The daily gazette., 1883-10-30
A Plain Cir |.
A story In Three Chapters
-
tAil the Year Round
(Contlnued.)
CHAPTER I,

,sb wearing country-mRde dress of
gnd dark material, which gave her almost
O0rakerlsh air, and he saw, too, that, un-
~ most Of the girls at Mrs. Willi1Q's, she
as embarrassed and shy. He took family
.sIcioue pleasure in her embarrassment.
a. perceyed that she had expected him
lin The conversation, and that she was
n,,,e uncertain whether It was her duty to
.oat ,',i,' q he did not At last she raised her
81 with a glance, halfcourageolis, half
ppealng, and asked him hurriedly If be
KID nusic--if he played.
That glance was decidedly the most In
eating thing about Miss Harrison, moro
r,sye.tinR than the two feeble little ques-
par. which came In s1oh haste tnRt the sec
'rd trIpped up the fitst upon her lips. It
sssaled pair Of array eyes, ordinary as far
hrIUhtness aud color we're concerned, but
bb certain peculiar intensity and poesi-
\ s,,ny Of passion 10 them.
M Langley, still with hIs self.cohcealed
reer. answered briefly that he considered
lmself altogether inofensive, that he was
nj IN the habit OF singing or playing or re-
Iipg verse, or torturlng his fellow creatures
any way.
# RI he had SMILED when he said 1t slIe would
ave answered with ready smile, but he
mike with such q cold gravity that poor
ss Harrison did not know how totake the
bneypected reply, and she looked away, dis
opcerned and abashed. He watched her
Ior few seconds as II he were studying
Iomethlng quaint, small and curious, and
hen with subtle change of inton alton he
Ook up the conversation, and saw her lift
Ier head and look at him again. Judging
rom her shyness, her uniformed manners
Ind mpulsive glances, he decided that any
Entering paradoxical talk coDcerhing life
Ind love might produce an amusing and
boyel effect. To practical talkbr three
minutes will suffice to arrive naturally at
Inv subject, and In less than three minutes
lf Langley was In full swing, arguing,
nd supporting his argument with many
Illustrations, that the sole end and
im Of life should be pleasure. The gray
Ives wondering, frightened, fascinated, were
hYed upon his face. No one had ever talked
b the girl like that before. She could not
know how empty and Indifferent it was to
Ihe man at her side. She stammerBd such
sty answers as were absolutely needful, but
her Ogn voice seemed to have a feeble dis
cord in the splendid music of hiB words.
While he spoke she was conscious OF start
linz rush OF freedom, glow Of color, n
lro bihg Of pulses, an outlook Into new
bud wider world. Her one desiIe was that
be should not pause.
Her very heart seemed to stand still when
Roe Willing appeared upon. the scene. OF
Trse he would leave her-of course he
you'd 60 and talk to Rose. To the poor
iule plainly dressed cousin, Rose Willing,
Flth her airs and graces, was formidable
kucbantress. But, to her surprise, Mr..
langley was not to be drawn away from his
lrt corner. He met Miss Willipg's ad-
inces with apparent unconsciousness of
heir meaning. When she was parplexed,
hd finally piqued, he parted her thrusts
ith smiling pbli'eness, and, when she re-
Feated, he sat down again by Emma Harri-
n, who waited In the shadow, silent and
hpitating. For a moment he said nothing,
ui their glances met. There was achanged
hPression in her eyes, faint daWniDg of
l'consctousness; she was thinking of her
f as well as of him, He you'd not 90
gay-he would not talk to Rose. Could IL
possible that he found pleasure in talking
her. that for her sake he was lingering
hercl The mere thought of such a possi-
iity bewildered her.
By woman accustomed to homage a
pans attentions are easily appraised. II
be cares for him she cares for them; If not,
hey are merely natural recognition of the
lelIghtiul fact OF her charm. But girl of
khom no one has taken any heed finds in
hem hint of something In herself which
he bad not suspected. She Is ready to love
be man who teaches her that she can iu-
spre love.
Whcn Mr.. Langley spoke again bis listener
vas as eager az ever, and yet, paradoxical
Is It may seem, she scarcely grasped the
meaning of his words. Her interest had
shifted from his talk to himself; what he
@d was no longer the question, but why
be said II to her. That the most brilliant
young man she had ever seen should
te drawn TO her by an Attraction
toe nature of which she could not d.
vine was something mBrvelously like magic.
sae was AFRAID to move, afraid to withdraw
ner eyes, lest in 80 doing she shou ID unc N
s.iouSly reverse the spell that held him.
sle knew that she was not beautiful; she
Knew she was not clever; she Ionged to
aV0w her deficiencies aloud, and the words
Would have c. me hotly from her heart In
quick throbs of passionate sincerity. Was 1t
possible that he could care Tor her, could
Oeslre love apart from any charm of grace
q talent If that were indeed possible, she
st that 1t was not possible that size should
eiIhh0li the gift for one moment.
lhe first notes of waltz broke into the
Enchanted circle which his companionship
lad drawn about her. A middle-Aged lady
su oeen persuaded to play, and few eou-
lts we're about to dance In the next room,
af music brought Mrs. Willing, determined
oend the ridiculous filtration which had
ven remarked by everybody. She would
ase been uneasy, only that with little
LUNA Harrison 1t was too absurd. and she
slsss'l loEfa angry contempt under thin veil OF
she really could not allow IT.; she was &C
aAou, 70 Introduce Nj. Langtry 10 young
aas who had just arrived. He absolutely
ua,l aai not stay In that corner any longer.
s.H alu AZ her heels came clumsy youth
ra.s- nt.i pihk lace, predestined to DO Emma't
partner In the dance.
hiaiLa had never dreamed of defying hei
.ni dpnl willing. She would have obeyed In
sIelcr, though her heart died within her a:
Ie N. lopKed at the pink-faced boy, had rot
~, ml Lanlgtry internosed. Mrs, Willing'l
malher irrilated him and he did not care to
.Sae,a %st,i his iIl-temper. He coQlly asserted
Hst Ial MISS Harrison was already engaged tc
s,l ~, iof the waltz, looking straight into his
svS sU5'ySs ~. eye as he spoke. Emma stood VI
VIII VIII put her hand on his arm, trembling
"iIa ~ de ight and fear.
,s saefe pi, Is something of mastery In fear
Uo,a usS exhibition Of ill-temper, and there arr
lsyl avn ha VINO ind an attraction In It. The!
iSsir ap ueen trained and drilled till they wea
oyer q, es1,lhpany smiles, as matter of course
easo sa ,uo..e9ntent, angry or aching, as tn
ot oTss may be. They dare not break the law
conSa,o seIa manners In the least point, they ar
Soas Soascious of of their slavery, and this MAJ
lion. Nv care twopence for rules aud reguls
bin anu T VIII only smile when 1t please
spdos ne smiles on them, ard not sue
Nh" bI1 9.or worth having, smiles from her
laes.n'n ,.9 Ts,'s s, scoWl on all the wotldi The