The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-07

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Vallou's ball, and almost the first
couple he ran across was Hortense
Lee and Clement Vane. The young
lady gave him a laughing glance
nodded to him gayly, and madea
commonplace remark. Vane screwed
the glass in his eye and vouchsafed
him a languid greeting, and Tom
watched them go slowly through the
throng, a smile of real enjoyment on
his lip.
An hour later he came upon Vane,
standing alone and melancholy on
the terrace.
Scarcely the correct expression
for brave wooer, my friend" he
said pleasantly; "but you are ac-
cepted, are your But of course you
are. That gloom on your manly
countenance is caused by your
regret at giving Miss Holmes the
pain you most; but I congratulate
you most heartily; I'm not used to
this sort of thing, but don't you
know"-languidly-T hope you'll
be awfully happy"
But Vane was pulling the faint
down on his upper lip quite saw
agely for him, considering the care
he usually bestowed upon it; besides
he looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Jovel wish you'd not mention
it." he said, petulantly; "any fellow
can be mistaken, don't you know.
I have been shamefully treated by
Miss Lee. Do you know how she
received the honor I did herP
"Fell on her knees and thanked
Heaven, I dare say" Tom said, SOL
emnly. "It was strange thing to
do, but then consider how delighted
she must to have BEEN"
You are quite mistaken" the ex-
quisite said, with dignity; "she
actually took it all as a good joke;
positively made fun of me, don't
you know"
"You don't tell mein with pre-
tended astonishment. "But, now l
think of it, she's engaged to young
De Vallou. Shows her bad taste.
now dosent she? He's not pretty
dancer at all, and never puts flow
er in his coat. But what of Miss
Holmes p
"I'm to dance the next waltz with
her. And 1 think, don't you know,
she more to my taste, after all. l
like fair girls best"
$50 do I. There's the waltz. I'm
not going in just yet. Come back
here when it's all over, and I'll con-
gratulate you.
"I will. You're awfully kind,
Tom, don't you know?" And he
hurried off, while Tom burst into a
low laugh, as he drew forth and
lighted a cigar.
81 really think 1 am kind" he
said. I'm doing my best to let you
find out what "a donkey you are,
you conceited imbecile."
He paced back and forth, thor
oughly enjoying his cigar. He fin
ished that and commenced another
A quadrille had followed the waltz
and a waltz the quadrille before
Vane made his appearance, and
when he did his face was flushed
and his eyes angry.
"Why didn't you tell me2 hi
asked, walking straight up to Tom
who paused in his walk and waited
for him. "Here 1 have made a foo.
of myself twice tonight, and you
might have prevented it. By Jove
1 call you a pretty sort of friend'
"What's the row." Tom asked
easily. "Has your good fortune
turned your brain, by boy, or is il
the champange2 You seem some
what lacking in that repose which
marks the caste of We're de We're.
What's amiss with our irresistible?'
"You ask that cody, upon my
word, you do. Don't you know
what a fool I've been making o
myself tonight ?"
"Now, don't blame yourself Vane
censure nature, she did it, my boy
You haven't done anything. What
the row?"
Ell proposed to Miss Holmes,
said Vane, in tone that was any
thing but lover-like.
"And-"
"And she told me she was engag
ed to your
so she is; but was willing to
free her, seeing that she was so much
in love with you?"
"oh, you're sarcastic" Vane said,
angrily; "but you might have told
me-"
"You didn't ask, and if Jessie
| loves YOU have declared IN me-,