The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-10-25

II h
Come over to England to settle
down, old man p inquired Val Forester
as he lit another cigarette and, loung
ing back in his comfortable armchair
looked contemplatively up at the cell
ing.
A conscious smile lowered round the
yellow tips of Capt. Vivian's moustache
Well, l don't know" he said slowly
'Meau to take a look round and see
what is going on"
Whatever you do, eschew good looks
Pleasant enough, I'll allow, if you could
keep them for your own consumption,
but an intolerable nuisance, as YOU
can't blind your friends"
"Humph! A plain face opposite to
you every day would be deuced I'M
pleasant"
Yes, but beauty is the devil. Poor
Cornwall never got over it when his
wife had once become the fashion. She
took all the individuality out of him,
aud as Mrs CornwalPs husband he pro
vlded a carpet for other men to tread
upon. Have you got any one in your
eye?"
Vivian blushed like a girl. Il
don't know Just yet. It's five years
since | saw her"
Time for woman to be married
over and over again; or, worse than that.
she might have had the small pox or lost
an eye. What's her name, and where does
she hang out?"
The other leaned forward and lowered
his voice. "Mind-strict confidence
Mabel Lorraine"
BY JOve!" and Val Forester sat bolt
upright, an expression of dismar pass
ing over his pleasant face
What are you looking like that for ?
You are not hard hit. It's not case
of I'll have ner or die p"
No, no. nothing of the sort" the
wilderness of his cheeks belying his
words. 81 was at her wedding last
month"
Frank Vivian stopped to pick up the
cigar he had dropped. Her name ?"
his voice was calm but hoarse,
Lady Waverley. Her husbands Sir
Guy. He ran horse for the Derby.
but 1t fell dead lame before it reached
the Corner. Have a B. and S. ?" as
Vivian rose in a hurry.
Thanks. Can't stop. Forgotten an
appointment. Ia, ia" With his hat
drawn over his eyes, he hurried down
the steps of the Army and the Navy, ur
st. James Street into Piccadillv, not
caring In the least where he went, only
anxious to get away from the continue,
greetings of his friends.
Knowing that romance was a thing tc
be sneered at, that true love was butt
for chat1 and contempt, he had buried
his dream In the depths of his heart, snC
hirted with the Calcutta bellies as gayly
as the rest of his brother officers.
Now it was all over-the dream a,
well as the hope of realization. He haC
thought that even in this prosaic age ht
had found one verse of poetry; but the
page was blank, and the verse, if evel
written by any other pen than his owl
conceit, had been most carefully erased
Useless to pull wry face for other mel
to laugh at; better to grin and bear it
telling himself that matrimony was eve
a lottery and the greatest prizes had
knack of turning out far worse thar
blanks.
1t was the first night of the pearl o
opera singers after lengthy absence
and CCvent Garden was crammed from
the stalls TO the ceiling. The seconC
act was over, and Vivian stood up II
the third row of stalls to let his glasse
wander round the house on a voyage O
discovery A friend tapped him on tn
shoulder. Look at Waverley. H
doesn't look much amiss. although he
just passed through that grave of til
affections, honeymoon. His wife's
sumner, and not bit stand-offish, s
they say. Couldn't see her on he
wedding day, her veil was such beast
ly pattern; out tonight, by George! sh
repays you" a pause "She's smilin
at one of us excltedly. You don
know her, so 1t must be me. Let rs g
up; FL introduce you"
bitter smile lowered around Vivian
mouth, but he said nothing. She chos
to smile at him with the prettiest liz
III the world, with just the same blus
as when they parted so miserable unde
the trees, but his face was grave an
lmpasslve. Looking over his shoulder
before he disappeared through til
doorway, he saw that an old man wit
gray halr had taken Sir Guv's place i
the front of the box. With Dorringto
on one side, this stranger on the othe,
there would be no opportunity for Or
Nate conversation but he felt il wa
worth the Journey from India only {
stand within sound of her voice. With
reach OF the glance of her eve worth
large sum III pounds, shillines, an
pence, although to hear her was torture
to see her was madness. Love mnst h
very bad for us when it turns the wises
among Us into fools.
On their way they met the Barone
himself, slipping into his overcoat as h
came towards them.
How do, Dorrington-pretty ftp"
As ut as yourself. I was Just goin
@ pay my respects to Lady Waverle,
Ny Inend, Capt. Vivian Sir Cru
raised his hat, lis dying TO be intro
90 sorry you can't see her; but she'
lad up with headache. Come and hav
a smoke"
With blank faces they turned round
thl1 Ing cigarette poor consolatio,
Tor their disappointment
The follow can't be jealous of me al
ready, Illuminated Frank. unless sh
told HIM what she is sure 10 make
point OF forgetting. Thought she seem
ed to want me; but women are once
creatures--prone to beckon one miput,
and turn the cold shoulder if Won ven
lure TO come; III be hanged if | bottle,
myself aoout them again" he added en-
ergetically. as he threw the end of hi,
cigar on the steps.
Nevertheless he was conscious O
every movement in the Waverleys' box