady?
/ / think shall"
Don't be such an ass, Can't you
see Il pretty girl without talking such
nonsense? OF course | shant; why
should /" Here We arew aud he
jumped from the dog cart, turning to
give an order to his man.
Saturday came at last. Any one who
had overheard the greeting given by
Alice to her guests, and watched their
demeanor on receiving 1t, would but
have remarked how gracefully she
played her part OF hostess, and consid-
cred that the two young men behaved
like any other gentlemen on being re-
ceived by young and pretty girl. But
| those three could each have told a differ
ent tale. To each of them the simple
hand-shake, the few ordinary words Of
welcome, had in them something
! special. So, too, the talk over the tennis,
| the "chaff7' over the afternoon tea, the
| stroll round the garden, the converse
4 ron OF dinOar tho fay u-OrflS IN tho far