Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-10

evening with you. Your acting was
simply superb"
Thank you" says Florence, who is
not in bed, but is sitting in a chair
drawn near a window, through which
the moOnbeamS are tiinging their pale
rays. She is clad III a clinging white
dressing-gowH that makes her beauty
saintlihe. and has all her long hair fall
ing loosely round her shoulders.
What charming evening it has
been" eNclaims Dora ecStatically.
clasping her hands, and leaning her
arms on the back of a chair. 4 hardly
know when felt SO thoroughly happy"
Florence Shudders yiSibly. You en-
jOyed yourself. of courSe:" continues
Dora, Every one raved about You.
You made at least a dozen conqueStS;
one or half a one with a careful hes
ltation i'll her manner intended TO i'm
press her liStener-"is as much as poor
little insignificant me can expect"
Florence looks at her qUeStioningly.
Il think one really honest lover is
worth Il dozen others" she says, her
voice trembling. DO You mean me to
understand, Dora, that You have
gained one tonight:'
FlOrence'S whole soul seemed to hang
on her cousin : answer. Dora shippers,
and tries to blush, but i'll reality grows
a shade paler. She is playing Tor q
high stake, and fears to risk a throw
lest it may be ventured too soon.
on, you must not ask too much!"
she replies, shaking her blonde head.
A lover-no. How can you be so alb
surd! And yet | think-1 hope"
I See!" interrupts Florence sadly.
We'll. will be as discreet as you wish;
but at least, if what imagine be true.
| can congratulate you with all my
heart. because l know-I know YOU
will be happy"
Going over to Mrs. Talbot, she lays
her arms round her neck and kisses her
softly. AS she does so, a tear falls
from her eyes upon DOraS cheek.
There is so much sweetness and aban-
donment of self i'll his action that Do
IA for the moment is touched by it.
She puts up her hand; and, wiping
away the tear from her cheek as
though it burns her, says lightly
But indeed, my dearest Flo, you
must not imagine anything. All is
vague. l hardly know what it is to
air float through my brain, and glad
den me i'll spite of my common sense,
which whispers that they mean moth
ing. Do not Luill castles for me that
may have their existence only en- Is
pagnne'
serves Florence wistfully.
A bad omen. All that's bright
must fade sings the poet. And now
to speak of yourself. You enjoyed
yourself?"
of overwhelmingly.
"Ah, yes; | was glad to see you had
made it up with poor Arthur Dyne-
court"
How" demands Florence, turning
upon her quickly.
81 saw You dancing with him. dear
est; | was with Sir Adrian at the time.
and from something he said. | think he
would be rather pleased if you could
bring yourself to reward poor Arthur's
long devotion"
Sir Adrian said that? He discussed
me with yOu?"
Just. i'll passing, you understand.
lie told me too that you were some
what unhappy in the earlier part of the
evening, and that he had to stay a con-
siderable time with you to restore you
to calmness. He is always so kind,
dear Adrian"
He spoke of that" demands Flor
ence, in tone of anguish. If he had
made her emotion a subject of common
talk with Mrs. Talbot, all indeed is at
an end between them. even that sweet
visionary offer of friendship he had
made to her. No; she could not sub
NIT to be talked about by him, and the
woman he loves. Oh; the bitter pang
1T costs her to say these words to her
self! That lie now loves Dora seems to
her mind beyond dispute. Is she not
his contidante, the one in whom he
chooses to rep0Se all his secret thoughts
and SUrmiSeS?
Dora regards her cousin keenly.
FlOrenCe's evident agitation makes her
fear that there was more III that tcte-d
tcte with Sir Adrian than she had at
first imagined.
Yes; why should he not speak of
it?" Dora goes on cOldly. Il think by
his manner your want of self-cOntrOl
shocked him. You should have
greater command over yourself. 1t is
not good form to betray ones feelings
to every chance passer-by. Yes; |
and astonished."
There was nothing to cause him
either surprise or astonishment," says
Florence haughtily; and | could we'll
have wished him out of the wayl"
perhaps [ misunderstood him." re-
joins Dora artfully. But certainly he
spoke to me of being unpleasantly de-
Iayed by-by impossible people-those
were his very words; and really alto
gether-I may be wrong-I believe he
alluded to you. OF course, | would not
follow the matter up, because, much as
l like Sir Adrian, | could not listen to
him speaking so lightly of you"
OF me-yOu forget yourself, Dora!"
cries Florence, with pale lips, but head
erect. Speaking lightly of mel" she
repeats.
young men are often careless in
their language" explains Dora hur-
riedly, feeling she had gone too far.
"IIe meant nothing unkind, you may
be sure."
Il am quite sure"-firmly.
Then no harm is done'-smiling
est; go to bed instead of sitting there
looking like ghost III those mystical
mOOnbeams."
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