The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-20


"What trial this is, dear" sighed
Angela.
"WhatP" inquired Grace"
'Philip's going away. 1t is most dis
tressing. Nothing but sense of duty
the very strongest sense of duty
would have induced me to 60 to this
miserable ball. am sure shall not
dance bit, )" and sne sighed heavily.
Grace struggled hard not to say some
sharp bitter things, as she was con-
stantly tempted TO do when with Angela.
The remembrance of that dear face
which she had kissed in farewell not an
hour ago, and that alone, held in her
desire to be sarcastic, even sardonic, in
her replies, and she said:
Eyes; | don't expect any pleasure
from it, | must say, and in my judg-
ment it would have been better not to
go. But [ could not refuse Philips
last request"
81 wish it had been in my power to
stay away" sighed Angela; "but it
would have looked so very marked, you
know"
II thought you and my brother were
now definitely engaged He told me
so," said Grace.
"We are, but not publicly. 1t would
have been more than could bear, to be
openly engaged to him, and he gone
away, for no one knows how long!"
Grace's rage could no longer be en-
tirely repressed. N.
"You must have a very sensitive
nature, I" said she, in honeyed accents.
"Oh, Ue1yr' sssented Angela.
"But to my mind, "swent on the
downright Grace, "if loved a man
enough to marry him, there is nothing
that [ should like better than to have it
known that 1 was engaged to him.
should be proud of it, and 1 should
glory in it.
"Ob, my dear Grace, how shocking!
You are so young, dear, you really don't
know what you are saying"
Grace laughed shortly and bitterly,
and remarked:
"Do you mean that | have not had as
much experience as you on the subject?
| have never had any, allow me to tell
you, except that | agreed to marry one
of Philips school-fellows when he was
ten and [ was nine. But / see we shall
{ never agree upon the subject, so we had
t better let it drop"
, Nothing 10th, Angela complied with
the suggestion, and the rest OF the jour-
ney was pursued in unbroken silence.
They had scarcely entered the dress
t ing-room at Mr.. Starkie's before the
Berghauses also arrived; Thekla and
her mother, the former looking rathe
, pale, but with q certain deeper light
than usual in her blue eyes. Grace few
to her, and began to explain the case,
in series of low, but energetic whis-
pers; while Angela, daintly arranging
her very elegant and very artistic dress,
discoursed aside to Mrs. Berghaus in 6
: discreet undertone.
"Mr, Philip Massey has been sudden
/ ly called away; he has gone to China,
s believe; so he could not bring us, anG
of course Grace was 50 busy seeing him
a off and talking to him that I offered tc
r write to you in her place" ~.
"Ah, yesr' said the unsuspectine
: Mrs. Berghaus, arranging her cap be-
fore the glass. "I only wonder thai
Grace would come without him; she il
l so very devoted to him.
"He made point of her doing so
Il and she did not like to refuse him. II
g is very good of you to chapc-on so many
$ girls. -Four ladies, and only Mr.. Herr
J, mann Berghaus to escort u.s."
!, , "And MIR. Fordyce; he came with ds,
) said Mrs. Berghaus, sticking q pin into
u her cap, and contentedly surveying the
effect. $50 we have two gentlemen
"Mr. Fordyce! Indeed!'' said Angela
q in some surprise, as she and the other
+ followed Mrs, Berghaus down stairs.
4 In the hall they found Hermann ant
s. Mr.. Fordyce, the latter looking stiff
and with a heightened color in hi
= cheeks.
% "What q funny little man he ISL
murmured Grace to Thekla.
u "Isn't hep think he is smitten will
s. you, Grace. He had not intended com
~ Ing, but when mamma casually men
toned that you and Philip and Angel;
= Fairfax were coming, he Immediately
Il testified the greatest desire to join us
:, We had good laugh about it,
y In the meantime Mr. Fordyce, look
. ing exceedingly pink, had offered hi
!, arm to Miss Fairfax, and she, with he
II sweetest smile, had accepted it, ieavin
Il Hermann to escort his mother, an
= Grace and Tbekla to come after ther
~ alone.
"Smitten with me, Thekla" whiE
T. pered Grace, with short laugh, as the
~ entered the ballroom.
Grace did not have pleasant even
ing. She was angry, veXed and jealou
for her brother, and, refusing almos
le every dance except one or two wit
le Hermann Berghaus, remained volur
A tary wall-fower, and looked with jaur
= diced eyes on the proceedings of Philip
le fancee.
L. Whatever the effort might cost tn
So bleeding heart of Miss Fairfax, it
q very certain that she made gallant a
le tempt to appear to enjoy the ball, an
ii it was, like most praiseworthy attempts
"A rewarded with fair modicum of SUI
" cess. While Grace sat glooming at on
It side, while Thekla Berghaus danced
10 for what could Philip Massey's depar
m ure to China, or anywhere else, be
herP--but danced mechanically, andh
ID nothing but sharp things to say to he
o. partners! Angela also danced ever
le dance, and fascinated all who spoke
h. her hV her nensivn eniln an1 enuapin