The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-08-12


Amy, but" she added with a comica
sigh, L feel as though it would take m,
a lifetime to recover from those tete-a
tetes with the dear count, as Mrs. Stuy
vesant calls him."
"Well, 1 don't wonder at that" saiC
Amy laughing. "He is not coming tc
tea, 1 SUPPOSE"
''He is not asked, Helene replied, with
a languid motion of a delicate feather
fan which she held.
Poor fellowl 1 W II tell Oscar he must
do his best to repla; him.
A dash of una ;countable color ap-
Peared in Helene's face, but the parro-
keet feather screened it.
is Oscar coming?" she asked Ian
guidly.
4 believe so. 1t is tremendous con-
cession to you, my DEAR He hates
society, you know, and don't think he
took very kindly to your engagement to
Count Wierlawsl1y."
Don't he know that this is all broken
Off" said Helen, hurriedly.
YES" said Amy, shut Oscar is an &c
centric, you know, though he is one of
the dearest fellows in the world. He
was very fond of you, Helene, and I
think he is rather afraid to meet you FOR
fear he will find you changed"
What makes you think that?"
"He asked me whether you were just
the same as you were when you used to
| study Greek with him, and copy his
chemistry notes. know he thinks So
ciety and wealth have spoiled you,
though l told him the contrary. He
says"
WHAT" said Helene, imperiously, as
| Amy paused and went on sorting her
embroidery silks in silence.
"He says" she continued, with a fur
tive glance at her friend, "if you had
never gotten rich, he would have been
quite sure of you; but that now he
could hardly say how you will turn
out"
"Indeed!" cried Helene with little rail-
ing laugh, giving her fan such a savage
firt that the ivory handled snapped in
twain. Il amy indebted to Mr.. Dwight
for his opinion. When man takes up
preconceived ideas about me, never
think it worth while to combat them"
She got out of the hammock slowly,
and trailed her blue cashmere morning
gown over the veranda.
Il am going to order bisque and cara
mel ice, she said, suddenly. 1T is the
proper thing to have it surved in coffee
cups, Amy. Shall bring out my Beluk
service?"
Amy adored planning, and the ar
rangements for Miss Martineau's tea
proved very absorbing. When Saturday
came the veranda looked like an en-
chanted garden. The floor was patched
with Oriental rugs, and plants were
blooming in every corner, while luxuri-
Gus chairs and divans were scattered
about alongside of oddly shaped tables
spread with embroidered cloths and
laden with dainty china.
AS Oscar Dwight stepped through the
cIlrtained window ON the veranda in the
wake of butler who conveyed his card
to Helene, he realized that he must be
very late, for his fine head and gray eyes
over-tOpped a crowd of gossiping tea
drinkers, already assembled.
Helene was sitting at the far end of
the veranda. He singled her out at once,
for she was taller than most women,
and her small head had proud poise
which he could not fail to recognize.
She was at her best that afternoon in
rich gown of crimson plush that was set
off with ivory satin and trimmings of
duchess lace.
"How beautiful she has grown!" Oscar
murmured, with a sharp pang; "and yet,
if she had not come into her fortune, she
would probably have married that ras-
cally Russian"
The thought was uppermost in his
mind when he met Helene, and she held
out to him hand of faultless shape and
fairness.
"Ah, Oscar!" she said with lenguid
smile-"or ought to say Mr.. Dwight? 1
ain glad to see you-vraiment. But
how horribly old it makes one feel to
find you so grave and mature! You are
an inch taller, do believe. You look
hke-who was that heathenish Greek |
you used to dote on?"
Really now, Miss Helene" said Oscar
with clever imitation of the fashionable |
drawl, you mustn't corner a fellow in |
that way!"
Helene leveled her eyes at him in
brief stare which gave no response to the |
amused twinkle in his.
at is just as L feared. thought Oscar,
with a sinking heart. "They have |
spoiled her among them"
Helene cast furtive glance at his |
face, and thought how well it had full
filled its early promise. He was making
proper speeches to her now. She listened
with conventionalized smile, and then
said sweetly:
"You must take a cup of tea with me.
Sit here, if you please. You will find
this coy corner, and think you viii |
like my tea"
Il have no doubt of it," Oscar replied.
%As 4Eschylus says"
Mr.. Dwight" she cried, fiippantly,
don't begin by quoting Greek at mel
What had KschyluS to say about teaT"
Nothing. 1t was about women"
"Ohl" said Helene, laughing. Like
other men, 1 presume he fancied he
knew great deal about them"
Il don't think he ever fancied that"
said Oscar, taking his cup of tea. He
was not such am infatuated fool"
"Your tone is not complimentary, Mr..
Dwight. 1 fear you are a sad cynic.
You ought not to fill your head with
heresay. 1t is not good for you, pas du
tout!"
"Pardon9s
%Why, you understand French-per-
fectly, l remember"
"Oh, yes. But my mind never hankered
after a sandwich of tongues. 1 always
feel as though had slap in the face
when / am getting on so smoothly in
one language, and some one hurls at me
a fragment of another. / will speak
French with you, if you prefer it, =" he
added, more gently.
a kHok /
blunt speech wasl
~Oh, mol" she fastened to say. what
will YOU have? Try these comfits. You
will like them, am sure. They taste
just like"
A luscious jacqueminot rose fell from
her corsage. He picked it up and
gravely returned It to her without
thought of appropriating it.