The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-19

|
she can not altogether hide from hin
eyes.
You are right" she agrees. in th
| future our lives will indeed be far dis
tant from each other. SO far apart tina
the very tie Of friendship Will readil,
| be forgotten by US both.
Florence, do not say THAR he en-
| treats, believing in his trn that sh
! alludes to her coming marriage viii
his cousin. "And-and-do not he an
CRY with NE; but would ask you t
consider long and earnestly before tax
ing the step you have in view. Re
member it is q bond that once seale(
can never be cancelled
"a bond! IGo not follow you," eX
claims Florence hewildered.
All, you Will not trust me; you vii
not confde in me-
II have nothing to conlide," persists
Florence, still deeply puzzled.
now greatly wounded at her deter
mined reserve, as he deems it. He calls
to mind all Mrs. Talbot had said about
her slyneSs, and feels diSneartened. Al
least he has not deserved distruSt at
her hands. Promise me-" he entreats
at last. that. if ever you are in danger
you will accept my help"
Il promise "'she replies family. Then
trying to rally her dropping spirits, she
continues, with an attempt at smile,
Tell me that you will accept mine
should you be in any danger. Remem-
Der, the mouse once rescued the lion!"
and she smiles again. and gl. ces at
him with touch Of her old archneSs.
1t is bargain, And now. will You
rest here awhile INIT! you feel quite re-
stored to calnlIeSS?
But you must not remain with me.
Florence urges hurriedly. You. guests
are awaiting YOU. Probably with a
faint smiie-"your partner for this
waltz is impatiently wondering what
has become of you
I think not. says Adrian. returning
her smile. Fortunately I have no
ones name on NY card for this waltz.
l say fortunately. because think
glancing at her tenderly-"I have been
able to bring back the smiles to your
face sooner than would have been the
case had you been left here alone to
brood over your trouble, whatever it
may be-"
There is no trouble" declares Flor
ence, III a somewhat distressed fashion,
turning her head restlessly to one side.
"I wish you would dispoSsess yourself
of that idea. And. do not stop here,
they-every one. will accuse you of dis
courtesy il you absent yourself from
the ballroom any longer"
Then. come with me-" saws Adrian.
See. this waltz is only just beginning:
give it to me-"
Carried away by his manner, she lays
her hand upon his arm. and goes with
him to the ballroom. There he passes
his arm around her waist, and present
ly they are lost among the throng Of
Whirlng dancers, and both give them
selves up for the time being to the
mere delight of knowing that they are
together.
Two people, seeing them enter thus
together, on apparently friendly terms,
regard them with hostile glances. Dora
Talbot, who is coquetSng sweetly with
a gaunt man of middle age, who is evi-
IDENTITY oyerpeWered by her attentions,
letting her eyes rest upon Florence as
she valtzes past her with Sir Adrian,
colors warmly, and, biting her lip, for
gets the honeyed speech she was about
te bestoW upon her companion, who IS
the owner Of considerable property,
and lapses into silence, for which the
9aunt man is deyoutly grateful, as it
gives him a moment in which to reflect
on the safest means of getting rid OF
her without delay.
Dora's fair brow grows darker and
darker as she watches Florence, and
notes the smile that lights on her beau
tiful face as she makes some answer to
one of Sir Adrian's sallies. Where IS
that he has not been on the
spot to prevent this dance, she won,
ders. She grows angry and would
have stamped her ittle foot with I'M
patient wrath at this moment, but for
the fear of displaying her vexation:
AS she is ilwardly matchmaking
Arthur, he emerges from the throng,
and, the dance being at an end, re-
minds Miss Delmaine that the next IS
his.
Florence urwillingly removes her
hand from Sir Adrian'S arm, and lays
it upon Arthur's. Most disdalnfuly
she moves away with him, and suffers
him to lead her to another part OF the
room. And when she dances with him,
it is with evident reluctance, as ne
knows by the fact that she vlslbly
shrinks from him when he encircles her
waist with his arm.
Sir Adrian, who has noticed none OF
these symptoms, going up to Dora, So
Gcits her hand for this dance.
"You are not engaged, hope? he
saws anXiouSly. It is a kind Of wretch
ed comfort to him to be near FIorence's
true friend. # not the rose, she has
at least some connection with 1t.
Il am afraid I am" Dora responds,
raising her Impid eyes to his. 'Naugh-
ty man, why did you not come sooner?
I thought you had forgotten me alto
gether, and so got tired of keeping bar
rem spots upon my card for you"
Il couldn't help i'll was engaged. a
man In his own house has always bad
time Of it looking after the impossible
people," saws Adrian evaSively.
Poor Florence. Is she SO very I'M
poSsible?" asks Dora, laughing, but
pretending to reproach him.
Il was not speaking of Miss Del
maine" says Adrian, flushing hotly..
"She is the least impossible person L
ever met. It Is a privilege to pass ones
time with her"
Yet it is with her you have passed
the last hour that you hint has been
devoted to bores," returns Dora quietly
This is mere feeler, but she throws it
out with such an air of certainty that
Sir Adrian is completely deceived, and
believes her acquainted with his tete-U
tete with Florence in the dimly lit ante
room.
"Well,0 he admits, coloring again,
your cousin was rather upset by her
acting, think. and l just stayed with
her until she felt equal to Joining US
al again"
An eNclalms Dora, who now knows
all she had wanted to know.
But you must not tell me you have
no dances left for me-" says Adrian
gayly. Come, let me see your card" :"
He looks at it, and finds it indeed full
Il am an unfortunate, he adds.
Il think" says Dora, with the pref
tiest hesitation. If you are sure 1t
would not be al unkind thing to do, l
could scratch out this name'-pointlnS
to her partners for the coming dance.