The Washington critic., 1885-12-05
THE DISPATCH.


pliciiy. les been dead set ever sine,
she came, and say she shan't have
hlmT'
u was Clarence Barton OF whom Jean
Bell spoke as "him." and Ruth liar
land, whom she meant by "she;" and
Il was ON the eve Of delightful picnic
party, and just five minutes before Ruth
had been exhibiting her new dress tc
her rival. quite Ignorant Of the fact
that she was n rival nj all.
Elm w glad Mrs Spencer sent II
homo 10 night" she said. "for could
not have gone tomorrow II II had moi
come"
Aud Jean Bell. who had been fondly
hoping all day that the drcssmakcr
would fail 10 fulfil her promise, had
smiled swectly, and said
I'm so glad. dear 70
But now that she was alone, and
thought Of rich and handsome Clarence
Barton, who was such catch. and
whose heart she had intended TO win,
and remembered now the simple coun.
try girl had already come between
them, and what an opportunity 10.
morrow's picnic would be for com.
plcxion that could bear the full blaze
81 sunlight. aud hair that "thc damp
only caused 10 crimp and curl closer
she grew furious.
"Shc shall not 20 n ! can prevent
her" she said 90 herself, pacing tho
| room. II must have my chance al
the picnic. Clarence Barton liked INC
before she came, and she shall no,
flourish him before every ones eyes
"a her prize already. | hate her, and
wish ] dared 10 Insult her and send
her home; but mamma would never
suffer anything 10 be done TO hurt tho
feelings Of dear cousin James child,
] suppose So | must manage some
other way"
She glanced at the dress lying on tho
chair. and wondered whether she dared
in any way TO dlshgurc II. But hcI
courage was not quite equal to the
deed. Horribly becoming as the dress
was II must remain uninjured.
| I'D like to tear IL into inch bits, said
jean; but must manage some Other
way. II ! could only send her home.
Then thought flashed into her mind
81 can send her home" she said, land
once there she must stay, know she
can afford the expense OF journey
back this summer; and II she can be
banishcd shall he Mrs. Barton yet
It's out of sight out Of mind with most
men.
And the girl laughed spitefully as
she pccped out of the window.
L n al ptr
quiet and dark. Jean had seldom beer
out alone so late; but she intended Il
go now. She took her waterproof
cloak from its peg, and sought In hcl
wardrobe for her plainest hat. Ovcl
this she tied blue veil, and locking
her room door. and slipping the key
into her pocket, she crept slowly down
the stairs Into the basement.
"Sit up for me. Ann, she whispered
to the servant girl, who leaned over tn,
area ratings, "and III give you Z
present tomorrow, and you need mo-
tell ma I'm out.
And away she hurried TO the nearest
avenue, where she took car which
was vending its way down town, aud
having ridden 10 the end of the route
she alighted, and In much trepidatlon
and conscious OF awakening goOi
deal Of unpleasant observation, bctool
herself To the nearest telegraph office
II was by this time 10 o'clock. and
only men were visible. AS Tho. muiileC
figure with the yelled face entered al
eyes were turned upon IT, But afte
all, Jean said 10 herself, no one coull
see her face; and what was q little con
fusion to the loss of rich husband
The thought encouraged her as sh,
advanced to the counter, and HANDED
over slip of paper, whispering: "lIoy
much for that2" To the clerk, VIII,
smiled In IN unpleasant manner AS Ia
answered.
Then II was over. She hurried away
braved the downtown emptiness an,
the uptown crowd of New Yorl
night, and reached home unmolestcd
But she was pale and trembling rs sh
slipped into the kitchen and was wei
coined by sleepy Ann.
"The missus don't know you're out
but she tried to waken you while ago
There's a telegram for your cousin
and she's frctting over II"
LET her fret said Jean, IA sh
stole up stairs and entered her owl
room. 1T will do her good"
| And she slept quietly, and drcame
dreams of triumph, while in the mex
room little Ruth packed her trunk an,
kept fearful vigil,
"Some one must be III, or dead,
she sobbed; "clse they'd never hav
telegraphed me home. How can
bear this long journey In such sus
pense, and what shall ] find at the en-,
of it,"
When Jean went down TO brcalsias
next morning she found Ruth read
for her journey, and heard how telG
gram had come tho night before sum
moning her home, signed I, Smith,
Said Jeans mother; And Rut
knows no one by that name. tell he
to hope for the bcst--it may be nothln
serious"
depend upon Il It IL not, >" said Jean
with some pity In her head Rut
looked so very pale. "They arc anN
ions to have you with them--that
all. "
But Ruth was not to be checrod Sh
left them with II sad face and man
, signs.
"And you lose the picnic. too" sal
Jean, "What n pityW
And then she saw In Ruth's eyes thu
she was sorry to lose tho picnic. an
why and no longer pltied her.
Jean went to the picnic herself an
looked her best; but somo chance keI
Clarence Barton away, and the day WI
q failure. Neither did she see hiI
again that week. and some one told he
he had left the city on business, How
ever, that was better than what migl
/ have heen, and Jean waited hopeful,
, AT the end of seven days came leitI