The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-01-15

| GHH WALKED TO THE MIRROR TO 6CRUTT
NIzE HERSELF.
one else will take his place-or if not
we shall manage to exist without him
Men may come, and men may go, anG
| it isn't worth while to mourn over thei
coming and going" Then walking to 9
mirror to scrutinize herself, she asked
Chow do I look tonight Charlotte
Without fattery, remember. I ask
because I have not been very well
to-day"
II mover saw you looking better,
replied Miss Denison. with emphasis
"Your dress ID so very becoming"
II sent for it because it is the most
becoming I have" said Constance,
looking at herself approvingly.
Glad she was that she had sent fol
her prettiest toilette that she did rub
the color into her glowing cheeks, and
summon light to the starry eyes that
looked back at her from the mirror.
Her object was that nobody should be
able to say she was mourning for Char
teris but now That she hears he is to be
present, she is doubly anxious to look
her best and seem her brightest.
He shall know that was under the
luIpToSSlOu uc Nuo SOucs BIO UulukS,
with sense of cordial gratitude to Fred
for having made her come.
Fred. who was standing at the foot OF
the staircase waiting for her in rather
o detected mood was altogether sur
prised by the tone of her voice when
she came down and laid Her hand on
his arm.
"You have not asked for the first
dance, Fred" she said "But I suppose
you want it ?"
II should think so, indeed - he an
swered, quickly. There has been a
set or two danced already. and we are
rather late, Jol ln)w Gomez
The next moment they were in the
room, his arm round her waist, and they
were circling over the polished floor.
They had waltzed together so often,
they knew each others step so well,
and the delight of both was SO great in
the exercise, that fatigue came to neither;
and so, when Charters arrived some
time later, the first sight that met his
eye was Constances flushed, radiant
face over Fred's shoulder as she was
borne round and round in the swift,
Intoxicating whirl.
What q shock that sight conveyed to
his self-love it is difficult to express.
"She thinks that have gone-gone,
too, without word of farewell and
this is how much she cares !" he thought.
us it possible that l have been the
sport Of heartless firt +? What u fool
what q consummate fool I have been
Why, from present appearances, she
may very likely marry March to morrow,
and | shall have gained nothing at all |!
BY Joye! she has q steady head r
This tribute of admiration was invol-
unfairly wrung from him by the recol-
lection OF how many women in the
course of his extensive experience had
proved to have had the reverse of steady
heads where he had been concerned.
And this girl could be subjected to
oil the dangerous destinations of his
society hear hs declarations of
passion-and then, with blooming cheek
and laughing eyes, could dance with
such anjoynaut on the night of his
departure
As he watched her, and his gaze fol-
lowed the graceful figure and the flower
crowned head. he was torn by so many
conflicting feelings that he could scarce
~ reply to the REMARKS OF his hostess.
It was with him the old. old story of
his sex-that which is given loses its
value, while that which is beyond reach
seems priceless.
Had Constance shown any intention
of returning his passion, he would
scarcely have fingered Tor further I'M
pleasant complications but her APP
parent Indifference stung him to the
keenest determination to win the avowal
he desired to hear.
What Fred Osborne's sentiments
were, when, having placed Constance in
o seat at last, he stood tanning her, and
CHANGED to glance across the room,
only to perceive the we'll face Of
the man whom he believed to be many
miles away by this time, it would be
vain to say. A cloud came over the
whole gay scene to, and with voice
which would in itself tell Constance
what was the matter, he said, "Why,
yonder is Charters ! Did you expect
to see him here?"
sis it probable that I did" she asked,
quietly, "when you told me this after
noon that he was gomez"
II told you what he said," was Fred's
replied; "that he WAS going"
land I had no reason to doubt it, "
answered she. 81 was quite surprised
when Charlotte told me when she went
to the dressing rooa with me that she
had met him in tile afternoon, and per-
suaded him to remain for the evening. y
"He was not hard to be persuaded, /
imagine" said Fred, with intense bitter
ness of feeling, Il don't believe he
ever meant to CO."
He may have meant to 60, and
changed his mind" said Constance,
carelessly, feeling impatient a. his man.
ner of speaking while Fred, felt much
aggrieved at her excusing Charters.
All his ideas were again thrown into
confusion.
AS he saw Charters advance across
the floor, he put Constance's fan abruptly
into her hand.
81 had better co. he said. "You
won't need me any more"
Something like fash came into her
eyes as she glanced quickly up into his
face.
"You are foolish and utterly unreal
sonable, she said. "Whose fault is it
that am here ? But go by all means,
if you like. confess am tired of jeal-
ousy and Miniature
Permission being thus given him to
go, Fred Osborne naturally did not