The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-23

might have struck II cavalier as some
what tame, but Philip only saw the
magic OF her eyes, and heard the pa
thetic softncss of her voice.
They went into the drawing-rqpm,
which was half full 8. peop'e.
"Do you know any one herepr asked
Philip.
mot creature, except the Berg
nauses. am perfect stranger in Irk-
ford"
"And what do you think of itp" he
inquired again.
Ihey were seated now on a settee in
corner. Miss Fairfax shook her head.
with the same melancholy, bewidering
smile, and raised her eyes again SLOWLY.
as she said, with a sigh:
81 do not like it. | must trv to ret
accustomed to it, as it will most likely
pe my home for the rest of my life, and
have heard that il is not W Sc to quar-
rel with ones bread and butter-or
with ones dry crusts," she added IN an
undertone.
"The rest of your life?n echoed
Philip, immed ately deciding that she
was engaged to some fellow whose busi-
ness was at Irkford.
why had he not thought before of
such an obvious possibility?
"Yes; the rest of my lie. After mis-
fortune such as | have gone through.
the merest shelter seems like a palace,
and one clings to it, and fears to lose it,
Philip looked at her with respectful
sympathy on hearing these mystic
words, his curiosity, his admiration and
commiseration all on fire. He was
quite unconscious that he was gazing at
Miss Fairfax in q manner more intent
and prolonged than is usually thought
desirable upon ten minutes acquaint-
ance. But how was it possible to help
1t, with the tones Of that sweet and
melancholy voice echoing in his ears
with that beautiful, pale face, those
mysterious, dreamy eyes, and that pen
siye, low white forehead constantly
turned toward him? Her voice, her
looks, her very proximity exercised a
strange, sudden, subtle fascination over
him, more like ntoxication-more like
the effects OF some potent drug. than
IKE the gradual drawing into intimacy.
friendship or love with some ordinary.
mortal woman.
"Whatever may have happened in the
past, ! am sure you are not doomed to
live in lrkford all your life" he said.
though half an hour ago doomed
would not have occurred to him as the
most appropriate word with which to
describe residence in Irkford.
Again the strange, melancholy smile.
slow shake OF the head, and raising Cf
the eyes.
1T does not bear talking about"
said she. "Haye they been dancing
longP'
"Only one dance, l think. Nav 1
hope for the pleasure of a dance, Miss
Fairfax, If you are not engaged?"
81 engaged Who would be likely
to engage me?"
"Any one who got the chance, |
should suppose said Philip, stoutly.
'' But may |? hope you like dancing?"
with pleasure. used to be pas
sionate'y fond of waltzng in days gone
by" said Angela.
Then may have the next waltz"
with pleasure, repeated Miss Far
lax, with melancholy sweetness, as her
eyes wandered through the room. "Do
yon know any of the people here?" she
added.
Yes; most of them, either PERSONAL
y or by name"
"Then tell me who is that man, with
he roundish face, and hair just begin
ling to turn gray, who is standing at
ne other side of the room looking at
ls?"
Philip looked, not particularly anx-
ous to observe any one or anything but
erself.
LTA nE L.nA..rI A-LtI.r. I |