Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-12-13

yooi hiNu, Nhe can keep ner poSltiOn, which
next Year gives her sixteen hundred Al
present there is n little secret connected
with her, and though l am sorry to keep
shy secret from you, l must obey her until
he tells me TO disclose it.
A bright smile from Garry was all the
answer to this, and then between them they
agreed upon their programme for the after
noon meeting. The question was whether
1t would be better TO meet before Clarry's
father as entire strangers, or as two who
had met before, but only in q casual way,
and 1t WIS concluded to adopt the latter
plan.
1t was only about six weeks since Stanley
and Clara, had just met. They had been
Introduced at large reception, given by
fashionable lady at her house. for charl-
tab @ purpose, in which Stanley took deep
interest, and were, on Staaley's request.
introduced by the hostess, who was con-
sidered the creme de la creme of sour set. 4"
She afterward said to Clarry:
Most charming man, my dear You've
heard of him, if you pay much attention
10 art. He has just come back from abroad,
where he has made great sensation. Has
travelled everywhere, my dear, and will be
great catch for somebody. Very hand
some, isn't he?"
Clarry did think he was very handsome,
but she had never before heard any one
who could talk like Percy Stanley. 1t was
case of love at first sight; she loved him
for his mind, and he loved her for her
beauty and innocence. To him this inno-
cence did not seem weakness of intellect,
it was simply want of that knowledge
which proper line of association imparts,
and which poor Clarry had never enjoyed.
Stanley felt that he could enjoy teaching
her, as he would child, and he felt sure
that he would have willing and an i'm
proving pupil. Garry could chatter, too,
by the hour, about nothing, like girls OF
her class, but she had that rare faculty,
which girls of her age and class, rarely
have: she knew when to hold her tongue
without being taciturn, and she could talk
good common sense when it was wanted;
and more than that, she never talked about
what she did not understand, and was, at
all times, good listener.
That afternoon Marion Delorme left her
business little earlier than usual, to keep
the appointment with Smith, at the studio.
Stanley was already there, and had been
busy painting en- an ideal portrait of Clarry,
In which Marion was deeply interested, for,
though she had never seen the original,
Stanley had told all about the beautiful
girl he had met. When she came in, Stan
ley left the easel and kissed her, then he
said, with smile, and slight shrug:
Marion, Pm afraid l have fallen into dis
grace with you. | have thrashed your in
amorato, young Smith, this morning."
Are you in earnest. Percy?" said Marion,
gravely.
Perfectly! | have disabled him." and
then Stanley went on and told her the ad-
venture of the morning; how Fitz had
bantered him to put on the gloves, and how
he had attacked him so tercely on the sup
position that he did not know how to box,
until he had been forced to defend himself
and how Eitz had come off hreathless, and
with a swollen nose, at all of which Marion
laughed heartily, and when Stanley had
finished she said:
I'm sorry, Percy, for the little fellow.
I'm sure he can't mean any real harm. My
instinct tells me that he's not wicked, and
can see no reason for his luminosity to-
ward you. except your attentions toward his
sister, which you say he knows nothing
about. AS to anything connecting you with
Inc. thereby exciting his jealousy, that,
am sure, cannot be, for he has no possible
way of knowing about it. Mr.. Marks has
never seen you at Mrs. Dufrom's, and
have cautioned her about speaking of you
But, Marion, don't see why you wish to
keep it secret"
That [ will explain afterward, Percy.
They say a woman acts without motive;
that is not so with me. / have q motive.
I like this Fitz James Augustus Smith,
not only because he is brother to your
Clara. but because like his father, and
am going to educate him..
Stanley laughed. 1t was SO like his idea
with regard to Clarry, without his telling
anything about it. Then he told Marion
about what he and Clarry had agreed to in
The morning, as to their recognition when
they met in the presence of her father, and
had barely got through talking about it
when the visitors knocked at the door,
which Marion quickly opened
MIR. Stanley" exclaimed Clarry, with o
tone and manner that proclaimed her o
good actress, if nothing else; and then
turning to Marion, she offered her hand,
and said, Miss Delorme?"
marion Delorme. Miss Smith. I am
very GLAD to meet you, was the response.
"Ho ty, toityl' said Septimus, adjusting
his left ear, and looking on with symptoms
of establishment. 1T seems I'm not wanted
here. Clarry, you never told me that you
knew Mr.. Stanley or Miss Delorme. Eth!
How's this?"
Pa! you never told me you knew Mr..
Stanley or Miss DelorTe; you never men,
toned their names, and ! did not ask you.
Mr.. Stanley l met at Mrs. De Brique's and
and Miss Delorme have never
seen until to-day, though Mr.. Stanley has
often spoken of her.
Eli that's So. said Septimus, letting
go his left ear, and laughing. That's al
ways the way with my mysteries. They
always, somehow, come back upon myself.
which only shows. Miss Delorme, how
much better it is to have no secrets, but
tell everybody everything"
oh! but we must always have some lit
tie mystery, some little secret, or life would
not be worth living"
Il suppose you indorse that rule STAN
ley; you did not tell me that you knew
my daughters"
Pardon me, Mr.. Smith" said Stanley.
laughing pleasantly; you know that in So
ciety it is not considered exactly az fat
for gentleman to boast of his acquaint-
ance with lady; it might not be pleasant
to her, and she has the privilege of first
acknowledging it.
"Ah! confound your society tactics: that's
what my wife is always throwing at me-
Now, l don't know society, and society
don't know me, and even If we were intro
duced, I doubt If we should ever be
friends.
A couple of very pleasant hours they
spent together, looking at the pictures.