The Press., 1888-03-22

1 minds Miss Delmaine that the next is his. 3 6o4a ..Ts ! Florence unwillingly removes her hand from Sir Adrian 's arm, and lays 1t upon Arthur's. Most disdainfully she moves away with him, and suffers room. And when she dances with him, 1t is with evident reluctance, as he | knows by the fact that she visibly shrinks from him when he encircles her waist with his arm, .4-r Sir Adrian, wh aS noticed none or these symptoms, Eng up to Dora, so- i icits her hand fol his dance.
 "You are not gagged, hopeY" he says anxiously. s kind of wretch ed comfort to hin be near FlOrence's true friend. If t the rose, she has at least some conI Stion with it. .
 "I am afraid am" Dora responds, raising her impid Res to his. "Naugh- ty man, why did not come SoOnerp thought you had )rgotten me alto gether, and so goi led of keeping bar ren spots upon mY ard for you" '1 couldn't helpsEI was engaged. A man in his own hd ae has always 8 bad time of it looking Sster the impossible people," says Adri. evasiyely. l. Poor Florence Is she So very i'm pretending to reprshch him. T was not speaking of Miss Del maine," says Adrian, flushing hotly. "She is the least impossible person l i ever met. It is privilege to pass ones time with her." Yet it is with hef1 you have passed the last hour that you hint has been This is mere feeler, but she throws it out with such an air of certainty that Sir Adrian is completely deceived, and believes her acquainted with his tete-G tete with Florence in the dimly lit ante room. .s,-
 Well" he admits, coloring again, your cousin was rather upset by her her until she felt equal to joining us | all again."
 "Ah!" exclaims Dora, who now knows /; all she had wanted to know. But you must not tell me you have i no dances left. for me-" says Adrian gayly. Come, let me see your card" "I am an unfortunate" he adds.
 "I think" says Dora, with the pret- tiest hesitation, eff you are sure it would not be an unkind thing to do, l could scratch out this name"-pointing to her partners for the coming dance.
 "I am not sure at all" responds Sir will be awfully unkind of you to de prive any fellow of your society; but be unkind, and scratch him out for my sake."
 He speaks lightly, but her heart beats high with hope.
 "For your sake," she repeats softly drawing her pencil across the name written on her programme and substl- tuting his. =
 But you will give me more than this one dance% queries Adrian. "Is there nobody else you can condemn to mis- cry out of Sl1 that list?"
 "You are unsuitable" she returns, blushing and growing confused. But you shall have it all your own way. Here"-giving him her card-"take what waltzes you will" She WaltZes to perfection, and she knows it.
 "Then this, and this, and this," says Adrian, striking out three names on her card, after which they move away together and mingle with the other dancers.
 In the meantime, Florence growing fatigued, or disinclined to dance lon ger with Dynecourt,- stops abruptly near the door of a conservatory, and, leaning against the framework, gazes with listless interest at the busy scene around.
 "You are tired. Will you rest for awhile?" asks Arthur politely; and, as she bends her head in cold consent, he leads her to a cushioned seat that is placed almost opposite to the doorway, and from which the ballroom and what is passing within it are distinctly visible.
 Sinking down amongst the blue-satin cushions of the seat he has pointed out to her, Florence sighs softly, and lets her thoughts run, half sadly, half glad ly, upon her late interview with Sir Adrian. At least, if he has guessed . her secret, she knows now that he does not despise her. There is no trace of contempt in the gentleness, the tender ness of his manner. And how kindly = he has told her of the intended change in his life! Their paths would lie far asunder for the future," he had said, or something tantamOunt to that. He spoke no doubt of his coming marriage.
 Then she begins to speculate dreami- ly upon the sort of woman who would be happy enough to be his wife. She is still idly ruminating on this point back to the present. She had so far forgotten his existence in her day dreaming that his words come to her like whisper from some other world, and occasion her an actual shock.
 "YOur thOughtfulness renders me - sad," he is saying impressively. Tt carries you to regions where can not follow you"
 To this she makes no reply, regard ing him only with a calm questioning glance that might we'll have daunted a better man. It only nerves him how :; ever to even bOlder words. i "The journey your thoughts have taken-has it been pleasant Onew he asks, smiling.
 "I have come here for rest, not for conversation" There is undisguised dislike in her tones Still he is un- . touched by her scorn. He even grows more defiant, as though determined to let her see that even her avowed hatred can not subdue him.
 Eff you only knew" he goes on, with slow meaning, regarding her as he speaks with critical admiration, "how surprisingly beautiful you look to- night, you would perhaps understand in degree the power you possess over your fellOW-creatures. In that attitude, with that slight touch of scorn upon your lips, you seem meet partner for monarch"
 She laughs low contemptuOus laugh, that even makes his blood run hotIy in his veins.
 And yet you have the boldness to offer yourself as an aspirant to my favor| she says. ''In truth, sir, you value yourself highly!"
 Love will find the way!" he quotes quickly, though plainly disconnected by her merriment. "Andin time trust shall have my reward"
 "In time, I trust you will" she re- turns, in tone impossible to miscon- strue. Al +l,ie ,1o;,4a I,o l1oo~,oo- # -,,:o,o +/>