Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-17

ness. She addressed him as usual, but
received only. .monosyllabic replies.
"What does it mean ?' she said to
herself.
There was an impromptu masquer-
ade at the hotel the next evening, and
all the girls and cavaliers of Wild River
wore there. But to. Seth Vallance's in
finite disappointment, Miss Brabazon
did not appear.
She was lonesome, however, in the
silence and seclusion of her own room;
SO, when the ballroom was full, and
there seemed no longer to be any
danger of interruption on the staircase,
she crept down the back way. and,
seating herself in a secluded corner
where she could see the crowd and
hear the merry music through a vine
sheltered window, which was partly
open, felt more lonely than ever.
But Miss Madalina Martins high
pitched voice reached her ear, pres
emily, uttering her own name in un-
mistakable accent.
"Miss Brazabon p she cried. "You
surely didn't expect to see her here to-
nightp"
"Yes, 1 did," said Seth Valance.
"Why not?
"Now that her thin disguise is pene-
trated? ?" said Miss Martin, severely.
"What thin disguise?' persisted
honest Seth.
"Don't you know?" said Madalina.
Didn't your Cousin Lucetta tell you
that she is-an actress? That Miss
Manderill herself saw her playing
Lady Teazle, in the School for Scan
dal,' in New York ?"
"Yes; she told me that" admitted
Seth. "But what difference does that
make? Isn't she beautiful and ac-
complished lady, just the same?"
"Seth, you don't understand lies
convenances 7 exclaimed Miss St..
Avon, who stood smiling by, on the
arm of Captain Cardan. "Of course
she must feel that she has gained our
social recognition entirely under false
pretences. An actress, indeed p
Il don't see," drily remarked Seth,
"why an actress can't be as perfect a
lady and as estimable a woman as any
one. And / am quite sure that Miss
Brabazon is faultless in every respect.
And |, for one, am not going to listen
to any gossip or back-biting in which
the ladies of Wild River may be in
clined TO indulge"
II approve your spirit, Mr.. Val
lance" said calm, quiet voice; and
Miss Belle Brabazon, lifting the cur
tain, glided in among them in the pale
blue dress she always wore, and a
cluster of half-faded roses in her hair.
"Without intending to be an caves
dropper, have heard the conversation
of these ladies. And only wish them
to understand that, could l rightfully
claim the title of actress, it would be
the brightest star in all life's coronet
to me. But as it is, | regret to con-
fess that | am only an amateur.
acted Lady Teazle in the parlor thea
tricals given by my friend, Mrs.
| Willoughby, on Fifth avenue, and was
fortunate enough to win some little
appreciation. Further than that,
have never aspired to histrionic fame"
And when she left tho room-which
she did almost immediately-it was
under the escort of Mr.. Seth Val
lance.
And when Miss Helena Manderilps
next letter arrived, explaining that
Miss Brabazon was a great heiress,
and one of the most idolized favorites
of New York society, the ladies of
Wild River secretly groaned over their
badly-managed campaign.
"How could we ever have made such
an awkward blunder? cried they.
"But isn't it strange" said Lucetta
nafn I'LL
should have engaged herself to marry
a farmer like our Seth?"
1t was not so strange, after all. Seth
Valance was one of natures noble
men, and Miss Brabazon had been a
sufficiently good judge of character to
appreciate him.--Helen Forrest Grdoes.
on h. ...I