Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-18

ssys he a expecting some people TO tea.
DO you think, - rather timidIy, "that
We might walk about little, and como
back later ons"
And a. Uncle Powell pronounced
this an excellent idea, Nab adjusted
her hat, and they sauntered out to-
rether, turning their steps in the direc-
| tion Of Addison's Walk.
The Templeton girls were not enjoy
ing themselves this afternoon. In the
first place II Was rather hot, and Aunt
| Selma was rather tired. Then Owen
was in one OF his sulky moods, and had
not offered to introduce any Of his
| friends. lie had turned rusty from the
| moment he had met them ct the station
and found Nab was not with them.
"What . shame, leaving that poor
little thing alone at home ~" be had
blurted out. al call that confoundedly
hard Of you women"
"Hush Aunt Selma will hear you"
demonstrated Violet, rather alarmed at
this tragical yehemence.
81 don't care who hears me-" re-
torted Owen. "That is so like you
girls. You are always putting on Nab,
just because you know you cannot either
of you hold a candle to her F" which
was rude; but then brothers will be
rude sometimes, in spite Of Oxford
training.
To add to their discontinue, Ned
Beauchamp had come up to them lit
tie eagerly, and had at once questioned
them about Nab.
81 don't see your sister, but she is
here, of course" trying to speak as if
the questions were Of no moment to him,
but flushing over his own words like
girl; but Pauline, who was too self-ab-
sorbed to be observant, returned quite
carelessly:
"Mab is at home at Portchester Ter
race there was no thought Of her
coming. What a curious orchid, Mr..
Beauchamp | have never seen one like
that BEFORE"
Ned Beauchamp looked at the orchid
and said civil word or two, and then
detached himself from the party with a
muttered excuse; he had only just
come to show himself; it was awfally
hot be must 60 back and work.
4" Helloa why is Ned Beauchamp
taking himself OFF," exclaimed Mr..
Templeton in surprise, as he joined his
eldest daughter; but Pauline only
shrugged her shoulders and looked
amazed.
II don't know, papa; he seems to
be little odd and bearish to-day! He
used to be pleasant enough when he
stayed at Portchester Terrace; but
young men will give themselves airs
sometimes"
"And so will young ladies, my
dear" returned her father, rather ma
liciously. well, well, young people
must manage their own affairs. Any
how, Ned Beauchamp is capital fell
low, and worth little trouble. Why,
he has fifteen hundred year Of his
own now, and when his uncle dies he
will have as much again. So you and
Violet had better do your best" con-
tinued Mr.. Templeton, with the heavy
raillery in which certain men Of coarse
calibre love to indulge.
When Ned Beauchamp had made that
excuse about his work he had lost him
self at once among the crowd near the
entrance gate. Flowers were all very
well, but he had no longer any heart
for them. Nab had played him false.
People looked after the tall, broad
shouldered young fellow, with his hand.
some, moody face, and many would
have greeted him, but he looked neither
to the right nor left. There was dull,
heavy pain in his heart, sense Of
humiliation and defeat that was driving
him nearly wild. A sweet, girlish face
had bewitched him; he was ready to
give all he had in the world-not only
his money, but himself and his honest,
manly heart--to this girl, and she
wanted none of it. She had promised
to come-at least, if silence gives con-
sent-and now she had played him
false; his wishes were nothing to her
he had told her he should know what to
think, Well, he knew what to think
now!
So the foolish young fellow argued
with himself, never dreaming in his
mans philosophy that possibly there
might be another side to all this.
He had reached Magdalen Cloisters
by this time, but the thought Of work
was odious to him, so he turned through
the inner gate into the shadowy cool
ness of Addison's Walk.
II had never looked so deliciously
inviting as it did this afternoon. The
deer were clustered in shady nook in
the park, the birds were twittering over
head, quite lost among the green leaves
the golden sunlight quivered through
the thick foliage the long vista seemed
to stretch endlessly before him, like
love and youth, merging into a sun
shiny horizon; everywhere green
leaves, bird-music, sparkles Of sunlight,
and the clear summer blue of heaven
above all.
The walk seemed strangely empty
this afternoon. Ned had only passed
one persona thick-set, gray.haired
man, who was poking his stick among
the periwinkl@, and took no notice Of
him. A little farther on there was
bench, with girl sitting on it in gray
dress, and hat with daffodils {; but
Ned was in no mood for curiosity, so
be never turned his head. Only as he
passed the girl started up, and called
10 him in an eager voice.
"Oh, please stop, Mr.. Beauchamp !
We want to know where Owen is.
And-and-I beg pardon for startling
you so; but you need not have passed
me-"
Nab was stammering sadly in her
confusion, but it was the sudden look
of joy in Ned's eyes that made her trip
over her words. And why had he
caught hold Of her hands in that quick,
excited way?
"Oh, Nab, is it really you. And
why did your sister say you had not
come? l thought you had played me
false. l thought--oh l cannot tell