The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-13


about twenty people have dined an hour o
so before. Blake has bcggedofi from joining
In the festivities of the evening. but Van
worst appears in full dress. which he ha
assumed with much grumbling, at th'
command Of his wife. That lady leave
her guests for moment. having beef
told Blake's erTand, and comes into thu
dining room after the young men have
somewhat appeased their hunger.
well, Mr. Blake. you are evidently
! better prepared to tell US who hrs. Mac
kenzie Is than you expected says the
impatient Mrs. Nanvoorst. as soon as the
absence OF the servant permits
Yes. answers Blake very deliberately
Il fancy may AZ well be driven bacl, Il
/ the Station. and take tho late traiI
/ down
why, what do you mean?"
Why, really. when | tell you what
little there is TO tell about Mrs. Macken.
zic, you will agree with me that there Is
nothing to be done-nothing at least that
| can do. %
"Who Is shel'
she used to be Miss Mabury-Laura
Mabury-lived somewhere down in
Pennsylvania where | used TO know
her says Mr. Blake, with a piece of a
bird on his fork. TO which piece Of bird he
apparently utters these condolences
Southern family. Very great belle. and
quite well known in Baltimore. and also
in Philadelphia Internally stupid Of me
not 10 remember her married name
really though, / had quite forgotten IT,
Think the man was navy man-didnt
know he was dead before"
isis she all right?' asks vanvoorst,
with his mouth full
Blake laughs in an ugly kind way.
Sorry TO disappoint you, but really
don't know anything against her; used to
be rather animated. must say. but per
fectly good style-went out in very good
society. and was quito well connected. and
all that kind Of thing That's about all
can tell you; so. ii it isn't too much
trouble, perhaps bad better be driven
back TO the railroad.
ooh. nonsense" says Vanvoorst and
his wife protests also. you really must
not think Of leaving as in that way-it
would be treating us badly We havo
not so many people staying here that We
can afford 10 let you of SO easily"
But. Mrs. NanvOorst. remember that
am here entirely on busincss-as a sort
fraud for me 20 remain as a guest"
Not at all; You can assume the char.
actor very nicely, I'm sure, and then.
with a laugh and turning TO leave the
room. you may find something to 90
yet.
Glow SOP"
Possibly Mrs. Mackenzie viii resume
the Irritation which Miss Mabury un.
doubtedly began at somo past period
Good by for q while, and Mrs. VanvOorst
goes ont of the room. soon followed by
her husband. whom stern duty calls; for
be has taken fancy TO Blake and is 10th
70 leave him. but he tears himself away
and Blake finishes the claret. and. not
caring 90 wander among tho jewellers IN
the front of the house sends the butler
after his hat; and when that worthy, after
one or two mistakes, has got the right |
one, he gets ont Of the window, and, |
lighting a cigor. prowls around the end |
Of the house, and locates himself in q dark /
corner Of the piazza, where he smokes !
listens TO the music and tries /
10 make out the faces OF people who come |
)ut on the long piazza Tor air or 10 talk /
1t does not seem % be a wildly /
gay affair, viewed from Blakes stand. |
l0int ard he is decidedly glad when Miss
stuart finds him out and lots him get her
chair and sits talking - him for half
IN hour. telling him about the people
Who are staying at the house. END pat.
ing him 20 some trouble by her questions
his acquaintance with the
'enyoorsts and finally departs TO dance
With an obnoxious military person
from The Point" leaving Blake IL
somewhat better spirits, and with q
more eytendod knowledge of the PEG.
pie Of the house also compell'-g him %
struggle against the iiea-pros when
'yer be talbS TO Miss Stuari-that she
egards him us little plcasanfer than
my other man And having conquered
his notion. he braces himself no 10 en-
ounter the widow For FROM what he
nows Of her he is pretty sure that she
will take the initiative
On This occasion she is certainly in no
urr Blake finishes bis cigar declines
o avail himself of the billiard room. dc
lines Oh e0 TO bcd-b0th which forms !
4 cent crtalmcut are offered him bv Van
oorst who appears al intervals: finally,
iter nearly noiiiug his head off, becomes
ucou~tous for brief space Waking
p be- finds that it is half an hour past
lidnigit and that some Cf the people
re beginning TO drive of Still. he lights
1other cigar and leans against one of
be pillars of the piazza, smoking and
aiting Tor Mrs Mackenzie
l. De- oa.flI.f.f ,... Ia.terfs Ia rr.t,rr.
nat siren comes innOcently out on the
azza-alone, and apparently only for
esb sir--the die hards" inside are
lncing a wild gallop which always
axes Blake think OF a certain spring
ght in a duh little Pennsylvania town,
me three years agOy Whether u Is an
or intentional coincidence
rtainly Blake is rather taken at disad
intage when some one says, Il was !
linking of you, Mr. Blake, and he turns
find close beside him the face that made {
at spring night memorable.
81 was thinking Of you, Mr. Blake. I
)n't You remember that music2 Come G
US walk down here-l want to talk to
W.. 7
They walk TO the end of the piazza, and 7
and there silent for a moment, listening
tho music which, sentiment apart 1
lnds better at this distance. Then sud a
My She puts her hand on his arm and t
Us. q
What did you come here forg" <
Because was asked" says our young t
N stoutly, but with his heart in his y
,uth but she goes on without seeming | L
hear him. c
why, when / am trying to change my y
when have some chance Of turn, {
some chance Of making some one
ppy and doing a little good-why must {
All be spoiled and I-disgracedy Tom, s.
i used 70 like me little. Please
ase let me alone" Her great eyes are I:
aiding for her; the touch Of her hand Il
his arm is a gentle petition. d
My dear Mrs. Mackenzie, how under Il
wen can / interfere with your What O
We l dones" '
'Donel You have told-or you will y
these people everything And that 7
man really loves me-ah. dear Tom, u
IT laugh-there is something good left T
ne-he has asked me TO marry him, L.
now you will ruin me-" "
But what the deuce can tell about d.
~ cries the bewildered young man. ii
20 here-theso people asked me if
II