Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-21

I
dancers hall, In which direction two
thirds OF the surging crowd were moving
AS they walked to the head of the room
which was filling up so rapidly. buzz OF
admiration was heard on all sides. Mrs
Houghton, who had taken her place as a
participant, looked relieved and glad
when she saw Clare enter,
:! began to think you were not com.
ing" she said, "and was making myself
very miserable about the matter.o
''You do not look very miserable.
auntie," replied Glare.
''What do you think ?" she continued.
''Frank is terribly smitten with that little
Miss Gordon, who, by the way, is Mr.. LIE
Verrier's friend and flame they saw" turn
ing towards him. "How is it? Have YOU
any claims in that quarter? If so l must
warn my boy in time, as it will not do for
him to lose his heart where there is no
hope"
The reply, 81 have no claims what
ever on Miss Gordon" was made much
more earnestly Clare thought than the oc-
casiOn demanded.
Mrs. HOughtOn continues
"Twice this evening | have tried to get
Frank to turn her over to some other gen
tleman's care that he might go to YOU
with a message, but l could not get him
to do it. He said meantime he might
come back and find himself cut out, and
when | appealed to her and asked her if
she would not be glad to make a change,
he had the impertinence to tell her she
must not answer, for if she did she would
be certain to offend either him or me-"
"There were several of us about you
who would have been only too glad to have
Obeyed your commands" said Mr.. Carroll,
a gentleman who was standing near,
''rather than suffer you to disturb two
such happy hearts as theirs seemed to be-"
"Well, the truth is Clare is so hard to
please, l did not know who to send. Very
probably she might not have noticed the
person by whom l sent the message"
"What character you are giving me,
auntie."
"You cannot denv that, Glare; you
know it is the truth"
Just then they were called to their
places, and the dancing commenced.
Could Mr.. lie Verrier believe his own
ears? Surely Frank was nothing to
Glare, or his mother would not have jest
ed as she did about his penchant for Miss
Gordon. If Frank was out of the way
then there was. room for him to hope
how delightful the thought! His manner
to Clare assumed new sOftness when he
took her hand in the dance; he reiOiced in
the thought that possibly it might, some
day be his own. When the set was
finished and they left the floor to give
place to a new one, they returned to where
they had left their parents sitting, and
were glad to be seated with them and en-
ter into their conversation; nor did they
leave again until the doors Of the supper
room were thrown open and they wentOut
to the table.
Immediately after supper Mrs. lie YER
rier lett accompanied by her son, who had
in the meantime commended Miss Gordon
to Franks care, and received from him a
promise that he would see her safely
home. Mrs. HOntleur also left for her own
room, and Glare joined her aunt's circle.
She entered into the conversation, if the
light badinage which was passing for
such could be called by that name, with
much spirit, and made herself 80 agreea-
BILE that Mrs. Houghton said:
'What has come over Glare? Are you
trying to redeem your character?"
"There is need enough for it, auntie, if
your accusations against me are true. l
did not suppose anyone would ever call me
hard to please"
''She was trying to draw you out" said
Mr.. Carroll. ''She did not like to see you
so tame, and / think she has succeeded
very WE'LL"
''No, indeed, that was not my object. [
only told what was the truth. Glare
is so hard to please about beaUx. |
never recommend one to her that she does
not Immediately point out to me some
glazing defect in him. She expects every
body to be perfect"
The gay assemblage danced and laughed
and chatted, and ate and danced again
until long after the small hours. Many of
them did not depart until the day was
breaking.
The house presented a scene of confu-
sion. Fragments of the feast were every
where-cake trodden about the floors,
fruit Feelings and nut shells lodged in the
splendid drapery of the windows, and all
over the rich carpets broken glasses and
split wine, artificial flowers and natural
ones, shreds of lace torn from costly at
tire, and destruction and waste and dis
order in every direction. How differently
it appeared from what it had done only
few brief hours before.
Mr.. and Mrs. HOught0n and Frank and
Glare seated themselves at the table to eat
some hot oysters and talk over the party.
HAS it given you as much pleasure,
wife, as you anticipated?" asked Mr..
HoughtOn.
eyes, it all passed off very well. Every
body seemed to enjoy themselves very
much. If could have infused little
more spirit into Clare, or caused her
sparkling qualities to develop themselves
little earlier in the evening, / should
have been better pleased. You have no
idea how brilliant she became when we
once got her reused. / think it was Mr..
Sinclair's wit which drew her out at last
he has been so anxious to take on over
her ever since she came ufSthe city. You
know, pa, how he loves to tlirt? He has
regretted to me more than dozen times
that he could make no impression upon
her. Glare entered into the spirit of the
Irritation tonight, and he seemed quite
encouraged. l shall look for his servant
here daily now with fruits and flowers,
and all manner Of pretty and nice
things"
''Did not 1 hear hear him ask you to
let him drive you out tomorrow, ClareW
''He did ask me but | refused"
E'YOu provoking child! he is the most
distinguished man in our set. You do not
know what an honor it is considered to
ride with him."
Il should not feel at all honored by it.
NY time is of too much value to me to
give it up to the disposal of everybody.
He must ask people to go with him who
have nothing else to do, and who like to
be made a show of; do not"
"'Clare does not wish to make herself too
common" said her uncle. "That is right,
pet. / think you do well to refuse such
cOXcombs who wish to make it appear
that they are irresistible among the Ia
dies"
cit is a pity we did not introduce him
to jamie Thompson" said Glare. alt would
have been quite IN her line to splurge
around with him."
"Janie Thompson, fndeed," said her
aunt. ''He would never be seen riding
with anyone who, like her, would take up
with such a coarse specimen of humanity
as was escOrting her tonight. am dis
gusted with the girl; pray do not mention
her name to me again. That bOOr of q
man was with her every time | saw her
this evening, and she leaning on his arm
and giving him such languishing chances.
1t was apparent to everyone that she was
trying to coax him into marrying her,
while everybody knows that but for his
money she would not look at him."
''She is a polished and pretty looking
girl said Mr.. HOughton. Il wonder that
she should stOOp to himw
''HOw is it, Frank, that you are so mum
to-night?' said his mother. ''Have you
spent all your conversational powers on
Miss Gordon that you have nothing to say
now?''
81 was thinking how hard it will be to
leave my pleasant home and all the agree
able people here and go back to college,
which shall have to do so sOOn.'
EEYou must stay another week with
u.s." said his mother, sand you will be
able to see Miss Louis net that her
name ?-many times in the course Of a
week. Did you make any engagement to
call on heF?'
t,Ccvtoi11z mamma aud ,,royoicod IN