Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-13
"why didn't you write him q note, and tell
l,


from Scotland to tell me II Mrs. R0wlandsOn's
last baby had cut its teeth"
"At least it would have broken the ice"
III there Is any ice / should be the last
woman on earth to break it. You ought to
know that by this time"
Don't freeze me. in order that mayn't for
gown tonight"
"Why?" covert eagerness in her tawny eyes
dOwdy women"
"Pshaw! l really thought. She paused.
her level brows drawn together, as she felt an
inconyenient blush in the act of convicting her.
That Capt. Vivian would be there?" with a
mischievous smile.
sit would make no difference to me II he
WERE" with great decision.
"Of course not so l shouldn't have thought
OF mentioning it"
In order te please Sir Guy, Mabel Lorraine
seemed to have taken immense care with her
tollette that evening; and when she entered
MIS- Forresters crowded rooms more than
one pair Of eyes followed her movements
with tervent admiration. Her eager glance had
toid her that her old friend was there, and
her heart beat tumultuously, when, for the first
TIME after many years, she found her hand In
MS. IN her struggle for outward cOmposure
she fell into the extreme of apparent GOODNESS.
her long lashes dropped nervousy on the vel
vet OF her cheeks, and her lips parted In achilly
smile. Unable to judge by anything out out
ward sight, Vivian drew back, disguised and
disappointed
Let me introduce you to my cousin" she
said hurriedly, and before she had mentioned
her name Mrs. Forester hustled up, and asked
her to take place in the second row, which
Major wentworth had been keeping for her all
the evening. Wishing the amateur theatricas
at the bottom Of the sea, Mabel Obediently fol-
lowed her hostess, and found herself. to all in
tents and purposes, a prisoner, with the faithful
Charlie by her SIDE and bent on making all the
rnnniD0 ~ no had cfo ia riv Ia hy,
the craftiness of his maneuvers.
FRANK Vivian, savage as the typical bear with
wound In his ear, dropped down into the seat
beside Lady Waverley, determined to show his
1athless love that, although she had chosen to
go off with another, he was by no means :" left
lamenting." When she smiled on him he fed to
the Lands End; now that she didn't smile on
MIN, with the true peryersity of man, he felt
aggreved, and resolved to call In Chesterfield
Gardens on the first opportunity. With no less
than three objects in view-tO stab Mabel to the
heart to allay Sir Guys fancied jealousy, to gain
an invitation to the baronet's hOuse-he en-
tered into desperate Irritation with the pretty
girl who was, as he supposed, Lady Wayeriey's
cousin.
He was so good to look at that she could not
help raising her eyes to his face with bewitch-
ing smile. He was Mabel's particular friend, so,
OF course it was only kind of her to be civil.
She wanted to get him on her visiting list, for
Mabers sake, so 1t would not do to begin with
d SuuU All tHeSc IedSOIS COIlUlIlGU 10 make
Lady Waverley as charming as possible.
An arrant but harmless COQuette she was ac-
custOmed to flattery as the natural sauce to
conversation, but Captain Vivian, with the fair,
frank face that seemed to mean no HARM went
further than any other man on so brief an ac-
quaintance, except Sir Guy, and he had meant
to carry off the prize from the beginning.
thrill Of pieasuTable excitement darted through
her heart as she listened to his musical voice
gradually sinking till little above Whisper as
she looked into the earnest eyes which seemed
to express in their feryent glance all that the
audacious tongue left unsaid; as she felt that
she was flirting, really flirting, but only for Ma
bets sake,
You have never been to Chesterfield Gardens
to see your old friends?" and she threw laugh
ing glance toward that ill-used maiden, who
knew very well what was passing behind her
back.
An old friendship after the interval of years
is apt to grow musty. l prefer going in for the
new"
Very rude to my COUSIN" with shrug of her
white shoulders
''ls not the fault yours IL you make any other
answer impOssbe?''
mabel is the dearest woman under the sum-"
she replied, with sudden irrelevancy.
Il agree with you," was the quiet answer; ''a
capricouS woman is dear at any price"
You do her gross injustice. If you don't be-
lieye me, ask Sir Guy"
look OF amusement shOne from his eyes,
Hardly; you are told hot TO trust your dearest
friend about horse''
How does that apply?" raising her eyebrows.
'Periectly. A man is bound to tell any
amount of lies about his wife. They are
moving toward the slpper-room-before any
one else claims you. let me- standing up and
Offering his arm in the most e7npresSe manner,
because Mabeis eyes CHANGED to be turned in his
direction.
Right under Sir Guys nose he led his wife out
of the room, bending over her and asking for
flower from her bouquet before they were quite
out of sight. His last chance of being asked to
Chesterfield Gardens was ruined before he
reached the bottom of the staircase even while
he was priding himself on his diplomacy and
attempting to throw his handful of foolish dust
into the barOnet's eyes.
Il thought of asking Captain Vivian to dine
with US on Friday" said Lady Waverley,
want 10 be civil to him for Mabel's sake"
"Mabel be hanged. growle6 Sir GUY in pet
''If he puts his foot inside my doorway, by gad
I'll stop at home to kick him OUT
After this the subject was dropped.
By an unfortunate mistake as the palm-tree and
the pine of Heine's verse. Finding that his
presence was not desired in Chesterfield Gar
dens, Vivian made up his mind to leave Lon
don. Although he had been foolish enough TO
angle for an invitation in his calmer moments
he was forced to acknowledge that it was better
refused than given. The mere sight of Mabels
loneliness was enough to incite him to any mad
ness, and one word of kindness might have
tempted him to try if the fire in his own breath
could not have melted the icy barrier between
them. And then the end must have been sOr-
row. and might have been dishOnOr
Before starting for Paris it was necessary for
him TO pay O. visit to the family solicitor Mr.
Prepdergast. IN Lincoln's Inn Val Forester
who happened to be with him at the club, when
lie announced his intention. with adreary yawn
said: Take the brou@ham. / only came out
i'll it to-day because Of this horrid fog. and it will
be a charity to give the horse some exercise, in
stead Of keeping 1t at the door,"
Seeing the wisdom of this suggestion Frank
accepted, and. feeling rather like an eminent
physician On his way to patient, was driven at
g cautious pace to Lncolns Inn. BY a curious
coincidence, Sir Guy Waverley happened to have
paid visit this very afternoon to his own law
yer who lived in the same house, though on a
different floor as Mr.. Prendergast His wife had
agreed to come and call for him. but when she
saw nasty pea-Seup tog obscuring the view OF
her neighbours window her courage failed her.
and she willingly consented to let Mabel 90 in
stead.
The fog was denser than ever as she sat pa-
tiently in the carriage at the door Of No. 49, but
she was in no hurry Every object in life seemed
to be taken from her, and there was no use in
hurrying when there was nothing to be lost by
delay. letter from Charlie Wentworth was
In her pocket The poor fellow pleaded his
suit in an honest. manly manner; but his words
brought no flutter to her heart no tears to.ner
eyes, Lost in thought, she did not look up as
somebody came rapidly down the steps, jumped
into the brouuham and shut the door aft or him