Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-25
JOsNNgS BRACELET.

the mantel-piece of room in one of the
Government Offices. The taller of the
two-he who was at home in the room
was slim, well-dressed man, wearing his
hair parted exactly in the middle, and a
diamond pin in the sailor knot of his tie.
He had his frock-coat open, and his
thumbs in the armholes of his waist-coat.
The attitude denoted complacency, and
the man was complacent.
"Well, the funny part of it il" he was
saying lightly, his shoulders pressed
against the mantel-piece, that l am din
ing at the Burton Smiths this evening"
"Ahw his companion answered, looking
up at him with eyes of envy. "And SO
you will see her ?"
"Of course. She is to come to them to-
day. But they do not know about our en-
gagement vet, and as she does not want to
blurt it out the moment she arrives-why,
for this evening" it will be a secret. Still
/ thought would tell you"
He stepped away as he spoke, to
straighten a red morocco-covered dispatch
box standing on the table behind him. 1t
bore, besides the Haunting gilt capitals 81.
o." modest plate with the name "Ern-
est Wibberley"-hi name.
The other waited until he resumed his
place. Then he answered, holding out his
hand, eyes, am glad you told me, old
boy; and / congratulate you most heartily,
believe me-"
THANK you, jack" Wibberley replied,
I" knew you would. / rather feel myself
that Fate cannot harm me. | have dined
to-day"
"Happy dog p said Jack; and presently
disappeared.
The Burton Smiths whom we heard
them mention are tolerably well known in
London. Burton Smith himself is a bar
rister, with money and relations-Irish
landlords, Scotch members, Indian Judges,
and the like. His wife is young, gracious
and fond of society. Their drawing rooms
on the topmost flat of Onslow Mansions
rooms with sloping ceilings and dozen
quaint hooks and corners-are seldom
empty during the regulation hours.
This particular dinner party had been
planned with some care. Lady Linacre
win come, no doubt" Mrs. Burton Smith
had said one day at breakfast, coming a
list she held in her hand; "and Mr.. May"
Burton Smith objected to May. "He
will talk about nothing but India" he
protested, "and the superiority of Calcutta
over London. A little of these Bombay
ducks goes a long way, my dear"
"Well, James," Mrs. Burton replied
placidly-the Hon. Vereker May is a son
of Lord Hawthorne-"he will take me in,
and l do not nina. Only | must have
Mr.. Wibberley on the other side to make
conversation and keep me alive. Let me
Burton-she comes that afternoon-four.
Do you know, James, when We were at
Temple Rothley for Christmas l thought
there were something between your cousin
and Mr.. Wibberley"
"Then, for goodness sake, do not let
them sit togetherw Burton Smith cried,
''or they will talk to one another and to
no one else"
Every WELL" Mrs Smith assented.
"They shall sit opposite to one another,
and Mr.. Wibberley shall take in Mrs. Gal
antine. She Will be sure to firt with
him, and we can watch Joanna's face.
shall soon see if there is anything be-
tween them"
Mr. Wibberley was young man of
some Importance, if only in his capacity
of private secretary to Minister. He
had a thousand acquaintance, and GER
tainly two friends-perhaps three. He
might be something some day-was
bound to be. He dressed well, looked
well, and talked WELL He was little
presumptious, perhaps even a trihe con-
ceited; but women like these things in
young men, and he had infinite tact. At
any rate, he had never yet found him
self in place too strait for him.
This evening as he dressed for dinner
as he brushed his hair vigorously, or
paused to smile at some reflection-his
own, but not in the glass-he was in his
happiest mood. Everything seemed to be
going well with him. He had no pre-
sentiment of evil. He was going to
house where he was appreciated. Mrs.
Burton Smith was a great ally of his.
And then there would be, as we know,
some one else. Happy man!
LADY Linacre," said his hostess, as she
introduced him to stout parsonage with
white hair, double chin and diamonds.
Wibberley bowed, making up his mind
that the dowager was one of those ladies
with strong preiudices, who drew their
skirts together if you prove a Home Ruler,
and leave the room if you mention Dixie.
"Mr May, you have met before" Mrs.
Smith continued; "and you know Miss
Burton, Think"
He murmured assent, while she-Joan-
na-shook hands with him frankly and
quietly, with the ghost of a smile, per-
L IL al
moment; but halted in his sentence as it
flashed across his mind that this was their
first meeting since she had said Eyes"
He recovered from his momentary embar-
assment, however, before even Mrs. Burton
Smith could note it, and promptly offered
Mrs. Galantine his arm.
She was an old friend of his-as friends
90 in society. He had taken her in to din
ner, that is, half dozen times. "Who Is
that grip she asked, when they were
seated; and she raised her glasses and
stared through them at her yis-a-vis. 81
declare, she would be pretty If her nose
were not so short"
He seized the excuse to put up his glass,
too, and take a look. at is rather short"
he admitted, gazing with a whimsical
sense of propriety at the deficient organ.
"But some people like short noses, you
know, Mrs. Galantine."
"Ah And theaters in August /" she re-
piled increduously. "And drawing-room
games And conumdrumsl But, seri-
ously, she would be pretty were it not for
that"
Would she?" he questioned gravely.
"Well, l think she would, do you know"
And certainly Joanna was pretty, though
her forehead was too large, and her nose
small, and her lips too full. For her eyes
were bright and her complexion perfect,
and her face told OF wit, and good temper
and freshness. She had beautiful arms,
too, for a chit of 49, Mrs. Galantine said
nothing about the arms-not out of mod
estv Int because her own did not form one