Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-25

/ from compuleio0 DentnVs was
liar. Ihsd seen scores Of weli-fittinz
coats before, but none bad impressed
me with 90 much latent power and self
| command and yet knew i. | vas
thinking Of all the old friends in the
Fast. but try back IS might couldn't
Give that coat its owner, when voice
Al nv side remarked sudibly.
:. Otto, who's that girl there be-
side you? who the dickens does she
belong tor and at the same moment
be wheeled rapidly round. lie recog-
nized me even before | said, I" You?"
holding out my hand in glad surprise.
| 1t did not occur to me to remember he
was not . gentleman, or to wonder
how ships engineer came to be there
| in such coat. He seemed to under
stand at once how came to be alone,
and observing it was useless to hope to
overtake my people he elbowed Otto
| and his friend out Of the way and took
me back to our box.
"Shall you mind If / stay q
minute?" he asked hesitatiDgly.
I" You didn't mind talking to common
workipgmsn before, but perhaps you
have learned"
IL have learned nothing" l inter-
rupted rudely. "You are still for me
the man who saved Rsj Mabal. But
for you--but you don't like
workipgman to-day" ! broke off in
confusion at his look.
mo, I'm not. If I'm anything IN
| a horse -trainer now. Are you going to
say shall be a failure at that too?"
Looking at him did not think him
likely to be failure at anything, but
did not say so. 7 only said stupidity,
81 wish I could ride again.
"But you do, Miss verayne; l
often wait in the Row TO see you pass"
"But | don't call going round aud
round there riding any more than dancing
in Gro wded ballroom exercise. Imeant
riding on and on, where there is
chance of losing oneself like; bat per-
hsps you never rode in India" sud-
denly remembering the bad taste Of re-
mindipg him of pleasures his position
debsrred him from enjoying.
81 have ridden in the Bush and in
tbf West; think / understand. though.
Miss Verayne, will you grant me IA
yor?" and then without word or sign
of farewell the eDgineer-horse trainer
picked up his hat and went. He must
have seen my aunt and an enlarged
bodyguard returning, for they came
in SO Immediately that l thought
they must have met him. If so he
had not explained, for Aunt Alpha
took it for granted it was my Incidence
that made me stay behind in comparative
comfort. Twas waiting an opportunity
to explain, when the engineer and two
other men-his employees, | suppose
took up their position just underneath.
They did not seem much more inter-
ested in the race than | was, as one Of
them said:
{" Is it true, Jim, you've gone under
in earnest? What qualification has the
young lady to have converted you?
When's the marriage to be?"
And Jim's voice--how every tone Of
his deep voice seemed familiar
"Soon, l hope. What qualification,
you said? Well, her mother was one
OF the fairest ard noblest women the
world has ever known. Is that
enough?"
Yes, am sure have learned some.
thing in England; at home they always
told me | showed all l felt. But
knom, although "Jim's" eyes were
fixed on my face, it told nothing; and
I saw myself my hand, holding the
glass as the horses came in sight, did
not shake hairs breadth. Still am
glad Aunt Alpha asked if | had met
any gentleman on the voyage, that the
duty she owes to society did not allow
her to say any man for | was think
ing Of him, how be had shielded Hyder
from the perpetual squabbles the syce's
dignity involved him in; how, without
ever putting himself forward, he had
mansged so that, while others were
fighting over lost or mislaid luggage in
the transhipments, and my little reti-
nue. were safe out Of the worry aud
crowd. Still my conscience was not
altogether free when Lord Tir Gen sent
for me, for if I had not overheard that
bit of conversation | should not have
been reminded of Lord Ryvenbourn's
claims.
"Come in, Meaina, you haven't
found your way often to my room, and
l don't know enough of young ladies to
know whether my news will be good or
not. You are going to the Kingsroyals
again tonight, aren't you?"
| assented, wondering society gained
so little of my uncles favor that his
knowing where we were going seemed
astonishing.
"TheD, dear, make the most Of your
liberty this evening, for I've note
from Ryvenbourn to say he is coming |
to ask you formally tomorrow. It's a
good note in spite of his eccentricities;
he must be a thorough gentleman;
spoke very highly of him
the other day to me; and it's gratifying |
that he has not forgotten you, you see.
1t would have been uncommonly awk-
ward if I'D had to remind him at the
end of the year. You see, my dear, one
couldn't set the lawyers to manage for
one, could we? Yes, it's very crafty
ing."
Considering, so far as knew, he had
rever set eyes on me, ] could not be
expected to feel the personal compli-
ment as my uncle evidently expected.
would you like to see his letter
There. there, my dear, don't look so
If there's any one else here
you've lost your heart to" peering
into the corners of Tho library as if he
expected some one to confront him.
"No, no, uncle" | gasped out.
- It's not that; only II never be-
lieved in the reality, you know"
Perhaps Lord Tir Den thought my
behavior only right; he talked equally
on and on, while tried to remember
that il let things take their course l
should be showing the love and obe-
dience to my mother that I would so