Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-12

DO you know that bapdwritipe?" she
said, fvurishing it before Ethel astonished
eyes.
''Is is my own; wrote to ask you lunch, 7"
poor Ethel answered simply; while the
thought flashed across her mind that Mrs.
Byrne had probably gone mad. ;.
''Read it, then" cried that lady, with an
air of suppressed amusement which lent
@ alor TO the potion.
Ethel unfolded it quickly then sat trans
fixed like One who receives a sudden and
fatal injury. For before her horror-stricken
eyes glared these words in her own hand
writing: "Yours very sincerely, Jack
Davenant."
"What does it mean?" she cried at last in
a hoarse voice. for it seemed that some
fiendish magic had been at work.
"That's what I want to know" Mrs.
Byrne answered more gently. 81 received
this note the day before yesterday. There
was no address, and The hand writing was
certainly not Jacks. Nor is my cousin in
the least likely to invite me to lunch at his
chambers So wrote off TO him at once
ard told him to drop in to diuner if he had
anv'hiug to say to me-"
Ethel had risen to her feet, ard was
standing with little FRI zen smile on her
face; but at this point she broke in bur
riedly:
ibid you show him (Mr. Davenant) the
letter."
Mrs. Byrre nodded She was not per-
son Of delicate perception and bad come
here bent on little harmless amusement,
bnt somehow the amusement was not forth
Coming.
Ethel clasped her cold hands together in
= e. 6
WAS familiar with her handwriting. Had
be not made little criticisms, severe and
tender, on the occasional notes of invitation
which she had addressed to MIN?
''Jack said he knew nothing about the
note and hadn't the ghost of an idea what
it meant"
"Oh, Jack, Jact," cried Ethel's heart in
psren hesis, what must you think of
me?"
Mrs. Byrne went on: 'Grace Allison
up. She swore to your handwriting and
we concluded you had done it in a At of
absence of mind. Poor old Jack, how she
did chatf hmp'
Ethel was trying to recover her presence
of mied.
s'How could have made such . stupid
mistaken she said, with a short laugh
II suppose l was pursuing some train OF
thought. had met your ,usin at q party
the right before-you know how it isl
Mrs. Byrne was sorry for the girls dis
tress.
"lf's mistake anyone might have made,
though you must own it was rather funny.
However, can assure you this-it won't
get any further. Jack is scarcely likely to
tell, and Grace has sworn On her honor"
Ethel laughed again, meaninglessly. As
far as she was concerned the whole world
was welcome to know it now. No deeper
disgrace could befall her. 81 wonder if he
is shrieking with laughter or merely sick
with disgust" the poor girl thought when
her obtuse and amiable visitor had at last
departed. son, how l hate bim-how
hate bim!" Which was hard on Jack,
considering that his own conduct in he
matter had been irreproachable But
Ethel was in no mood FIR justice. It
seemed to her that she had utterly be
trayed and diseraced herself; that never
again conld she venture to show. herself ip
a world where Florence Byrne, Grace Alli-
son, and, above all, Jack Davenant lived,
moved, aud had their being.
Sick with shame, hot ard cold with an
guish, poor Ethel sat covering in the great
drawing room like guilty thing.
Ethel astonlshed her family at dinner
that evening by inquiries as to the state of
the female labor market in New Zealand.
Uncle Joe, q philanthrophic parson who
happened to be of the party, delighted to
find his pretty niece taking an interest in q
subject SO little frivolous, delivered him.
self of short lecture on the subject.
Ethel sighed at bearing that there was
so little demand for the work of educated
women (save the markD in that distant
colony, and began to turn her thoughts
toward Waterloo bridge.
"E hel funks on being an old maid. She
knows that positively any girl can lassoo a
husband in New Zealand" her brother
Bob remarked in challenging tone.
BIT + bel bore it with uninteresting
meekness; perhaps, she told herself, she
was husband hunter.
After dinner she put on her hat and stole
out into the street. She had been indoors
all day, and could bear it no longer. The
June evening was still as light as day, and
simple minded couples were lettering with
frank affection in Regents park. She had
not gone far before she saw large familiar
form bearing down in her direction.
"Oh how 1 hate him-I hate bimr' she
dShlus WuHO bCI nCdIb Ocdb Will
maddening rapidty. IF be has a spark
of kindness in him he will pretend not to
see me-"
But Jack. for it was he, made no such
pretense. On the contrary, he not only
raised his hat, but came up to her with
onlstretched hard. She put her cold fin.
gers mechanically into his and scanred his
face; there was neither 0irth nor disgust
in il; and the thought flashed across her,
chilling while it relieved her, that be
probably attached little Importance to an
incident to which she. knowing her owr
secret, had deemed but one Interpretation
possible. Aud then before she knew what
had happened, Jack was walking along by
her side, pouring out a torrent of indignant
reproaches as to her desertioh of him in
favor of Dicky Carshslton at the Warriog
toms party.
SIT is you," cried Ethel. with spirit, fol
the unexpected turn of affairs had restored
her courage-''it is you, Mr.. Davenant
who we're so unkind, to stand by and let OLD
friends be victimized, without striking .
blow in their behalf! Pray what did yor
expect me to d.7 Was to have said: s'No
thank you, M. Carshaltop; prefer te
stay here With Mr.. Davenan,?''
Sand, if you had said it, would it have
been trueP"
She changed her tone suddenly.
.Dicky is such bore! / think / prefel
anvone's society to his"
He stopped short in the path, reizns
both her hands and looking down at hel
with stern and passionate eyes.
A close-liuked couple strolling by re
ma, ked to % another that there had beer
ro~ and then refreshed themselves with