The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-11-06
THANKS TO THE FOG,

ter, as he lit another cigarette, anG
iounging back in his comfortable arm
ehair, looked eontemplatively up at the
ceiling.
A conscious smile lowered around the
yellow tips of Captain Vivian's nous
faches. well, 1 don't know" he said
slowly. ''Mean to take look round
and see what is going on"
Whatever you do, eschew good
looks. Pleasant enough, IH allow, il
YOU could keep them for your own con-
sumption; but an intolerable nuisance,
as you can't blind your friends"
Hump A plain face opposite to
you day after day would be deuced un-
pleasant"
Yes, but a 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,
and, as Mrs. CornwalPs husband, he
provided carpet for other men totread
on. Have you got any one in your eye %
Vivian blushel like girl. "I-del. 7
know just yet. It's five years since 1
saw her."
Time for woman to be married
over and over again or, worse than that.
she might have had the smallpox or
lost an eve. What's her name and
where does size hang out?"
The other leaned forward and lowered
his voice. "Mind-st.ict confidence
Mabel Lorraine
by ioye,' and Val Forester sat bolt
upright, an expression of dismay over
his pheasant face.
What are Won looking like that for ?
You are not hare! hit. It's not case of
I'll have her-or die?"
"No, no, nothing of the sort" the
wilderness of his cheeks belying his
words. Il was at her wedding last
month"
Frank Vivian stopped to pick mp the
cigar he had dropped. Her name?"
His voice Was calm, but hoarse
Lady Waverlv. Her husbands Sir
Guy. He ran horse for the Derby, but
1t fell dead lame before it reached the cor
ner. Have g. and S. 2" AS Vivian rose
in hurry.
Thanks. Can't stop. Forgotten an
appointment. Ia, ta." With his hat
drawn over his ewes he hurried down
the steps CT the Army and Navy, up st.
James street into Piccad1ly, not caring
IN the least where he went, only anxious
to g9e away from the continual greet
ings of his friends.
knowing that romance was thing to
be sneered at, that true love was a butt
for chaft and contempt. he had buried
his dream in the depths of his heart,
and fiirted with the Calcutta bellies as
gayly as the rest of his brother officers.
Now it was all over-the dream as
we'll as the hope of realization. He had
thought that even in this prosaic age
he had found one verse of poetry; but
the page was q blank, and the verse.
If ever written by any other pen than
his own conceit. had been most care.
fully erased. Unless to pull WY face
for other men to laugh at; better to
grin and bear it, telling himself that
mat1mony was ever lottery and the
greatest prizes had knack OF turning
out far worse than blanks.
1t was the first night of the pearl of
opera singers after a lengthy absence,
and Covent Garden was crammed from
the stalls to the ceiling. The second
act was over, and Vivian stood up in
the third row of stalls to let his
glasses wander round the house on
voyage Of discovery. A friend tapped
him on the shoulder. Look at Waiver
ley. He doesn't look much amiss, al
though he's just passed through that
grave of the affections, honey
moon. His wife's sumner. and not
bit stand-ofiish, SO they say. Could
Mt see her on her wedding day,
her veil had such beastly pattern;
but tonight, by Georgel she repays
you." A pause. "She's smiling at one
of us, excitedly. "You don't know her,
so 1t must be me. Let us go up; I'll
introduce You" !
A bitter smile lowered around vivi-
ans mouth. but he said nothing. She
chose to smile at him with the prettiest
of lips in the world, with just the same
blush as when they parted so miserably
under the trees, but his face was grave
and impressive. Looking over his
shoulder before he disappeared through
the doorway, he saw that an old
man with gray hair had taken Sir
Guys place III the front of the box.
With bennington on one side. this
stranger on the other, there would be no
Opportunity for private conversation but
he felt it was worth the journey from
India only to stand within sound of her
voice, within reach of the glance of her
eye-worth large sum in pounds, shil-
lings, and pence, although to hear her
was torture, to see her, madness. Love
must be very bad for US when it turns
the wisest OF us into fools.
On the way they met the baronet
himself. slipping on his overcoat as he
came toward them.
"How do, Dorrington-prettvf ftp
AS fit IS yourself. was Just going
to pay my respects to Lady Waverley.
My friend, Captain Vivian" (Sir Guy
raised his hat, lis dying to be intro
duced"
$50 sorry you can't see her; but she's
laid up with headache. Come and
have smoke
With blank faces they turned round,
thinking cigarette poor consolation |
for their disappointment.
THE fellow can't be jealous of me al
ready" ruminated Frank, unless she
told him what she is sure to make point |
of forgetting. thought she seemed to
want me; but women are queer crea-
tures-prone to beckon one minute, and
turn the cold shoulder if you venture to
come. l won't have ANYTHING to do
with them; I'll be hanged if I bother my
self about them again." he added ener-
getically, as he threw the end of his
cigar on the steps.
Nevertheless he was conscious of
every movement in the Waverley's box,
and his indignation rose sky as he