Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-01

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Torrance, indicating Miss Cutter
land you know, George, she was a
high-tlyer). "And there's Miss
Davis, the beauty; l know her.
That girl in yellow is ugly enough to
stop clock. Over there in white is
rather a nice girl-lovely, too, she is,
and seems very young and ingenue,
and that sort of thing, that rather
admire. Present me, Barton, if you
know her. / think I'll dance"
II think you won't dance very often
with her, old man." | said to myself,
and chuckling to see the game in my
own hands, crossed the room with
him. Without ever requesting her
permission, and pnrposelv naming
him first, Let me present Mr.. Tor
rance to you, Miss Hastings" said.
Torrance's face was as good as a
play. and as Mary lifted her eyes |
looked for one of her all-eonquering
| glanees, but instead she blushed a
beautiful crimson, and slightly turn
ed her head from Torrance's evident
astouishment.
was provoked with her for losing
such an opportunity, and, as Tor
rance seemed a little confused in his
ideas, left them to adjust their men
tai balance at their leisure.
| | did myself the pleasure of watch
ing them, however, and at the end of
the dance, when another partner
claimed Mary, John carefully avoid
ed my neighborhood, and hung
around trying to get a word in now
and then with the late object of his
strong condemnation.
At supper he lounged in the door
until we beckoned him to join us, and
as that was apparently what
he hoped for, he made himself very
agreeable.
Mary had entirely recovered her
self-possession, and /, who knew her
so well, could see that she was exert
ing herself toward his undoing.
But she was always so charming
and did these things so sweetly that
/ could have fallen in love with her
myself, had there been the shadow of
a change for me. But there never
was, and so-well, even now am not
sure | escaped heart whole.
Alter that as matter of course,
John wanted to see more of her, and
| took him to the Hastings to call
on one of their Evenings"
The simplicity in white had vanish
ed as suddenly as it came. Miss
Hastings received her friends in
wonderful gown ofgray, touched here
and there with crimson. / more than
suspected Torrance ofsending her the
lovely Jacqueminots she carried,
( and the execution wrought by her
wonderful eyes on Johns susceptible
tiles was truly lamentable to witness.
He was completely gone. Nothing
could now shake his belief that Miss
Hastings was deeply illuminated
young lady. The white angel had
changed his ideas. 1t was nothing
short of inspiration on Mary's part,
for how did she know John Torrance
was to be introduced to her at that
particular ball? Perhaps she did.
The ways OF Pro violence and women
are inscrutable.
The affairs appeared to be taking
the usual course. She, gracious and
bewiIdering: he, beyond all hope of
recall madly in love with her, and
making no effort to hide it. 1t
seemed just about tine same thing
we had seen before, and only called
forth the usual poor foof' by way
ofcomment.
1t seemed either to drag in seach-
ing the climax. Few beside myself
know there was climax, at which |
unwittingly assisted.
One night | dropped in at the
Hastings, and when the man said
/ Miss Hasting was in the drawing
room, | entered without ceremony,
as an old friend might, only to find
an empty room. Hearing murmur
of voices in the library beyond, /
made my way toward it. Mary and
John Torrance were standing near
the fire, he leaning an arm ON the
mantel, and looking at her with un-
mistakable triumph, while she, lost
in thought, gazed little sadly into
the fire. As | stood with my hand
on the portiers. Torrance flushed and
handsome advanced d stepnearer to
her, and called her name
Mary he said, gently, but with
confidence in his power.
She lifted her head slowly, and al
most unwillingly, as if compelled by
the sound of his voice, and moved
slightly toward him. / saw him
draw her yet nearer with his arm
around her, until her head rested on
his breast, and he bent to look upon
her fair face,
! don'tknow how / got out of the
house. but i remember assuring
myself over and over again that /
never had been in love with her, and
never had a chanceif had been.
"Sour grapes, calculated Hunting
ton, softly.
Il felt bound" resumed Barton,
''to tell her of my unlucky caves
dropping. Next morning I went
around and began rather lameIy by
saying, had called the evening be-
fore, and, not finding her in the
drawing room, was about to enter
Tho Iihrn nv tyLau \ aat, hayoa1f s,ud