Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-09-25
FACE TO FACE AT LAST
BY EVA RICHMOND.

1t was the ball of the season, and ]
was the beauty and the belle. Many a
one envied me, / suppose, as l swept
downthe long rooms, flushed, triumphant,
smiling, elegantly attired, and with my
titled lover by my side.
He was my lover, openly enough, though
wewere not engaged; that was my fault
entirely.
You will grant me an interview to-
morrow" pleaded SIR Edward. softly.
knew we'll what that meant. he would
be trifed with 10 longer. 1 bowed col
assent. Then Mrs. Gray came up to me
and said: Il have a charming surprise for
you, my dear. Who do you suppose is
coming here notwithstanding, too, e1-
presslg to see you? You remember your
old schoolmate, Viola Wilton? She
married abroad recently, and has come
home for her Wedding tour. They AZ
rived only yesterday. l could never have
persuaded her to be present tonight but
for her longing TO see you.
Nv heart beat W Idly. Viola coming
home, and SO anxious to see ne! What
might il mean? Pretty Viola, about
whom Frank Bsscome and ! had quar-
relied because of my jealous fancy l
realized now how idle that jealousy had
been. What if Viola was the bearer of
some message from Frank! Some pre-
cious olive-branch of peace and hope.
Oh, if it were but word, to tell me that,
in spite of pride, his heart had been as
constant as my own, how | would well
come il, Hope sprGng high IN my breast
-Sr Edward may be Disappointed to-
morrow. after all, thought; and then l
inquired as calmly as could:
who did Viola marry"
An old acquaintance of your own,
dear. which makes ii so much more
agreeable. Pretty Viola is Mrs Bascome
now-as pretty as ever, and much more
stylish. Il seems to me that YOU end
Frank Bascome were good friends two
years ago. 1t VIII be pleasant for you
all TO meet"
And then some one else attracted her
attention, and she ran merrily away
don't know how long / may have sat
there, quite still. without realizing any,
thir but the anguish Of the wound she
had so innocently given my heart The
first thing that aroused me to a sense Of
the present was Sir Edwards voice.
He was bending over me with an air of
lover-Iike solicitGde. Itwould have an
gered me at another time, but it was well
come now.
I fear you are not well, he said, you
look SO pale.
arose and took his arm. 1 did it
pointedly, with q certain air of appro-
priation that all might see.
i SIN not we'll. l said. IF you will
take me quietly to MY carriage, and then
return and make excuses to Mrs.
Gray paused, then added. mean
ingly, looking straight into his ewes: L
shall be sufficiently recovered to receive
you when you CAL tomorrow, l dare
say
A look of triumphant pleasure flashed
into his face.
Dearest Christinein he murmured.
He had never presumed to call me by
nv name before. l shuddered with q
feeling of repulsion for a moment. then
controlled myself and leaned upon his
arm. Many eyes followed us under
standingly as We made our way slowly
through the crowd. At the carriage door
he kissed my hand. That was seen also.
! did not care. What did it matter? He
was not to be disappointed tomorrow.
after all
AS 1 bowed good-nigh from the win
dow another carriage drove up to the door,
and saw its occupants descend. A gen.
tleman came first; tall, with face that
seemed familiar to me. Then sprang out.
into his very arms. little dainty figure,
clad in bridal white-Vioiai-pre Vio-
la Prettier, indeed. than ever. and spark
ling with happiness and JOY. Another
figure followed her-Frank Bsscome-the
man loved!
Oh, heavens! the sight of him, after
those two long yesrs. How it drove all
other thought, ali other memory from INV
mind, save only that Of how loved him.