The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-06

"Oh, Ethel, Ethel" began Alice,
but hearing herself called, ran off.
The men were all out shooting the
best part of the next, so that yen Mrs.
Lord had very little opportunity of
monopolizing Captain Crawford. How
ever, when she came down dressed for
the ball, she was indeed arrayed for
conqUest-in pale yellow satin, with
diamonds sparkling in her dark hair.
Ethel was all in white, and looked her
very best; she was in exceedingly high
spirits, so much so that Mrs. Layton,
who took a motherly interest IN the
lonely giIl whom nobody kept in any
sort of order, deemed it best to take
her with the matrons in the landau,
sending her own steadler girls in the
omnil IS with the rest of tie party.
She danced the first valse with Tom
Granger, and saw that Captain Craw-
ford had Mrs. Lord for a partner.
Everybody who did not know was ask
ing everybody else the name of the wo-
man in yellow satin and diamonds; and
all who did happen to know gave them
selves important airs in consequence.
In fact Mrs. Lord carried all before
her, and Captain Crawford did not ex-
actly dance attendance on her, but fol-
lowed lazily in her train of admirers.
A conviction began to force itself
on Etllel's mind that this ball would
not be the scene of unequaled pleasure
she had expected-not for lack of part
ners-she always had plenty of them;
but even a superluity of partners is not
always sufficient for happiness. For
some time she conducted herself with
great propriety, returning to her chap
+ immediately after each dance.
Once she was rewarded, il she consid-
cred it in that light, by Captain Craw-
ford sitting down beside her and inquir-
ing how she was enjoying herself, and
then he strolled away to Mrs. Lord.
After this Ethel threw proprIety to
the winds, and plunged into a frantic
Irritation with a weak-eyed and weaker
minded young man, Whose head she
completely turned by her smiles ana
the liveltness of her conversation. Ethel
was routed out of a corner, where she
had been sitting for about a quarter of
an hour encouraging this unfortunate
youth to talk nonsense to her, by Cap
tain Crawford, who said a little satiri-
cally-
Ppm sorry to disturb you Miss Raine
but all our party are ready to go, and
Mrs. Layton is looking for YOU"
Up jumped Ethel, and, with a cool
nod to her victim, took Captain Craw-
ford's arm, remarking gaily as they
went back to the ball room
''Now l shall get a wigglng."
"'Pon my word. L think you deserve
it," he said dryly.
"Captain Crawford did not dance
with you at all, did hep" inquired
Flora, as she and her sister paused at
Ethel's door to say good night,
''Uf course he didn't" said Alice;
she is a great deal too vain of his height
and his fine figure to make himself ride
ulous by dancing with so small a per-
son."
81 got on very well without him."
Ethel said, with a little toss Of her
head.
''He doesn't really care for dancing"
pursued Alice; ''but he thinks he and
Mrs. Lord make such a handsome
couple that he does not object to show
ing off with her,"
"Oh, I'm sick of Mrs. Lord and her
smart gowns!" cried Ethel pettIshly.
''GoGd night"
Most of the party left the next day,
with the exception of Mrs, Lord, who
was going on to a house in the neigh
borhood on Monday, and Captain Craw-
ford, who was to remain for a shooting
party on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ethel always came for an indefinite
period. Mrs. Lord kept pretty strict
guard over Captain Crawford all day,
but went to her room to rest after tea
under the delusion that her captive was
safe in the sm%oking-room till dinner
time; but he appeared in the drawing.
room ten minutes after she had left it.
"Will you come and play billiards
Miss Raine?"
Eyes, l { don't mind" Ethel said. her
tone very demure, bat her eyes sparkl-
ing.
''Miss Alice IS coming to mark for
us. l hear you play very WELL"
''This is an honor unto which l was
not born" remarked Ethel, IN a per-
fectly audible aside to Alice. 81 fear !
shall collapse under the weight of it.
This little piece of satire reaching
his ears, Captain Crawford turned
round to look at her and laugh, as he
led the way to the hilliard-room. Ethel
could play bllllards-it vas about the
only accomplishment she possessed
and she won the first game; but her
su cess elated her so much that her
spirits ran away with her, and she now
played so badly that her adversary took
her to task.
"Look here, Miss Raine; next week
I'll give you a lesson every night. You
would play very well but you want bal
last in this as in everything-you get
too excited"
"You are very kind. Suppose L
were to give you a lesson instead. You
would be a good player if you had a
little less ballast in that and everything
else. You are too much in the habit
of pretending you don't think anything
worth any trouble. The sense of your
own dignity weighs you down.
81 am greatly honored by your hav-
ing studied my character so attentive
ly,n he said, much amused.
She flushed to the roots of her hair,
saying ahBtlly-
81 have never studied your character
1t is written on every line Of your face
1T is revealed in every infection of
your voice, in your every word or ges-
tuUe,"
sit must be very unpleasant, seeing
the impression left is so bad"
His voice was cold; and, having turn
ed away, Ethel did not see the smile on
his face. A shadow came over her
own; and, after a moments silence, she
said meekly, almost entreatingly-
~ beg your pardon; Pm afraid l
was rude; / didn't mean TO be-"
"Oh, Ethel, you goose!" murmured
Alice under her breath; but Captain
Crawford's somewhat cynical face
softened as it never did to Mrs. Lord,
though he only said
"Rudel Ishould think so;butI don't
mind"
Mrs. Lords face at dinner wasrather
expressive when some alluslon was
made to the billiard-piaying.
"I'll give you hint, Ethel" Alice
said, as they walked to church on Sun
Adv INaptafp Crawford apd tho widow