Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-07

hadow prevades the meal; by the time the first
course 10 over, every one who did not before
know the frightful state of the case has been In
formed OF 1t, and in consequence an intermit-
tent FEVER OF delight, alarm. and curiosity makes
every other topic fiat as pancake. Who can
talk while that is going on? Who can do any
thing else than cast surreptitious chances up
and down the board, varied by awful frowns
and Internal threats directed against the miser-
able author OF the mischief? One tongue. how
ever, never flags, never tires. nor stops to rest;
and that is the tongue Of Stacer. Stacer talks
on. and on. and on. Stacer appears to have
laid up fund Of information upon every con-
ceivable topic, which he is now steadily giving
vent to; even when the ladies rise. and Lila
rises with them, and he gives her back her
glove, which had fallen under the table, he
talks still. How good he is. how kind. how
thoughtful and how very, very sorry she is for
himI
But up stairs all the commseration is for her
my poor child! My dearest Lila! How
unlucky! Such a mistake! Mr. GOodheart
will never forgive himself"
The last asseyeration is Mrs. Goodhearts. and
she is nearly weeping.
Lady Blanche cOnsolngly-sYes.m INV dear Mrs.
Goodheart. it was unfortunate, most unfortu-
nate. and shows-ahem THAT people should be
conversant with-with what goes on. OF course
you did not know: another time you will try to
know, will yen not, my dear P"
Mrs. Goodheart warmly-"I will never ask
people to meet each other again unless l know
the day Of their birth, and their godfathers and
godmothers, and-and-" (sobs).
Lilla-''If could only GO home now!"
She can and shall go home: no need to wait
for her carriage. Mr.. Goodheart will be only
too glad. too sorry. too thankful to do anything:
he will see her home in hanson, it will not
take him ten minutes, a message will bring
him out OF the dining-room, and he can be back
before he Is missed; and Mrs Goodheart will
have it so.
All right: Goodheart il delighted
1t appears presently, however. that he did not
GO in that hanson. Stacer had to leave early,
he said, and he was gong Miss Delancy's way,
and so there was no reason why
Lady Blanche-''Whyl Good Heavens! YOU
did not send Lila Delaney hime in hanson
alone with Colonel Theophilus Stacer!''
GOOdheart, peaceably-"It was better he than
/; you know. He would be less missed. / put
it to him."
What on earth does this mean? What has he
done wrong? What is the matter? He looks
blankly round on each in turn, plainly implor-
ing information, pitiably at sea-
Matter! you born fool. you blind, thick
headed jackass! Matter! He is told shortly
and sharply what is the matter. And here we
draw the VEIL We can picture him for the rest
OF the evening wandering about the dim alleys,
the back slums Of the great gay room. q miser-
able outcast, despsed, enlightened, bewll-
dered pariah; we can see him covering beneath
every whitening glance, shrinking from every
eye. scarce venturing to return the cold "Good-
nights, lar less to offer the parting arm; he has
at heart, his afflicted family may dare to hope,
the grace to feel his ignominy; he will never
again in this world. they may rest assured, pre-
sumo to NEEDLE with matters 80 far beyond him;
ne is crushed, annihiated; down-trodden rep
tile, a dead worm.