The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-02-28


s'pose. Ever ben out our wayi" r.
II have never had that pleasure"
Burton contrived to say.
"Well, it's q real likely place, Gordon
Centre is, if it amt so big as some.
There's considerable going on most all
the year. Thcre'd ben two sociables
the week before come away, and there
was going to lie a warm-sugar party that
night, Ihated to miss it. Do you have
much going on here2'
Burton took out his watch and daZedly
consulted it.
! 1--WE have no sociables uor warm sugar
parties" he responded, grimly.
I And then he rose.
IL am sorry to be obliged to go; but I
have IN engagement at twelve, )" he said,
bowing.
He would have retired without further
ceremony, but Dora's sister intercepted
him with outstretched hand.
"Goodne:s! you hain't ben here above
fifteen minutes" }" she said, regretGully.
"Well, ccmcin again-drop in any time.
I dom know jest how long I'll te here
long as Dora'll keep me, l s'pose.r
She talked on with friendly conf
dence, accompanying him to the door,
and standing by while he put on his hat
and overcoat.
/ He was aware, MS he went rapidly
dowa the street, that she was standing
In the doorway and watching his de.
partpre.
/ He spent the rest of the day in trying
to forget Dora's sister, but he found it
not altogether possible; he had been too
deeply astonished and horri6ed. He
had no. expected much, he reflected
somewhat wrathfully over cigar in his
Office; but what he had found. And
Dora's description Surely love- and
sisterly love particularly-was blind.
He was glad it was the night of the
! Gills's reception. If anything was calcu-
lated to remove unpleasant impressions,
it was one of the Gills's receptions. He
wondered, with qualm, whether Alfred
and Dora would go-and take Miss
/ Trumbull. Of course they had cards.
We'll, at least he could keep a safe dis
| tance.
Almost the first person he saw, as he
entered the Gills's spacious but crowded
rooms, was his sister-inlaw. She
greeted him eagerly.
':We were so afraid you wouldn't be
here. I do want Lucy to have good
time, and it will be so much nicer to
have somebody she knows. You'll take
her out for the first set, won't you3 un-
less she's engaged"
"AIiss Trumbuh ls here2" said Burton,
wretchedly.
"Why, yes, of course" Dora rejoined,
briskly. There she is. Doesn't she look
lovely2 And she's taking so we'll! Mr..
Sanford has been with her ever since we
came, and he never looks at n girl. But
I don't want him to get the first set,
Burton dear. DO hurry!"
She took his arm, led him over to the
group she had been watching, and
tripped away.
! The group was composed of one young
lady and six gentlemen; and the young
lady was Dora's sister.
She smiled on Burton graciously, and
went on talking to Mr.. Sanford, who
looked radiant, bestowing an occasional
smile upon one of the other five young
men, who in turn looked happy.
Sre wore a charmingly fashioned,
perfectly fitting, and wonderfully pretty
! gown, and she looked dazzliIgly pretty
herself. Her sole ornament was bunch
of roses at her corsage.
She waited her black gauze fan, and
! sparkled across it in all the glory of
black eyes, white teeth and pink cheeks.
"Oh, don't know that Il am prepared
/ to admit that, Mr.. Sanford" she was
saying, with light laugh. 'I'm aware
OF the vanity and shallowness of society
in general but dent admit that every
individual composing society is vain or
shallow. I believe that good share OF
the pleasure e-seekers-thosc who seem
mere pleasure seekers--are Us serious at
heart as the cynics and pedants who hold
aloof. I believe that certain amount
of social gaicty is necessary to ones
happiness-yes, and welfare. Emerson
owns its value: Don't you remember
that passage in his Culture -
The orchestra in the next room struck
up at the next moment. Miss Trumbull
looked at her opponent brightly.
hNow, Mr.. Sanford, you will dance
this quadrille as gaily as any of US, and
it<yon't prove your unworthiness either.
We shall see your theories confuted In
practice"
She laughed mischievously.
Mr.. Sanford, with On enraptured
SMILE eagerly offered his arm; so did
the other five young men, frantically.
But Burton quietly intercepted them
N all. He placed Miss Trumbulps hand
Nwithin his elbow, with tirmness which
was not to be ignored. and bore her
Away. He did not take her to the dane
Ing room; he led her to sofa in a dim
corner of the deserted hall, and sat down
beside her.
"Wellw he said, simply.
Miss Trumbull put her fan to her lips.
There was silence for space.
tI-I don't know what made me dc
it,h Dora's sister murmured, with queer
mixture of apology and defiance IN hel
soft voice, and with her eyes cast down.
"0nly-Dora had told me all about
you"
$50 you remarked this morning, "Bur'
ton interposed, with an attempt at stern
ness.
Dora's sister laughed guiltily.
"And I got the idea-I don't know
how; she didn't say so, and don't think
| now that it is so-that you were-well,
proud end naughty as the novels say
5 and when she begged me to be just as nice
as I could, because you were so particular
and talked 30 much abe 1T how-how
nice YOU are" said Miss Trumbull, with
a blush, "why, it made me feel contrary
right away, and that ridiculous ides