Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-02-14

- 49, --- ~-
birthday fcte. Welcome-twice welcome;
you know that I ave never despaired Of
you, notwithstanding your persistent re-
fus2ls for years past
1T Is kind of you TO forgive MY ungra-
ciousHc5s. hnt you know MY reasons. n
with his daily bread to earn has no place
here"
Very false reasoning, Norris, our view
Of it. Bat come, my guests are all here;
let me present Yea 20 some of them. Father
will be glad to see you, too
Il spoke to HIM near the door. He looks
scarcely well, Think
Then it Is not simply my fancy. He shall
see Il physician immediately urged it on
him yesterday, but ne laughed at the idea.
You know that young lady, do you?'
i shall regard It as 4 favor if you will
present ne to her" answered Norris, and
there was that in his manner which caused
Althea Everleigh to give him a searching
glance.
Carol Childers' frank eyes We're lifted
smiLingly to his as the introduction was
spoken. There was no shadow of conscious
ness to mar her bright face; no subtle intu-
ition informed her thai this was the rather
shabby young man VINO had figured in the
coatretenaps of a previous hour, and Norris
found his spirits relieved Of an uneasy
weight. To be here. to nave the rose-clad
figure of his hearts new idol on his arm,
to float to the dreamy measures Of the waltz
with the fluff of her siillen hair brushing
his check, 10 lead her afterward to a pleas
ant nook which they had for the moment to
themselves, had in it something dream-like
and unreal, despite its delight The dream
was rudely broken, though it was only by
the appearance of Mr.. Ingot, claiming Carol
fora succeeding dance.
Il did not expect to see you here,'' he
said, with a level look Of i~nsolence into Nor
ris' eyes.
The pleasure is reciprocal. It did not
seem necessary to explain that Mr.. Ever
leigh is an Old family friend during your
call this afternoon. | think if l desired a
situation in the bank that he would give it
TO me-
And Morris retired best from the en-,
counter, if one were to judge by the CULVER
about the coarse lips, that had a trick OF
turning pale with unpleasant emotion.
He dropped back ~unnoticed among the
guests, waiting for an opportunity to make
his adieux and retire quietly, for it was nc
part Of his purpose to drink to intoxication
out Of this pleasure cup.
1t was only an impulse which led to his
colning-the Irresistible wish to meet Caro-
Oh equal ground. Il Ett.e pflue. perhaps IL
showing her and her brother how he stood
with the EverIcigh5- and now that this
much was accomplished, he was ready tc
60 back to the sphere which, III manly indie
pendence, he had chosen for himself.
Rather an expensive fandango for q
man who is on the verge Of bankruptcy
i2n'tit?"
''Oh, depend on it, this is the daughters
doiug5. These women They're the ruiz
of struggling man"
mo, l don't suppose she knows of the
straits he's in, but any enc who isn't Will
fully blind would see there is something
wrong. Il viii be n cone-doIEn for heI
iadyshipif there should be u crash. Idon't
suppose she knows what it is to have &
within of hers denied"
The speaker drifted away, leaving Norris
shocked at this wording Of Il whisper which
ran in an undercurrent through those love
". 1oWer-decled rooms. \ great feeling o
sympathy rose in him for the proud, beau
tIful girl who had been the friend and play
mate of his childhood. He felt that he coulC
not cave her indiiTcrently, and he fingered
at her sid when he rcjoined her, bringing
up instances Of their old association, seem
ing like the friend he one had been. and a
last taking d rcgrctful. leave, which left &
brighter bloom on the checks Of Althea Ever
leigh and a pleased smile lingering aboz
her ripe, red mouth.