, 1886-03-18
MISS RIVERS REVENGE.

1t is not so many years ago that 1, Her
itage Rivers, a slim girl OF IL, left school,
and stepped out into the grown-up world
TO meet what fate awaited me. In accord
ance with a solemn promise, 1 spent some
little tint with an old school friend,
Clara -Ramsay-one, like myself Just
emancipated. Her people lived at Twick-
enham, In a delicious old house with a
large garden.
AS the Ramsays were quiet people and
kept little company, an announcement
made by Mrs. Ramsay that a dinner
party was projected was sufficient to fut-
ter our hearts. For several days before IL
took place, we discussed again and again
the merits Of the guests who were 10 be
present. As Clara knew them all except
one. her interest was conferred on the
probable appearance of this gentleman.
As sven her mamma did not know him,
all information respecting him must be
extracted from Mr.. Ramsay, whose friend
ne was. Girls being inquisitive~ creatures,
Clara, at breakfast, egged on by me,
asked her father;
"Who Is Mr.. Vincent Hope, papai"
"A friend Of mine, my dear. A very
clever young man. who will one day, l
think, be n most distinguished member OF
sociey.r
h guests arrived-two by two. Like
animals going into the ark, whispered
Clara, who, having seen a little more soci-
ETY. than l had, seemed quite at her ease.
Mr.. Vincent Hope, as became a distin-
guished man, was late. At least, It was
not until a few moments before dinner
was announced that Mr.. Ramsay brought
a gentleman to me and presented him.
We bent to each other; then, taking his
arm, l Joined the procession to the dining
room. We sat in our appointed places,
and as the cup was being handed round,
Mr.. Hope addressed a few ordinary re-
marks to me. Then l began to realize
how shy-how stupid a person l was.
The only words my foolish tongue seemed
capable Of forming were Eyes" and NO"
Connected words had left me for an in
definite period. l felt my conversational
shortcomings so acutely, that it was some
little while before | was able to look at
my neighbor, except furtively and tim
idly.
The young man was undoubtedly hand
some. His eyes-the feature a woman
first looks at-were good; gray, l decided,
with dark lashes. His face was pale, and
bore n look OF refinement. His forehead
was high-not too Highland his chin was
large, and gave him the appearance Of
possessing considerable force OF char
acter- T~wenty-eight, l should have
guessed his age. Altogether a very credit
able young man.
In five minutes, l positively hated my
self and Mr.. Vincent Hope. II may be
kindness to bring ones intellect down to
the level Of the listener; l call 1t conceit.
II, in spite Of my elaborate new dress, he
could not help seeing l was but a school
girl, was there any reason why he should
so plainly show me he saw it, He did not
even pretend to patronize me; he simply
chose to talk upon subjects which he was
pleased to think was well within my
limited range 1t was mortifyingl /
twisted up my dinner-napkin under the
table, AS a sort Of vent to my vexation.
Soon l grew desperate. l would show
this man | was not the name, empty
headed schools girl he fancied me, or /
would perish In the attempt.
My fiuency OF speech came pack as sud
denly AS It left me. On my own
account, l began to talk-of topics
about which l knew nothing = OF
places l had never yisited-of people 1 had
never seen-and Of books / had never read.
He seemed amused at my new depart
ure, and, l battered myself, tried to lead
me on TO talk So talk did, and thought
nc evil. IL was not until I had once or
Wv kth1 1oAhHhlA0Ay Ohh vi Ill atpNns
right over head and shoulders, and was
compelled to founder back as best / could,
that l fancied the wretched man was
laughing at me-not openly, OF course, his
name was politeness itself-yet / had
AN unpleasant suspicion that more than
once / had made myself al idiot in his
eyes. | was greatly relieved when the
signal came to leave the table.
II was dull work In the drawing-room.
1t was very hot, too. / peeped out OF the
window and saw the garden looking most
tempting In the light OF a lovely autumn
nal moon. How delightful 1t would be II
could have one walk round IL. | slipped
from the room, covered my head and
shoulders with a shawl, and stole through
the library window, which opened to the
ground. l forgot all my little annoyance
In the beauty Of the night; l became quite
cheerful and happy. l was 10th to leave
the enchanting scene. At last, with a
sigh, l turned and began TO retrace my
steps to the house. To my horror. as
neared 1t l saw the French OF
the dining room open. The men were
coming out to get a breath OF fresh air
and 10 smoke n cigarette before entering
the drawing-room. What could / dof |
was certain TO be seen. | shrank from the
polite ridicule with which my nocturnal
wanderings were sure to be greeted, in
truth l was now rather ashamed OF the
freak which had led me into such an awk-
ward situation. wished to extricate my
self without having to make Reuse and
explanations, and as | shuddered at the
thought OF walking boldly past the knot
OF gentlemen | was compelled TO adopt
the alternative-concealment.
On the lawn near to me grew one OF
those conical trees-a species OF laurel
the foliage OF which touches the ground,
and leaves the center nearly hollow. This
particular tree was so large that II formed
n natural sammer-house, and TO enable It
10 mlhll Its mission an entrance had been
cut through the bows on the side farthest
from the house. 1t was the very thing-a
perfect harbor OF refugei rushed inside,
unseen and, | hoped, unheard, resolved to
wait behind the friendly boughs Until the
voices which | heard In the distance died
into silence.
In a few minutes / became aware that
voices were drawing near to me so
alarmingly near, that very soon | was
able to recognize them and distinguish
what they were saying. II was Mr.. Vim
cent Hope and his host, who had strolled
away from their friends.
@You nave a fine specimen of the Portu-
guese laurel here said the former.
Yes replied Mr.. Ramsay. Its a fine
tree OF the kind. They seldom grow
larger. Indeed, this one is beginning to
die down. There is an entrance cut on the
other side; 80 IL makes a shady. hut un-
comfortable, warm weather retreat
Then I knew hat the two gentlemen
were coming round to the entrance. |
vas in despair. l covered down In the
darkness and prayed that Mr.. Hopes
curiosity might not induce him 70 pursue
his botanical researches into the interior.