Connecticut western news., 1886-02-24
Slightly Mixed.

Q
 A bright moonlight night and gay party. Peals of laughter in all keys float through the keen frosty air as sleigh-load after sleigh-load drive away from a brightly lit mansion, until the street seems clled with the flashing sleighing party.
 One, small shcll-like creation drawn by single black horse, leads the party. Its occupants are Mir. Harold Greystone and his sister, Miss Nellie. Mir. Grey stone, after wrapping his sister in the fur robes, devotes himself to putting his horse at a speed that promises to leave the remainder of the party in the distance. For some reason, Mir. Greystone does not seem to share the exuberant spirits of the rest of the party. On the contrary, he eems good deal put out, to say the least, and his usually good-humored countenance is overcast. His heavy black brows are drawn together, and in spite of the sweeping mustache one can note the firm expression that turks around the mouth.
 Altogether he looks very grim, Miss Nellie thinks as she turns herself and surveys him. .....-.-
 She ii very small herself, and being buried to the chin in wraps, it is work of time to turn herself sufficiently to see his face. Noting his expression, she be- gan cautiously:
 "Harold, arn't you driving the horse too fast7 See, the others are away be- hind"
 'sWe will arrive all the sooner for. SUD- per, sis" was the reply.
 70, we'll, but the oysters are not put on to cook yet, SO we needn't hurry on that score"
 Harold reluctantly pulled up his horse little, and, looking back, he growled.
 ''That fool, Douglass, will dawdle enough for the whole party. It's grand wonder he would consent to drive load However, if my Lady Blanche wanted to go in load he would not object. It's a mystery to me how as sensible a g1rl as Blanche Leslie can tolerate such an idiot in her presence. But, pshaw, there is no mystery about it. If fellow has full purse it makes no difference whether he possesses any brains or not. G'lang, 5im," skipping the horse savagely with the reins.
 'sHarold, did you ask Blanche to go with you2"
 'tNo, by love, I didn't. I am not quite such a fool as that. My Lady Blanche will find that she cannot twist every one around her finger like Doug lass"
 'I don't think you need be so hard on Blanche. She isn't crazy after rich peo- pie at all. We are not rich, and Pm sure she is always goodness itself, though you do put on awful airs and treat her like she was the veriest stranger As fo1 Mr Douglass, almost everyone likes him, if he is little soft. But Blanche isn't the least bit in love with him."
 ttNo, not in love with him, but his pocket book I never supposed she was n love with him."
 "Harold Greystone, am ashamed ol you. You know there isn't word ot truth in what you say. There, am glad we have got there at last l feel chilly in spite of wraps."
 Harold lifted his charge from hi. sleigh and placed her on the steps of tht hotel, where the party have planned ; dance, to be followed by an oyster sup per. The other sleighs drove up, ant directly the hotel is alive with the merr, party The evening is heartily enjoyed by all, with the exception, perhaps, O Harold Greystone. The sight of Mis- Leslie smilingly accepting the attention offered by young Douglass rendered th evening anything but pleasant to him. I is true he had no right to complain.
 Nellie was right when she said his owl pride had erected the barrier between them. The fact that while Miss Leslie parents are grown wealthier within lat years, his own had grown poorer, wa obstacle enough to Harold. He did no fancy the name of fortune-hunter II told himself she had totally forgotten th old days when they were on an equa footing, and, no doubt, she was ashame to remember her preference for himself But he would not presume on that now Dou ;lass might win her, and he woul not lay straw in his way
 All this and great deal more "a through his head as he gai,y talked an