The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-28
REX ALLSToN'S APOLOGY.
BY MRS. DENIsoN.

From Frank Leslies Fact and Fichon.
"Bo you think am triAing with
Don?" And Miss Osborne lifted her
dark eyes from the book she was read
ing.
The two women-both young, both
beautifttl-were the only occupants of
the hotel parlor. It was an early hour
in the day.
"I? Why. I haven't spoken word
since you have been in here!" said
Florence Alden, surprised.
ooh! I am one of the sensitives, you
know, and can read peoples thoughts,
so they say. I know what you are
thinking of. l."
"A guilty conscience needs no &C.
cuser," said Florence, lightly. "How
could / help thinking of Rex?"
"Oh, yes, Rex-always Rex!" said
Miss Osborne, a ripple of passion run
ming through her rich, even tones.
"You don't know anything about it,
Florence. If he will go with that wo-
man-why, it is simple terrible, the
way she Airts! A little signal with her
fan brings him to her side, no matter
where he is. I wouldn't like to tell
you some things I have seen. Why will
he persist in paying her so much atten-
ton? We all know she is not good
form. Doyou suppose I will let my
name be coupled with herr"
And Miss Osborne, now white and
trembling, bent lower over her book.
Sho was evidently laboring under some
strong excitement.
"You say, we all know she is not good
form,' said Florence, "without quite un-
derstanding all the words imply. You
must speak for yourself. I don't know
it. like her. 1 am only conscious of
pleasure when Hook at or talk with her.
Besides, she must be eight or ten years
older than Rex. never saw anything
tomake me think he was in love with
her"
IF you haven't, I have" said Miss
Osborne, with concealed pain in her
voice. "And when I limited nv suspi-
cion, how angry he was! To be sure he
tried to explain, but was angry then.
Rex has behaved shamefully, and I will
never forgive him."
"But what proof have you that Mrs.
Selby is not what she seems?" asked
Florence. us it the mere they say Of
hotel coterie, or have you heard some
thing definite to her disadvantage, ?"
''Why there's proof enough, to my
4 eo11 M;oc 0,l>oroo HVo,, -,
as we'll as do that she holds herself
aloof from the company here, as if she
were afraid of us, and don't consider
that good sign. Then she not exactly
out dresses us all, but her taste is per-
feet, and her clothes are all made of
the very richest materials. It seems to
me that she dresses to please herself
solely, and that is the proof of selfish
character. There is something about
her different from all the women here,
and-well, simply, don't like her. I
detest her. Then you will always no.
tice that she generally avoids gentlemen,
never dances, and fancy, she puts on
that woebegone look sometimes just to
make herself seem interesting.
"Yes, but If she doesn't try to attract
the gentlemen, as you say she does not,
think you have failed to make out
case. To me she seems quiet, SIMPLE
lady, very sweet and modest"
"She does try to attract one of them"
said Miss Osborne, in almost dramatic
tones: "and I have learned to beware
of these sweet, simple people. Still
waters run deep. Well, Rex may have
her" she added, touch of bitterness
in her voice; II don't want him."
"And poor Don may take his place,
to be victimized in his turn, said Flor
ence.
"How solicitous you are for the well
fare of poor Don!" said Miss Osborne,
pitilessly, as she watched the red come
and go in the sweet face of her compan-
ion.
"You have no right to talk in that
manner" said Florence, trying to speak
calmly. "However, you are angry now
and don't know what you are saying"
''Have either of you ladies seen
stray fan ?" low voice broke in.
Miss Osborne looked up, colored, and
moved toward the window, without
speaking. Florence responded polite
~, and began to help in the search.
"Was it valuable?" she asked.
"Very, on account of the associations
connected with it," was the answer.
ut was q gift from my brother and he
is dead"
The woman who spoke was small and
slight in figure, with pale, dark COM
plexion, and great, laaguid, Southern
eyes. She wore rich costume of pale
amber silk, trimmed with velvet
much too costly, Miss Osborne said,
with wild unreasoning anger in her
heart, for that time of day. But Mrs.
Shelby was very rich as we'll as very
handsome, and it was her pleasure to
surround herself at all times with the
Injuries of dress and equipage. If
this was fault, she could at least afford
it.
STRANGE" thought Florence, as she
stole a glance at Kate Osborne, "that
she should be so absurdly jealous of
this woman, who, it is patent, is neither
young nor happy. Miss Osborne is a
great deal more beautiful than Mrs.
Selby, though she is lovely, too, in a
different way. Oh, you have found
your FAM" she said aloud. as the lady
came smilingly toward her.
"Yes, / found it in the piano, on the
wines. Rex-Mr. Allston, 1 mean, had
it last night" she continued. slight
confusion in her manner. II was play
ing for him, and he famed me; then, I
suppose, laid it down and we both for
got it. DO you like it," and she opened
it, with something almost like rever-
ence in the action.
1T is almost too beautiful to use,"
said Florence, examining the richly in
laid sticks, the delicate blending of
color. -
my brother bought it in little shop
in Paris, of little old snuff -colored
man, in snuff. colored suit of old vel
vet-quite picture, by-the-way. Ahi
what delightful times we had in that
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