The diamond drill., 1888-03-10
BEYOND REACH.

Four opinion" she answered with
gay laugh.
81 am sure IL will"
"How can you be sure? 1t may look
Ddious."
Nothing could look that on you"
''Pooh! Jack, don't pay me compli-
nents; you will make me vain;" and
ihe made a tempting little moue that
made poor Bingham think
man would give all other bliss
And all his worldly worth for this
To waste his whole soul In one kiss.
Upon her perfect lips.
"You Will wear my flowers to-
aight,r he pleaded, as they reached
Hadlow home-park and stood to say
adieu.
"Your flowers?" she asked interrog-
atively.
"TheseY he said, touching the vio-
lets and primroses.
"Do you call those yours?v merrily.
ayes / gathered most of them. But
what / mean is, you won't wear any
sent you by some other fellow"
"No.,
'cNo matter who he may bei" All
his love and his jealousy spoke In those
words.
"No."
"Thanks, Dolly. These are more
suitable for you than hot-house
dowers."
"Do you think soS"
eyes"
"whyf" with an inquiringly inno-
cent glance at him.
"Oh, because you are young, and In
nocent, and fresh, and modest, and
these violets are emblematic Of all
that"
"Jack, you will make me vain,"
with little pleased thrill Of musical
laughter at his flattery.
II hope not, Dorothy" he said
gravely.
do your"
"Yes. You haven't an atom of
vanity about you now, and that is what
like"
"Then why do you try to destroy
what you likeg she demanded naively,
with another look from the clear eyes.
III hardly know" he returned with
IN embarrassed laugh. "Why do we
do all sorts of things that we ought
not to, and why do we act In such a
way that we bring about our own mis-
fortunes, wreck our own lives, rob
them Of all sunshine, all JOY, leave
them barren, blank wastes, with never
ray Of Joy to tighten them, nor a
hope TO make them endurableT
"Jack, what is the matter with your
she queried in amazement; his tone
was SO bitter, his looks SO despondent
and sad.
IL can't tell" he rejoined, trying to
speak lightly. :" am little blue,
suppose, or perhaps" with jeerine
laugh, that struck discordantly on his
companions ear, 'the wind Is in the
east, and then, you know, 1t is neither
good for man nor beast and no one
can be expected TO be cheerful or re-
sponsiDle for the vagaries of his tenn
per or liver"
al don't think IL is in the east" she
said half doubtfully, looking up at the
bright blue sky flecked here and there
with heecy silver clouds, and at thu
golden sunbeam that danced anC
quivered through the air, and fieckeC
the emerald sward with golden patches
"Well, make up your mind by 70
night as TO which quarter II is in ant
tell me then, and don't forget TO wea
my flowers; and then with lingering
pressure Of the hand he left her.
Dancing had commenced that night
when the Binghams arrived at Had
low.
The great entrance hall was th
scene of action, and figures In armou
and frowning family portraits looke'
down on the gay scene.
Dorothy was standing by Lady 10
watt In her muslin gown, with its trim
ming OF woodland blooms, flush ol
her fair cheek. glad light In her eyes
She looked dangerously beautiful
and Bingham, without moment
hesitation, went straight across TO hel
"How many may haveT" he whis
pered.
"As many as you like" she answer
ed in the same tone, giving him he
programme.
Eagerly he scanned IL, and findin
Lord Yarra's name down for onl
three, he pretty well filed up Oh
blanks with his own, leaving only on
or two vacant
This Is mine,r he said, offering hi
his arm as tho band commenced pla,
ing again-a yalse.
"Yes," she acquiesced with q happ
smile, placing the tips of her lit
white-gloved fingers on his arm, an
away they went WhirlinQ into the mid,