The national leader., 1889-02-23

| mer resorts, and chanced to mention
Beechville as a nice quiet place, where
one could have plenty of air and exer-
else, and not be obliged to dress to ex-
cess. She seized at 1t Immediately.
Said she was here once a few weeks,
and she made up party of six of us In
less time than can tell you, and we
came the next day. Have been here a
week. Heard you were coming last
night
Who told youp' queried Standing, as
he lifted his hat and ran his slender,
white fingers through his hair.
Who? Oh, Mr.. namilton-Hugh
Hamilton. He is up at the inn, and
SAID he expected you daily. We were
also surprised and pleased
Then you have met Hamiiton?'
Yes, and his sister called upon us
to-day. Such lovely girl-plnk and
whitel We all thought her very pretty,
and she and are already very friendly.
I am invited there to spend the day
soon. Tral lal will see you laterl''
She touched her horse and was gone,
with bright, backward smile and
glance, and Standing walked on at a
swifter pace.
so, after all, I am to be under the
same roof, with Roselle.' he mused.
Instead Of running away from her
have run to her. and I'll behanged if l
know whether am glad or sorry"
When Hamilton came up that night.
explaining his unavoidable absence
ftom Beechville at train time, and ask
ing Standing to remove his luggage to
his residence, Standing declined.
He went home with Hamilton, and
spent the evening. Lydia Hamilton
greeted him with that quiet, well-bred
reserve that was SO habitual to her.
How fair she wasI Like blush rosel
And how low her voicel And her
eyesl-but he had never seen them
fully-the white lids always yelled
them,
What a differencel' he said men
tally, as he walked toward the hotel.
Il wonder how 1t would have seemed if
she had said, Trial lal will see you
laterl' when 1 left? Yet somehow,
Roselle says these things 80 cunningly!
A fellow can but enjoy them"
Three or four parties were out on the
balcony when Standing came up the
steps.
Mrs. Hamilton leaned down and
called to him to come up,
Il am smoking my cigar, cannot,
he answered.
"Shall l come down." said a gay
voice, and Keep you from melancholy
till you finish it7'
It was RoselIe.
Yes. come he said.
They walked In the moonlight until
all the others had left the balcony.
And when he slept that night, it was
the bright repartee and ringing laugh
of RoseIle, not the gentler tones of
Lydia Hamilton, that haunted his
dreams.
But that was Roselle's last hour.
Standing around the next morning
with a firm resolve to keep himself
master Of the situation.
Il must not compromise myself here.'
he said, it is very different from Lon
don. There. 1t was looked on as a
Irritation. Here it would be thought to
be betrothal, and don't want that
idea to get out. l can be polite and
civil, and all that sort of thing, with
out compromising myself.
Most of his evenings after this were
spent with Lydia Hamilton.
SHE never startles-she is never
striking he SAID; she is like the moon
light
One day RoselIe came down to spend
the day, according to agreement.
Hugh Hamilton and Standing came
home from two days. hunt, and found
her there, and Standing renamed to
lunch. Roselle had never looked bet
ter. Striking she was always; her rich
coloring, her fine figure. the general
tout ensemble Of the woman, made her
that; but she seemed to fascinate and
charm the gentle Lydia with her wit
and repartee, instead OF shocking her,
as Standing half expected.
Hugh was in fine spirits, and his
laugh was always ready il Roselle
opened her lips. anticipating witt
cism.
Standing, who had been strangely
nervous when he first found himself In
the presence Of the two women, soon
grew at ease and made himself delight
fully entertaining.
Il think Miss Somers-or Roselle as
you call her-is charming" said Lydia
the next day to Standing. I like her
dash and sparkle. aud she seems so
genuine and earnest
Standing. who was easily swayed by
the opinions of others, felt his heart
thrill. After all, Roselle was charm
ing.