Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-03-21

49, AAANSap Va pOAAOWhCAs
May went slowly up stairs and on
the landing met her brother.
"May, you viii come down to-
night, will you not? Cora has given
a party and will want you to help en-
terrain our friends. l knowyou don't
like parties, bJft ] hope you will lay
aside your prejudices for tonight. /
expect friend of mine here from st.
Louis, and l want to introduce him
to you"
"Well, will come down, although
| must confess to feeling little
bored already" So saying she
passed on.
May Moreland was not beautiful,
but there was fascination about her,
nevertheless; and she had never
looked more splendidly proud and
cold than she did on this occasion.
Robert introduced the stranger, Mr..
Frank Clifton, and May treated him
with the coolest politeness. He was
a man of very prepossessing manners
and appearance. His hair was slight
ly gray, although he could not have
been over thirty years old. He con-
versed freely, and was perfectly at
ease in spite of Mays naughty indif-
ference. He was with her a great
part of the time, yet he never offered
a single compliment, and he looked
like he cared as little for what was
going on around him as she did. His
face wore smile of easy indifference,
yet he seemed a little amused at her
careless unconcern, and May caught
herselfwondering what hewas think
ing about.
Frank Clifton thought the woman
little strange, and as they talked he
studied her face. When the party
was over and he walked toward his
hotel, his judgment was summed up
in these words: "Intellectual, little
egotism, too naughty, strength of
soul, outwardly cold, warm-hearted.
Just the woman to make a man love
her if she tries. I'll know more OF
her." Then his mind took up an
other train of thought. "This man
whom they call Sidney Weston is a
character. I've seen men of his
stamp before. thought once tonight
l had seen him before. He has just
returned from Europe, they say. ]
must have been mistaken; they are
, very much alike. l could almost
have sworn it was Norton. But il
cannot be. IsaC him fall Isaac hin
, die. He deserved to die, yet l do moi
like to think of it. o, Ada a hare
! life was yours for your sake l would
a do again what had hoped never tC
do, kill a fellow man."
Clifton did not go away next day
as he had designed. Several days
passed and still he stayed. He called
at Moreland mansion; May was ou
riding. He called again, she was no
It at home. He sent his card one after
noon to call on her that evening, sht
was engaged. He would not have
= felt complimented to know she wa;
simply rocking back and forward il
. a luxurious chair in her own room
engaged in a revery. After that sht
h heard no more of him until Rober
mentioned that he had invited Franz
4 to dine with him, and that he haC
r. declined, excusing himself on bust
v ness. This business consisted o
e smoking Havannas and thinking 0
| May. He thought she had avoided
: seeing him, as in truth she had, anC
r he wondered why. She never came
G out on the streets, she never went Il
church, and she was never at hOm
: when he called. He was not maj
e to abandon anything when he one
# undertook it. He would wait ant
watch. He had waited and watched
d for years once in his life and he hat
if been successful; he would bide hi
q time.
II He lounged around the streets il
e the hope of seeing Weston. He want
ed to meet this man, so like one h
q had seen fall by his hand, with hi
Il white, dead face upturned to the star
# and moon, as she looked in pity O
ct the dew-gemmed grass dyed wit
v blood. He was disappointed, how
O. ever, for Weston, after the night {
I the party had complained Of not fee
ar ing well, and stayed about the house
W He grew moody and silently restless
( spoke Of going away, but RObel
n Moreland would not hear of it. II
< had not seen Clifton when he calleC
bnt ba boord Robert COW tbat h