The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-19
MANNING, S. c.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1890.
evening With You. Your acting was
SimnlV Snnerh !"

Thank you," says Florence. who !:
not in bed, but is sitting III chan
drawn near a window, through which
the noonbeams are tlinging their pale
rays. She is clad III clinging white
dressinggown that makes her beauty
saintlike. and has all her long hair fall
ing loosely round her shoulders.
What charming evening it has
been." cIclaims Dora eCStatically
clasping her hands, and leaning hel
arms on the back Of chair Il hardly
know when felt SO thoroughly happy"
Florence sllildders visibly. You en-
joyed yourself. of coursc" continues
You made at least 4 dozen conGueStS
~" ~ half a one" with careful hes
itajlO.. J.: her manner i:,tc;i.cl to i'm,
press her liStci!er-"!S - .nic;! rs poor
little Insignificant HE c:tii { ;:,It.'
Florence looks at her ,.::":,2ioningly
Il think one really home, 'cyer i.
worth a dozen n;;icrs. >,.c says, lei
voice trembling. 30 yuli nl":n me tC
understand. Dora. that YOU have
gained enc t"liig!:t:'
Florencc'5 whole soul seemed to hang
on her cousin : answer. Dora shippers,
and tries - blush: h;!t i! realty grows
shade paler. S!.e is playing for
high stake, and fears to risk 4 throw
lest it may be ventued too soon. =,
'Oh. you must not ask too much!'
she replies. shaking her blonde head.
"a lover-no! How can you be SO alb
surd. And yet l think-I hope"
L see!" interrupts Florence sadly.
well, I will be as discreet as you wish;
but at least. if what | imagine be true,
I can congratulate you with all my
heart, because knoW-1 know you
will be happy"
Going over to Mrs. Talbot, she lays
her arms round her neck and kisses her
softly AS she does 50, a tear falls
from her eyes upon Dora's check.
There is SO much sweetness and aban-
donment of self in This act;a'l that Do
ra for the moment is touched BY. it.
She puts up her hand: and, Wiping
away the tear from her cheek as
tlNugh it burns Ter, says lightly
But indeed, my dearest Flo. you
must not imagine anything. All is
vague. /, hardly know what it is to
which am alluding. 'Trides light as
IOdG SlIIl. S'1Ao SOU
den me in spite of'my common sense,
which whispers that they mean moth
ing. Do not build castles for me that
may have their existence OILY en- Es-
payne"
@Thev seena very bright castles" OBJ
serves Florence wistfully.
"a bad omen. All that's bright
must fade,' sings the poet: And now
to speak Of yourself. You enjoyed
yourself?'
@Of fcourse"-mechanically.
"Ah, yes; was glad to see you had
made it up with poor Arthur Dyne-
court"
How" demands Florence, turning
upon her quickly.
Il saw you dancing with him, dear
est; I was with Sir Adrian at the time,
and from something he said, think he
would be rather pleased if you could
bring yourself to reward poor Arthur's
long devotion"
"Sir Adrian said that? He discussed
me with you?"
"Just in passing, you understand.
He told me too that you were some
what unhappy in the earlier part of the
evening, and that he had to stay con-
siderable time with you to restore you
to calmnesS. He is always SO kind,
dear Adrian!"
'He spoke of that?" demands Flor
ence, in a tone of anguish. If he had
made her emotion a subject of common
talk with Mrs. Talbot, all indeed is at
an end between them. even that sweet
visionary offer of friendship he had
made to her. No; she could not sub
NIT to be talked about by him, and the
woman he loves! Oh; the bitter pang
it costs her to say these words to her
self. That he now loves Dora seems to
her mind beyond dispute. Is she not
his confdante, the one in whom he
chooses to repose all his secret thoughts
and surmiseS?
Dora regards her cousin keenly.
evident agitation makes her
fear that there was more IN that tete-n
tete with Sir Adrian than she had at
first imagined.
eyes: why should he not speak of
it," Dora goes Oh coldly. Il think by
his manner your want of self-control
shocked him. You should have a
greater command over yourself. 1t is
not good form to betray ones feelings
to every chance passer-by. Yes; I
think Sir Adrian was both surprised
and astoniShed."
"There was nothing to cause him
either surprise or ast0nishment," says
Florence laushtily; land I could well
have wished him out of the way"
Perhaps 1 misunderstood him" re-
Joins Dora artfullv. SBut certainly he
spoke to me Of being unpleasantly de-
layed by-by impossible people-those
were his very words; and really alto
may be vrong-I believe he
foWow the he NAT Matter II up soss Secsuse SS mueh W as
like Sir Adrian. I could not listen to
him speaking so lightly Of you!'
"Of me-you forget yourself, Dora."
cries Florence. with pale lips, but head
erect. Speaking lightly Of me-" she
repeats.
Young men are often careless in
their language" explains Dora hur-
riedly, feeling she had gone too far.
'He meant nothing unkind, you may
be sure!"
Il am quite srTe"-armly.
Then 40 harm is done"-smiling
brightly. And now, goodnight, dear
est; 60 to bed instead of sitting there
looking like a ghost in those mystical
Goodnight" says Florence iclly:
There is something about her that
causes Mrs. Talbot to feel almost
afraid to approach and kiss her as
usual.
want of rest will spoil your lovely
eyes," adds the widow airily: "and your
complexion, faultless as it always is,
will not be up to the mark tomorrow.
So sleep, foolish child, and gather roses
from your slumbeTs."
So saving. size kisses her hand gayly
to the unresponsiye Florence, and trips
lightly from the room.
Continued.