Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-07-08

bad cnnaIiNfAN.e 'NHt a"NN s"i+t i'i-
n believe there are orc or two dances
lcit." shc answered With an indifference
which made Maudc smile. remembering
low d.a.rca; ber reception of George s
attentions bad bcca oa former occasion.
You bad better take What dances
yol wi.h l-iorc my card is h.icd, shc
sa.l. qliti'y. when her lover bal returned
C.ara's card.
"Oh. no aiicnl O. TIA; after ihc Afsi
dance. be- answered anl IN another
moment ih.y bad taken their place upon
ilc loor
Maule a.l nothing ba' Dec quiet
smile meant volumes.
George spoke i'iie while danclog De
was nsii'cl by ite marked change ia
Clara. nanaer. He d.l not care sifaw
O. che g.fl. ta' h.. vanity ~as wounded.
o. ariy,.y watched heI as shc danced
wi.t >.cptrn BLACK singulaf.y hand
some mas. he arknowlcdgei o. h.ms,.i--
AL observed all beg h'ile airs an4 sraccs
she very arts which she bad employed
o. pleas. h.m n1, 30 long ago. The mo-
mrr, obi. laace was over he seated Mauic
h.,iI. .nms friends and rushed 0d 90 seek
Clara. Determined ,o divert hcT attention
from h.. .-'.r.op,r Cara, on ihe other
laal. vas bent oa retaining NJ. Back
b, h,r SIDE. ana her clagfia could noioc
coucca.ei vhen BEL. glad % ihc PfrieSi A.
hriei by Gso'sc' approach. bowed him
.s.f away aal walked across The room 90
Msale.
Ten minutes after. when George, mer-
..lr..ly .autbcl hy Clara. d.sconsola'ely
caught t.. le,foihcl. hi. .mariiag vanity
nrel.-e OBJ. balm 10 Der unwavcung dc-
y.iioa. tc nlni hei ialkilg galy with
VI Back. vhl mad, no ea9f, to conceal
hs appreciation ~ her society With
easy sfac, .ac introduced ihc two gentle
msn. who lowed si.f.y io each other.
then resumed hef oon,tr,aiion. which
consisted of ol reminisccnces in which
George bad ro share therefore De could
noi take part ia their ,alk.
Ia one momeat hc had forgotten al
about C.afa aal t.. petty annoyance on
her account. While pang of real leal-
ou.y seized h.. heart.
Fafihe ffst time in bis knowledge of
her De- saw Malde eni.rely cngrossed
with Another man. tlai man former
.l.,or. anl Biz experience was no' a
pleasant ouc. he stood beside her f'f
some time. waiting i1r a Word or look /;
bu, ,he had seemingly forgotten bis very
existence By-aal.by be quietly touched
hcf hand.
"Wll you give me your card, Maade
be asked q. she looked round.
Certainly" she smu.ngly answered /,
''bu, am afraid al the dances are gone.
Re looked 90 .i without word; a.
.he had sa.l. there was noi one dance
leh.
"l told yoa when We enierd The room
that you bal better secure a. many as
,ou desired. she sa.d. in answer 10 his
look Of reproach. And he remembering
his Indifference. could answer nothing.
That was the most miserable evening
George Campbell ever spent. Maude.
ia the gaycst of spirits, was 80 absorbed
by stephen Black thA, be had no oppor-
tuni,y % exchange more than half a
dozen word. with her during the entire
evening Nor was be the only sufferer
Clara Naagha, always on the lookout
for fresh conqaes,s. had determined 70
secure stephens attention. and was made
absolutely furious by his devotion 10
Maude. She could not retain him by
her sile three consecutive minutes, her
blandishmeis fell powerless on this man
Of the world. who knew ovey phase Of a
eoquetis ar. and thought Clara rather a
eulmsy wofk.woman, though she did
very well for a village girl. Maude's
simple frankne.s ani absence Of self
consciousness suited him far better, he
remained By her side A. much as possible.
Bat Clara had determined upon one
grand effort. and late in the evening pro-
ceedcd 10 make Il.
Mr.. Black and Maude were still laugh
ing and talking together in a corner Of
the ballroom Near by stood George
Campbell, bis face dark with anger,
when Clara came tripping toward him.
her face wreaihed with artificial smiles
"Oh, Mr. Campbell, she eried 81
am in such q qaandAry Uncle and Aunt
have gone home without me, and have
no escor, and il is 50 late ~
She paused and looked apPealingly-
no, a, George. bat stephen, fully expect
ing TIA, he would otter to do escort duty.
Bat he seemed blind and deaf TO all bat
his companion. and George was forced
% respond.
Il shall be glad 10 see you 10 your
home. Miss Clara. II Miss Arthur will
wait here until my return, he said
sloxly and reluctantly.
A, this moment stephen suddenly re-
covered sight and hearing.
"AIow me 10 relieve you Of the care
Of Miss Arthur" be eourteously said,
turning 10 George.
81 have a carriage below, and shall b
delighted 20 take her home.
Before the irate lover could answer
Maude spoke. i,
Thank you. Mr. Black that viii ad'
iu., matters nicely" she said with brigh'
smile. "You need give yourself no con-
eern on my account. Mr.. Campbell, but
attend to Clara. ifyOu please.
What could George say His fae'
grew darker than before as he STAN
mered GU, something about being "si.e
TO Obligs all parties" then Offered az
arm 70 the no less discomhted Cara