The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
DOCTOR OR THE SWELL.
[BY JUDITH cAERINoroS ]

f.te had transp autc1 her irOld cor
lectiye admiration OF "A group 10 an ~
Jiyidu,i psdesial. There her ideniitS
b.c,ns epfoldcd by a certain inde-
,crb.ble glamour Of interest ana pres
toe rs though sne wee IN verify some
rare bit Ct statuary, suddenly valued
and g-lass-eDcl0se0'
IL Was on the occasion Of one OF those
dangerous heart decoys.an informal ave
DEL OK tea, that an accidental tOucn 30
,nrned Tie wheel of fortune IN her
favor. IL
The caiegest allies 10 Janet looks
were q pair OF b.ue-gray eyes. irlnEeui
around 80 dai ky that they remindeu
sne of steel engfayings, and "a sweet
fte,h. Wild color. which was a
force sufficient for the family 20 TANK
her very pretty. aud the men IN rove
with her To think her very beautiful
Aud on this especial afternoon, wneh
the tinitd glow OF shdded ramps
widowed hsr cOiOrinG. "a piumihg
uam made an airy canopy, ana us
tntksd shadowed reproduction a PIC
ture.due background. the question VI
ler beauty WIS ln~dispuiaOle. in~o
oytwatd accessories helped 10 dispense
win the power OF the prOgeibiai beauty
,hat dwells in the eye OF the 10
n,fJer." aud rendered % pronounced
20 even the most casual observer.
Darcy Langdon, Standing alone, eYi-
DENLY bored 10y the luslpld companion
tnIp of a cup OF tea. was looking at htr'
t,ias ~uohchantly. while ne mentally
nvetr, Il. .'She was by no means a bad
looking littlegirl." lie man VINO
unite made 81 his baOit 10 identify nun
s..f with celtbnues. and the icmiolhe
society be most sought was tha' OF the
lair ..straneer within II gates.
or course he q met 3iis7 McCiei'
land. but had never noticed her iafticu'
lafly before. 80 really had no idea MA
kind D. little gui she was, whether hoi
reputation would require hun 10 COM
pliment her cley.in ness or hef knou
looks. or what her %spoCialtles were,
banjo playing. visiting the poor or con
sntntIolul pedes,rianlsm. Az any rate
hs would investigate the uneXplOred
regions OF her society. IL a prOOiem
Was touDd. the mntter OF sowing II
mightbe au after piece.
IA, sank upon "A diydn beside her. not
aItle amused % observe That she maze
no movement. indicative of ether sur
prlss or elatiOn at this marked ailel'
ion. beyond raising the long h'uge
from ntr calm eyes aud smiling sught
~. more. however. IA courtesy than Ia
warmth.
WIN a slow. measured. bali con
csalti scrutiny. ms eye marked every
detail ei her appearance, his critical
gszs fiudiugDO fault with the exquisite
datntntss with which the small. slcyed
hand pJised the she'll like cupOi Sevres.
noting with approval the exact curve
OF grace m thee oil bend Of the llttie nn
ger. Wilma wOman's true spirit OF Io-
ttli,tion. she discharged the obligation
of his notice by a iIttie, lingering. haii
indifferent look. QIite a counterpart
an miniature of bis oWn g1Za. lie eyes
dwelling. too. on the fingers tina. held
his cur, while she inwardly poudered
how a man ever found the time to keep
hi nals 80 Ielfecty manlcurod.
II believe the Christmas German is
being talked up already. ] suppose you
are going. of course sJld Mr.. Lang
don, with Just the faintest gleam Of
plif0ni1ng tn his deep tones.
Really 1 don't know yet whether !
ana OF not. sue answered., with some
Ihing .ot %bru-querie, bot for the very
sweet and cultivated Iutonaii)n.
why how is that. IL l may ask :"
We'll, if your curiosity II ust be APP
peased, Mt. Lagoon, / will nave to tell
YOU that-it depends upon circun
s.an,es.'
You ale as unhiud as you are satir-
ical, Mss McCleiland. Ny interest
q have perverted into %cdflOalty
Now, will you not make amends Tor
tals naughty treatment by letting me
De circumsiancos;'
Let yen be circumstances and
she laughed "a pretty. light laugh. Il
an afiald you'll think me awfullN
ob use, MI. L.nglon. bat yen know,
really. | haven't an idea what you
lnean-uulCs5 II is that you will BE-
tne well Known circumstance over
which | have no cOnuOl.
Somewhat inflated al being the sub
j.ct of ner JEST DO said:
DO you want me 10 80 down on ms
knees aud beg of your royal highness
t grant me this requesis
Not at al. 90 not think said l
wanted you To make me any request.
We'll. Miss McClelland. will you do
me the exquisite honor TO accept Of my
escort for the Xmas esImaurn
II thank you very much. Mr.. Lang
Ion. bul | have an engagement.
one thus caeck mated bin with such
an arch air OF chic. that II IA asted
with her Unborn gcntleness like the
spicy OdOr that Iermeates the softer
perfume OF some flowers. They both
laughed gieefUliy over the preltiiy rem
deled rebuff, aud with the unfailir s
magufiism OF genuine mlrth two or
shree %ioGngers j1ined their group.
The sense of success and charm acted
ike a stimulus on Janet, ami TO meet
the requirements ct the situation she
grew more successful and more charm.
ing.
With AN amused eort Of respect aud
admiration, Dltcy Langdon watched
ibis little lady, who did not tresTass
upon courtesy. yet did TO a nicely ac-
cord him 10 more, DO less Of favor than
fhe would any other gentleman Of her
acquaintance, who was not the S'ceN Of
Richmond.
And 80 the thus won attention Of
this social autocfat immediately caused
her 10 BE- the recipient of like demon
STATIONS from all OF his attache inila-
tors. aud hence she was a belle.
L%aDgJ0n. 10 the most favorable view
OF the bread term, Was "A man Of the
world. Though a bachelor ia the
Apglo.SaxOn meaning. he lived his lite
O, single bissscdness ia a mode which
Z % the man OF Is ~enty-eight was ideal.
His purse WAS spacious and well filled.
SO WAS his home. \ great. luxurious
chamber. Uttered in J~istracsing iiunifi-
ceuce with every accessory OF mascu
Iiue comfort; breadth and width OF
imposing halls. stately dfawiDg-To0ms.
a library soaked with old literature aud
Inundated with an ever %infiowing cur.
rsnt Of new. One dining room formal
aud grand: u petite aud cosy. A BIZ.
lard and pool apartment, and cool We
randas overlooking dew-sprayed. dow
ers and a ~splshing fountain; compau-
ions the most polished. aud servants