, 1886-11-07

strange faint-heartodness, Dean Radnor
resolved at last to make the fatal leap
and give Miss Temple the long-deferred
opportunity to accept his hand and for
tune. And. by an odd coincidence, he
chose the very time and place for max
ing this declaration that Col. Shopper
on. likewise goaded to desperate resolu-
ton, had chosen for a similar duty.
They We're again the guests of Mrs.
Chalmers; the occasion a lawn party,
just previous to the breaking up of So
ciety for the summer exodus to seashore
and mountains. 1t was evening, and the
elegant grounds were illuminated with
%Japaneze lanterns, making an effective
picture with the auxiliaries of flowers,
shrubbery, fountains, statuary and the
beautiful costumes of the ladies who
were all in fancy dress.
Dean Radnor, possibly with a view to
preparing himself for his meditated coup
d'etat, had wondered Off alone to a quiet
portion of the grounds, where the moon
light, undisturbed by the brilliant glare
of the Japanese lanterns, was doing its
best to turn night into day; and there,
pacing to and fro behind the cover Of
az tdl obluDDtll ne was COIlllluillh6
with himself, when suddenly he heard
voices just at hand; two wholesome a
mans deep baritone, the other a
woman's sweet, clear treble-both soft
ened into the most gentle, tender tones.
Could it be-could it be that one of them
was Co %Shepperson's voice and the
other Miss Temples? Yes, eve so; and
his Is what they said, and what Dean
Radnor, unconscicusly eavesdropping,
overheard:
He-Oh, my darling, you can not inn
agine how happy this renewal of our
engagement has made mel And only
last night-to-day-this very evening, l
vas so near despair How could you
flirt with Dean Radnor as you have been
doing, v men all the time you loved only
FARMER tsweetly)-Oh, Philip, could you
4, gave been so blind as to imagine
that ! cared anything for Dean Radnor ?
We were excellent friends-nothing
more. l confess that | tried to like him.
just a. first, for l was determined TO
make myself forget how much | cared
for you, but that was
He ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS darling!
Oh, how Happy you make mel
She (shyly)-Yes-I don't mind telling
you now Philip-it was impossible. But
OH with s.S.1e~,lnotion mat seems to
threaten tears how could you fiirt with
Alice Wier as you have been doing, if
all the time you loved only me?
He Qaughing)-You lear little goose,
did you really believe that l was in love
with Miss .Wier? A cruel little flirt,
with no more heart than IN icicle! I'll
admit to you that did think of making
serious owe to her just at first, for | was
so stung by the way you had thrown me
over; but bless your dearest and sweetest
of little hearts. 10 you think | could
eve care for Alice Wier, after loving
your Why, the idea, you know
And here followed some inarticulate
but distinctly audible demonstrations on
Col. ~Shepperson's part at which Miss Tenn
pie family demured; then, before another
word was spoken, they had passed on be-
yond reach of Radnor's ear.
In n state of dazed wonder, of half
stupid comprehension. Dean Radnor
turned mechanically to retraca his steps
toward the gayly-lighted grounds,
whence came the sound of sweetly muir
muring voices and laughter, when II
startling apparition met his eyes.
There, in the broad, full, merciless
moonlight, with her misty white dress
falling around her like n filmy cloud,
stood Alice Wier, white and motionless,
and beautiful as a statue; and thus face
to face these innocent eavcsdroppers
looked into each others eyes long and
steadily for the first time since their
foolish arrangement.
Yes, and they saw now with clearer
vision thar ever before into each others
hearts and into their own. The shadow
that had hung between them solong was
suddenly lifted; and with new gladness
thrilling their hearts and shining in their
eyes, each moved n step forward, with
one common impulse, until Alice was
folded in Radnor's arms, and the words
We're spoken that brought joy to their
hearts, and made peace between them
forever and ever.-Miss S. S. Morton in
Cooper & Canard's Fashion Monthly.