The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-23
HER SINCERE FRIEND.


society of ladies'. No woman. were she
charming as lAphrodite herself could
captivate Alaric Maury," said Miss
Champney. mis-
'Could she not ?" Hilma laughed mis-
chievously. 81 will wager anything you
like, Elena, that before the summer is
over shall have made conquest of
this obdurate woman hater."
"You will lose," Miss Champney pre-
dicted. confidently. "a monk in marble
could be no less susceptible than this
man."
Perhaps you may change your opin-
ion." smiled this beautiful, merry girl.
But she was already half-ashamed Of
her boast, that was q bit Of NONSENSE
silly Jest, altogether unworthy of her
sweet, sensible self; for Hilma was
guiltless of coquetry, and she could al
most dispise herself for the foolish vaunt
abe had uttered.
And abe was more than ever sorry
when she at length met Alaric Maury.
He was q man of fine presence and
perfect manners, and one who, while he
vas seemingly Indifferent to woman's
loneliness, had that rare and sometimes
fatal gift of swaying the moods of wo-
men at his will. Nor was he one to love
lightly; he would have affection for affec-
ton, truth for truth, or nothing.
Hilma felt his earnest, contemplative
eyes could penetrate every sentiment
and motive of every heart, and she felt
decidedly uncomfortable whenever mind
full of her senseless wager.
81 am so sorry about it," she sighed
to Miss Champney. "It makes me feel
20 false, so small, so constrained IN his
presence for, OF course, have merited
this contempt"
Miss Champney regarded her with
polite incredibly that was excessively
notifying.
Nevertheless, should say that you
are succeeding pretty fairly in your fir
tation with him." she commented, with
the suspicion of sneer in her carefully
modulated tones.
"But am not flirting with him in the
least" expostulated Hilma, feeling hurt
and indignant. II esteem him highly,
and his attentions to me are those Of
kindness and courtesy-nothing more"
"You need not look SO injured" the
other laughed, with the manner of toler-
alton that is SO vexing when one is inno-
cent of any real offence. "But really,
dear, your assumption of shy simL licity
amuses me so much, Is it seems to have
fascinated Mr.. Maury. am willing to
eoncede that you may win your wager
yet"
The speech was certainly uncivil-it
was the kind of railery from which one
winces as from AN insult. Hilma mar.
veled little but the girl did not COM
prehend that the naughty Miss Champ
oey might somehow be resenting what
abe considered q slight to her own dubi-
ous attractions.
And Elena Champney-cold, shrewd,
egotistic-had never yet distinguished
herself for magnamimity of thought or
action. At the moment, the expression
of her countenance was singularly un-
amiable. Behind the polish, d smile was
o suggestion of envy, of cunning, of
hateful triumph. She exulted, perhaps,
that the more beautiful and more be-
loved Hilma had SO unthinkipgly un
armed her hostile hand. For that bit of
folly about the wager could be made very
effective indeed. Alsric Many was fas.
tidious in his own way, and he surely
would have an aversion for the girl who
had made the conquest of his affections
the subject of frivolous boast.
''Surely Elena would not repeat it to
him." the girl meditated uneasily. And
how utterly contemplate should seem
to linn il he might know"
Days went by-happy days for Hilma.
who all unconsciously had entered the
enchanted realms Of love. All uncon.
sciously she had given her heart to Alaric
Naury; and be realized in her his ideal
Of perfect womanhoOd, and loved her as
one of his loyal nature ever does love the
creature deemed all true and sweet.
''She is so shy aud yet so frank" he
once observed to Miss Champney. Hill
ma is agreeably unlike many young
lsdies."
"Do you think so9" Elena queried sig.
nifcsntly.
She was sitting before the piano in
Hilma's pretty parlor, and Mr.. Maury
vas standing beside her. At last her
opportunity for treschery had come.
He glanced at her rather blankly as
she uttered the meaning interrogatory
She evidently desired him to understand
something that might not be quite
pleasant.
st am Hilma's guest, and You are both
my friends. she pursued apologeticaAy.
and affecting pretty unselhsh solicitude
for him that might have Aattared one
less sagacious or more susceptible than
her companion, land I have NO special
taste for the role Of intermeddler. But
perhaps it is better for you to know that