, 1888-10-07
OLD BRIX.
NJ. E. W.

he1ght. NOT ent1rely q DlOodleSS Dattle,
as Harry Prescott's nose testified, hit by
the stem end of a bunch] of Box and be-
draggled gilly flower.
Saucy, audacious Lady Carriston held her
handkerchief to one eye, but the other
was wickedly unabashed as usual, and she
seemed In q fair way to avenge her in
juries by the vigor with which she sent
volleys of stocks, hyacinth and narcissus
pelemele into the passing carriages, the
crowd, the tribune, and even into the re-
spectacle midst of the municipal jury.
In the crowded tribune, lavishly decor
ated with red calico, garlands, and flags
of all nations, a thin young man., with a
grand profile, sat with o half emptied
basket OF pale Parma violets on his knees.
In the long procession of gayly adorned
carriages, he had eyes for one only, q
dainty little Victoria transformed into q
fragrant bower of mimosa and mauve
hyacinths. 1t enshrined an elderly lady
and an exceedingly pretty girl in white
cashmere and pale gray fur, the latter
tossing her bouquets, and avoiding the
strokes of those thrown en- revanche,
with charming grace and vivacity. Al
though her aim was no surer han that of
most of her sex, many of her pansies
found their way into the garrison of the
young man with the famed nose, perceiv-
ing which he, with ~ecstatic delight,
squandered more than one gold piece upon
roses and violets with which he raked the
Victoria fore and aft.
As a farewell burst of music and a cold
wind creeping up from the sea announc
that the revel was over Mr.. Sydney Neal,
of the statuesque features, was in a state
of mind to feel no establishment had q
rosy cloud descended to whisk his goddess
away to her native Elysian fields. AS she
seemed about to take her departure from
the promenade like ordinary mortals. Mr..
Neal collared a gamin picking up bouquets
from under the horses heels, and babe
him follow the Victoria out of the throng,
and report the hotel at which it set down
it's precious freight.
Avenue Victor Hugo. No. 3d." an,
nounced the young waif half an hour
later, his eyes big as saucers at the IN
usual sight of a five franc piece in his
grimy palm.
The Misses Bynner, plain, elderly and
eminently prudent in department and
style of dress, cudgeled their well bal
anced brains for the next three days to
understand why a well dressed, distin-
guished looking young gentleman found
h contemplation of their garden and
front windows so particularly engrossing.
Aasl for the carelessness of street Arabs
the world over-this young valet of Mr..
Meals selection had followed home the
wrong carriage, a discovery which plunged.
that gentleman into the deepest despair.
Doubtless while he was making a fool of
himself staring the Bynner establishment
out of countenance his divinity had spread.
her wings and vanished to parts unknown
In vain he searched for her on the promo
made. at the Casino, at Monte Carlo and
all the ra1lying places of fashionable idle
ness. Try as he might to forget them,
the girls lovely brown eyes haunted him
with their half mocking, half caressing
winsomeness. Waking or sleeping, he
saw only her graceful, slender figure in
its soft, white dress, enthroned in fra
grant masses of flowers. Find her again
he must, and break the spell she had cast
about him, or become her willing pond
slave for life, If she so wished. And yet
how could he hope to find her, not even
knowing her namef The thought was
m~addening;
Aunt Helen. let US do the Corniche
road tomorrow il it is finer" said Miss
Margery Moore, the object of Mr.. Neal'H
Incorporate admiration
"Oh. Margery dear, not during Carnival
week. You have no idea of what prices
these rascally coachmen ask now, ami
such tricks they play upon us poor for.
eigners. Carnival time excuses every.
thing, you know. Why, Lady Bellaby
told me her donkey man made her pay
double fare for going up Monte Fabbro,
and then winked at the donkey and made
hin lie down till she promised to pay
three francs pourboire to have him en-
couraged to get up. Everybody says it is
very i~mprudent to go anywhere till next
week"
People always have c great deal too
much to say about affairs not their own,
and Lady Bellaby is always foundering
among breakers where other people find
only smooth sailing" replied Miss Moore,
with decision. ''Procrastination is such O
mistake; we have put off this trip dozens
of times. and / mean to go tomorrow or
never"
Very well; If you insist we will 60,
but l think it very imprudent for two
ladies alone to take such q trip during the
enc lawless week of the year"
Nobody is so safe as the unprotected
female abroad, my dear aunt; the whole
world feels itself in duty bound to take
core Of her. Trust to me and you will
come to no harm"
&r. Sydney Neal, feeling that O canter
orer the hills in tho delicious February
sanshinc might calm his troubled spirits,
betool himself to the remise of Aristide
Joic9ur & Son to engage a horse. At the
door of this establishment, patronized by
the elite of Nice, Mr.. Neal became aware
& c furious palpitation of his heart and a
sudden weakness ct his knees. Issuing
forth from the esthetically furnished sale
d'attente he beheld the vision of his
dreams. his goddess Flora, with a great
bunch Of carnations in one hand and O
Directoire parasol in the other. She gave
Mr.. Neal q swift, comprehensive glance
which seemed to the credulcus young
nan to speak volumes; size remembered
Lin, and was glad that fate brought tier,