Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-22
CHAIIER IL

without another WOfd ne Icit INC room
and Pauline soon heard the door slam be-
hind HIM rs lie left the house. For a mo-
ment she stood half dazed 10y the sudden
ness of It all Suddenly she remembered
the ring in the fire and, seizlng the tongs,
sank down on her knees by the fender and
began searching among the Goals and ashes
for the missing trinkct.
Although not IN very graceful position
and engaged IN rat her ridiculous task, Pau
line made pretty picture az she knelt
there, with the freight gllntIug on her
chestnut hair. and causing the tear that
coursed It's way slowly down her cheek TO
flash with a diamonds light.
After pOking among the ashos for several
moments she dragged forth the ring,
smoke blackencd and warm, hut otherwise
none the worse for its thermal experience.
After placing 70 back in its wontod place
on the taper third finger Of hcrlcft hand. she
went slowly up TO her room and retired,
and like many another woman cried herself
10 sleep over the milk which she had to
confess she had herself split.
The day of the hall Wa. an ideal Christ
mas day. The sun shouc brightly IN a
cloudless skv. and its rays caused the frost
covered snow TO look as if u were sprinkled
with diamond-dust The air was sharp
and bracing and slcighug was fine.
But Pauline CamcrOn's heart did not ac-
ChTV Win tiif IEtEtlIt-S CT lilt btNs tDilt
already felt the gnGwing iangs of remorse,
for she knew that her engagement with
John Terrell had been broken through her
perversity. and now that her anger had
cooled and she could look at matters calm
~ she regretted IL.
They had been engaged nearly a year,
and were 20 have been married when Pau
line reached her twenty-hrst birthday.
which was still several wears away. but her
fat no "A. la
give up MS only child. Paulines mother
had died IN giving her birth, and all the
love which Judge Cameron had lavlshed on
his beautiful Young wife was given TO the
little fairy IMAGE Of herself which she left
behind All the luXurics which aflluent
circumstances could give were hers. and
her every wish was gratihed.
While Pauline was growing up no Holly
Hill John Terrell was engaged in the Same
mysterious business az Riyerview. The
friendship between the two families was Of
the strongest type. and tho two children
were fast friends and constant playmates.
One OF Paulino's earliest SORROWS was
having TO part with her old friend when
he, "a bright lad of sixteen, went of 10
Washington and Lee. They were always
together during the vacation months, but
when John had graduated aud went to JEFF
ferson to take a course in medicine Pauline
was sent TO Ilollins. and through some CIR
cumstanccs they did not meet till four
years efterward, when she graduated and
came homo 10 her father at Holly Hill and
found Terrell settled down at Rlvcrview IA
fully hedged physician. The old friendship
again renewed soon rlpcned into love, and
an engagement followed which gave great
satisfaction TO both families. But all this
was changed now, and by her own wiliul-
ness. Pauline felt : and II WAS little wonder
that IL was with heavy heart that she re-
sponded 70 her fathers Merry Christ
mas" and received his costly gifts. and
that their guests who arrived during the
day 20 spend the holidays with them should
wonder what made her so lstless and
downcast.
Pauline and her guests all went To Mrs
Prcston's ball, starting soon after the old
Christmas dinner. They made a merry
party with their gay laughter and songs,
mingling with the musical tinkling of the
sleigh bells. Pauline was the gayest of the
gay now, but II did not require very
close observer 10 see that her gayety was
too reckless 70 be real. She was in the
sleigh with Charley Giuter, and that young
gentleman thought that he had never seen
one 30 cay and frolicsome.
CHAPTER III.
Az the distance was considerable II was
after nightfall when they reached Mrs.
Prestou's and the majority of the guests
had arrived. When Pauline came down
from the dressing-rOOm into the brilliant
ly lighted and beautiful old drawing-room
she found il 1lled with the beauty and
chivalry of the country. and her heart gave
quick leap and the hot blood rushed to
her checks when she recognized DIR. Ter
rell's tall figure on tho opposite side Of the
room, where ho was conyorsing with q
group OF ladies.
Although Pauline was certain that he saw
them enter no did rot notice her pres
ence In any way. and when the supper
hour arrived they had not spoken. Sho
was hurt, vexed, and disappointed at his
conduct. She had expected he would have
come 10 her side--not az once perhaps. but
some time during the evening and then
she would let him see how much she re-
GREETED her words and conduct of the pre-
ceding evening, even though such course
would be most trying 10 her proud spnlt.
for the CaInerons were noted tor their
pride.
Charley Ginter took her out 10 supper.
and his continual flow of Jokes and small
talk annoyed her. But wnen she looked
down the table and saw Terrell engaged in
animated conversation with her cousin,
Mary Caldwell, and evidently greatly en-
joying her society, her pride got the better
Of her moodiness aud she again hid her
true feelings under mask OF great gayety
of manner.
She succeeded so well that Terrell. lis
tening 70 her gay sallies aud blithe laugh
ter, bitterly thought Of how little she had
ever cared Tor him and OF how no bad been