Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01

nlease herself and her cavalier. and left
off or began again as 1t suited her.
To Linburn the remainder of the eve
ming pa sed rapidly. 1t seemed to him
that conversation with Mrs. Campion
was only just beginning to attain de-
lehtful point Of personal interest when
ZONE one, going to window, drew
back the curtains and discovered a
white world. During dinner the snow
bad been falling, and now roof and
path ard road were covered in thin.
white mantle. A light wind had cleared
away the clouds, the sky was bright
with stars, while the moon, rising be-
tween the frosted branches of an elm
tree opposite, shone in on the disorder
ed room and mixed her silver light with
the garishness Of lamp and candle.
The guests all came over to the win
dow and expressed their admiration or
surprise. AS they stood there the slow
notes Of a distant bell rang out IL.
1.-THE wind must be in the east"
said CampiOn; "that's Big Ben
Then there was talk of departure,
and Mrs. Highbury Banks was the first
to 20, taking Schonbein with her in her
brougham. She much regretted that
she had not third place to offer Kerr,
for, although he had done absolutely
nothing to ingratiate himself with her,
she, too, was smitten with his "mas-
culine beauty" '..'-
Kerr said goodnight, and Linburn,
after an interval, followed him content
edly enough down into the hall. That
interval had comprised tender passage
with Mrs. Campion in the conservatory,
where they had fingered a moment to
admire the view. lie had only pressed
her hand, and she but touched with
pointed fingers the gardenia in his coat;
still, this had given him an " EMOTION"
and he was perfectly satisfied.
Linburn was as much the prey OF
" emotions as are some other men of
govt or of dyspepsia. The blotchiest
Japan fan would send a rush of senti-
ment across his soul which obliged him
to sit down-at least so he said.
In the hall he found Campion and
Webster assisting a servant to assist
Kerr on with his coat.
"How are you going?" said the
host. II don't think you'll find cab
up this way, but you are sure to in the
High street il you don't mind walking
through the lane. | can let you out at
the back, you know"
They followed him into the dining
room, and he, unbolting the window
shutters, preceded them down a fight
of stone steps into a narrow garden.
He unlocked a little door, and they all
stepped into the lane together.
Here it was not unpleasant walking,
for the ground was dry and hard. The
wind, which had blown away the
threatened snOw-storm, had also blown
the fallen snow from the path and
swept it in loose drifts against the
palings.
"Well, goodnight" said Campion,
addressing himself to Kerr, and igno-
ring Linburn as much as possible.
q" Straight along, you know. You
can't mistake it, and | advise you to
walk fast, for it's deuced cold"
II wish saw some chance Of get
ting home" complained Webster in
thick, rich tones, which suggested that
he might, perhaps, find some physical
difficulty in the feat, but my wife has
retired to talk condolences with Mrs.
CampiOn in her bedroom. and the Lord
only knows when they'll finish. Don't
let Mrs. Banks persuade you into mat
rimony. You are a thousand times
better off as you are"
Then they said goodnight " again,
and the last thing the young men heard
was Campion,s voice proposing drink
of something hot and Webster's che cry
acQuiescence.
For some moments Linburn walked
along, immersed in his own pleasant
thoughts. He did not feel cold but,
on the contrary, lifted his hat to let the
wind blow in upon his long hair. He
laughed softly as he repeated to himself
some of his speeches to Mrs. Campion
which he thought particularly good.
Then it suddenly struck him that Kerr
was very silent, and then he remem-
bered that he had been so all the eve
ming. The annoyance Linburn had felt
during dinner returned, and he spoke
with some vexation
81 do think, julius, that for my sake
you might have paid Mrs. Campion a
little more attention, although yon
yourself might have found study of
her profitable. Her character is very
complex "-here he sighed" and |
counted on your assistance in unravel-
ling it. But ! ilatter myself | have this
evening obtained the clue"
lie fingered his moustache pensiyely
and was lost in retrospection until
Kerr's conduct again occurred to him,
and he said sharply:
"What is the matter with you? |
can't make you out tonight. Mrs.
Webster must have a nice opinion of
you. | think you neglected her, and
you have hurt my feelings. You seem
to imply that my friends are not worth
being pleasant to? ?"
Kerr's answer was unexpected.
"What do you know Of the woman
who sat next to you at dinner ?" he
said.
"Mlle. LecGur, the governess, do you
mean ?" Linburn asked in genuine sur
prise.
"Yes. Who is she: What is her
story?"
Her story" repeated Linburn.
" Why, what should her story be? She
has always been a governess, | imagine,
and there is nothing very romantic in
that"
Kerr laughed oddly.
"Do you know, Linburn, that you
are one Of the most conventional men in
London? 1t is in vain that you wear
your hair long and your collars low.
All your rhapsodies about japanese
tea-kettles, emotions, and soul-waves
have not opened your eyes to anything
outside your own narrow groove. Be-
cause this woman is governess you
have never thought it worth your while
to look at her, and yet she carries a
froca1t, xritbtD 49, I.o.c4 ...l:l I'll