Holly Oak journal. (Holly Oak, Del.) 1889-1???, 1889-02-01

Mrs. Wallingford came bustling in, with q
look of such utter surprise on her face, thai
the young man found it hard work to main
tain his gravity.
"Why, my dear, why Ethel !" she began,
as soon as she had given M Murray
gushing welcome, "what is this? You surely
-
ooh, auntie," cried Ethel, as she rose
from the piano, " used to know Mr.. Muir
ray when he was at college, he was frienc
of dear papa's, that's all"
"But your dress, my love, how could you?'
continued the lady, with an anxious, angry
light in her eyes.
Ethel glanced down at her neat appare
with artless surprise. Il did not think 0
that" she said, innocently, "but it doesn'
signify, MIR. Murray called on my cousin.
you know. bid you good morning, Mr.
Murray"
She left the drawing-room with grave
courtesy as she spoke. Clifford Murray wa
guilty Of the gross impolteness Of staring
after her, to the utter neglect of what his
hostess was saying.
Mrs. Wallingford grew very red, and tht
angry light in her eyes deepened, and jus
at that moment her daughters sailed in
Fresh from a hurried toilet, as the mos
unobservant eye could see at a glance, anC
overdressed for the occasion, yet very hand
some and snowy girls withal. Mr.. Murra,
did the devoted gallant to the letter, ant
ex ressed his pleased anticipation in regarC
TO the approaching ball; but despite hi
pleasant manner, he was heartily glad whel
the call was ended.
And walking back to Murray House, h
found his memory wandering back to hi
college days, and to the quiet evenings h
was wont to spend in the little library at tn
old parsonage; and he marveled within
himself that he had not sooner recognize,
Ethel Willoughby, having thought so mucl
of her in the intervening years.
The Wallingfords' ball was a great sue
cess. The Misses Wallingford were absc
lutely too dazzling for d scription. To pla
the agreeable to both at the same time
thought our hero, would be rather wear
some task. But Mamma Wallingford wa
too skillful diplomatist to put him in sue
dilemma.
81 shall leave you to entertain MI
Murray, Clara, my love-" she said when tn
salutations of the evening were ovei
"Come, augusta, promised to present yo
to Mr.. Falkland"
!. And fairly white with anger and disaT
!. pointment, Augusta was forced to obey, Will
her elder sister sailed off with the prize. Nj
Murray did his utmost to be agreeable. H
, waltzed, he promenaded, he talked all mannt
+ of pretty nonsense-and Miss Wallingfor
was in the third heaven of triumphant blis
But not so her companion. His eyes wal
dered, and his heart belied the words h
tongue spoke. Atlast, when patience bega
to desert him, he ventured to ask if Mi
Willoughby was well !? She was quite wei
Miss Wallingford said. "But do not Sc
her," hesitated Clifford. The young lac
: arched her lovely brows in well-bred su
prise. ono, mamma could not induce h
to come down; she has an idea that it ism
proper to dance so soon after her bereav
:. ment. She's an odd kind of child yc
e know, Mr.. Murray" added the beauty Co
= fdentially. "Mamma is really worn o
!, with efforts to improve her; but they see
o to effect nothing"
d The ball went on with its glittering thror
of dancers, and its bewildering music, bu
d for Clifford, much of the interest and enjo