Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-14
Iales aud 5Skftfhfs.
ESPERiNZA.

of it is kept clear for dancing. and specta-
tors whose minds and toes are not light
and fantastic, remain in the cloisters which
surround it. and which are well supplied
with comfortable chairs and sofas. Some
times it happens that the young men are
indolent or timid. and the young ladies
stiff, and then the smooth shining floor is
a desert, and. in spite of the floods of light
and music. there is something depressing
about the general aspect But that was not
the state of affairs. one August night. al
though the majority of visitors present
were English. There had been good
deal of determination at the ales-d'hote OF
the different hotels walking, riding. driv-
ing parties had been made up daily; the
foreign element was Just sufficient to cor
rect the British stiffness, without being
numerically strong enough to provoke its
exclusiveness Altogether. very pleas
ant little society was formed in the place
that season Millicent Lund was an at
tractive member OF it: handsome high
Outraged girl an orphan, sole surviving
child OF adrysalter, consequently an heiress.
While at school-from the age of u to 10,
that is-she was happy. but her guardian 5
wife had patronizing manners. which Milly
quietly put up with till she wss 81. and
then took charge of herself-that is, she
engaged one of her old governesses, who
was getting too blind and deaf to teach,
and would consequently have been other
wise destitute, to accept the nominal posi-
ton of taking charge of her but OF course
/ it was a sinecure. People were shocked ;
but much Milly cared for that She sat
on sofa behind one of the pillars, talk
/ ing to black-haire man of about 80,
who was dressed rather too well for the
expression of his features, which were in
telligent.
Il am afraid of you, Mr.. Bertram :"
she was saying.
Are you ?" he replied ''How people
are maligned. heard you were afraid
Of no one"
Perhaps you have been slandered al
So"
"Shall tell you romantic story P"
"Oh yes, please"
''Do not let your expectations rise"
said Ber;ram. 'there is nothing sensation
al about it. Upwards of year ago, |
happened to be staying at Brussels during
the carnival The Countess e. had a fancy
to give a masked ball, and | received an
invitation. 1t was brilliant affair, and at
for the hostess received all her guests on
arrival singly and unmasked, in a small
ante room, so that none but those who
were properly invited could gain admit
lance. | had not been in the room five
minutes before saw blue domino. who
produced the most extraordinary effect
upon me that had ever experienced. Up
to that time had laughed at mesmerism.
presentments, and everything which is
connected with mysterious intercommu-
nicaton of spirits. But now the fact of
the existence of secret sympathies was
forced upon me. knew at once that this
was the only woman | could ever love. OF
course often thought myself in love be-
fore, but now saw that had given that
name to a passing fancy, which never
reached my heart spoke to her, dane
ed with her. How the night passed
have no idea; it seemed gone before it had
well begun"
You saw her face before she lett?"
mot for moment. Nor was able to
discover who she was, or where she came
from. afterwards. That she was English
am confident, though she spoke Italian
all the evening"
81 am quite Interested" said Miss
Lund. What was her height and her
fgure?"
Like yours"
"Indeed! And the color of her hair?'
Yours exactly"
"And you have never met againp''
Not till this evening""
Really, Mr.. Bertram," said Milly,
laughing, ''you almost look as if you were
going to claim me as your mysterious
dominic"
mo, remember my promise"
"And that wasp
mot to claim her until she wrote or
uttered the word EsperGnza"
Really. you have kept your word and
told a veritable romance; the lady has
only to turn out ghost or a ghoul to
make it complete" said Miss Lund; but
as she spoke she turned pale it was only
with an effort that she completed her
sentence.
Bertram, looking round for the cause of
this emotion. saw that new arrival at
Spa, Il man whom he knew slightly in
England. had Just entered the room. and
he experienced that pleasing thrill which
animates pointer on snuffing a gamey
scent, or dramatic author when the idea
of plot comes into his head, for he re-
lieved the tedium of a somewhat legar-
thic existence by watching the little social
romances going on around him. If he
had been tattler, this might have proved
a mischievous propensity; but he kept his
discoveries to himself, or only intimated
them to the principal actors. tor his amuse-
ment consisted in knowing what other
people failed to perceive. The young man
who had Just entered moved up the room,
looking right and left for acquanances.
Presently he saw Bertram. who cume for
ward and shook hands with him. asked
him when he arrived, what hotel he was
staying at, and other little commonplaces,
while he was answering which he saw
Miss Lund. and could not prevent a slight
start before he bowed coldly. The young
lady replied with distant bend of the
neck
lyon know Miss Lund?" said Ber-
tram
81 have met her once or twice. But
they are going to dance again, and as
am not in mood for violent exercise.
having only just swallowed my dinner, I
shall go and have a look at the Trente ct
GUARANTEE
Though not a gossip himself, Bertram
by no means objected to take occasional
advantage of the gleanings gathered BY
u1apnhars nj that