The state journal., 1884-12-06

| pair With supreme lnulHerenCe-HIS DIG
tiers lirtations were nothing new to him
and Norris, glancing in their direction
only once, relapsed into silence WhlIe
his friend went on with an animated de-
scripton of a donkey race that he had
witnessed that afternoon.
The next morning some time before
her usual breakfast hour, Florence ap
neared in the breakfast room to see her
brother for moment before he went out,
as she said. The young man, not accus
toned to such attentions, received her
somewhat distrustfullY; but a total
change came over his face when she pre-
ferred the request she had to make.
Harry, l am very anxious to see
Louise this morning about a-the dress
maker, you know. Do you think you
could manage to get her over here?"
"Oh, certainly" answered Harry with
remarkable readiness = nothing could
be easier Do you think l might go
| there Immediately ?"
Eyes; the billiards breakfast out
rageously early"
Crafty Florence Epew that in this
| instance she could implicitly trust her
messenger, for her big handsome brother
was as deeply in the tolls Of the naughty
| fascinating little cOquette who was his
| ister's intimate and devoted friend as it
was possible for a man to be ensnared.
| Whether his devotion was to meet with
the reward it deserved was point upon
| which its tantalizing object had never as
vet given any satisfaction. Meanwhile
| no opportunity for approaching his
/ charmer was neglected, especially such
| legitimate one as was now offered by
| his sister.
So within two hours Florence was
| closeted with her friend discussing plans
which would have made the hair of her
masculine protectors stand on end.
Louise, you are to invite me to spend
the rest Of the day with you, and we will
! leave the hotel within half an hour,
was the announcement which greeted
! the visitor almost before she had entered
| the room.
Every well, dear-and what then %
asked submissive Louise, turning and
| twisting in vain attempt to see the back
| of her new dress in the mirror.
"Well, then, " continued Florence you
are to entertain me by taking me for
drive; and, if you should happen to take
me to the Pyramids-why, of course,
couldn't help II
Florence Thorne, what are you up to
to-day?" cried her friend, suddenly
wheeling round. "Stop this cowardly
| beating about the bush and tell the truth
at once Are you going to meet any one
there? Is it Herr Won Waldeck, or Teddy,
| or the Marquis, Or"
Nonsense, Louise; you are deplorably
frivolous and depraved!" responded
Florence, in scorn and disgust; then re-
membering Miss Brooks-"Whatc can l
| possibly want of men at the Pyramids?
No; | wish to so up to the large Pyra-
mid, o."
''But, my dear" Louise exclaimed, in
mock surprise, II thought your parents
had settled that question already?"
How dreadfully stupid and disagree
able you are to- day. Louise! OF course
you understand that they are not to know
anything about it. If they are so blind
to my real interests and show so little
sympathy with my thirst for knowledge
and investigation, it is quite TIME took
matters into my own hands. Then, too,
have another reason, which perhaps will
tell you later Anyway, 1 am resolved to
90, and, ii you refuse TO 60 with me, I
shall go alone?'
"Of course / will 90, responded
Louise meckly, though [ confess have
never had any desire to ascend the Pyra
mid. have always heard that it nearly
splits you in two and bursts off all your
buttons!'
A few moments later the two girls were
seated in a carriage which they had hired
at the door of the hotel, and were soon
driving over the bridge and past the
Khedive's Palace. For fully quarter of
all hour an unWonted silence had reigned
when st last Louise turned auth0ritatiYcly
to her companion.
CHOW, Florence | wish to know the
true reasOn-at which you limited a while
ago-why am to be dragged up there
to-day; for of course | know that your
thirst for knowledge and all that is mere
nonsense.
"You are not polite DEAR" Florence
responded calmly; "but | don't mind
confessing that my devotion to history
and the relics of antiquity would not
alone have been enough to make me I'M
dertake such a scramble. Well, Louise,
if you had heard the pompous dictatorial
speech which that tiresome Norris made
yesterday, when | expressed wish to
mount the Pyramid--some impertinence
to the effect that no lady who would do
such thing could hope to be honored
with his respect-yOu would not wonder
that felt obliged to show him what l
think of him and his opinion; for OF course
shall tell him to morrow where have
been.
"Ah," said Louise, with a sidelong
glance at her companion, you are
quite right! l was sure your friend Mr..
Norris was most insufferable prig."
"How absurdP' exclaimed Florence,
with unaccountable vexation. '"Mr. Nor
ris may be rather particular in some of
his ideas; but nobody with the least
atom Of common sense could call him
prig
The only effect Of this unmistakable
shub was merry peal of laughter from
Miss Hilliard, in which Florence-after
vainly biting her lip-was at last com
PEELED to join, and silence was banished
effectually during the remainder Of the
| drive.
On: leaving the carriage at the Pyra
mid of Cheops the two ladies were as.
sailed by a perfect mob of importunate
| Bedouins clamoring for the privilege of
escorting them to the top of the majestic
structure stretching to such height
| above them. Florence looked about her
in same trepidauon at the fantaGtically-
clad figures with cleaning black eyes,
long, unkempt hair, and bronze .colored
skin; and with hearts beating fast at the
thought of their unprotected condition in
the midst of the dancing shrieking crowd
the young ladies each chose three of the
least Objectionable looking of the Bedou
ms, and the others retired.
A wild spasm of disgust turned fastidi-
as two Of her unwashed, uncombed at
| tendants seized each one of her fault
lessly -gloved hands and dragged her for
1 l,