The morning call., 1890-11-10

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mustn't disappoint us, mind. Rory will
look upon you as reserved to accompany
her. Come on, Rory. Good-morning, Mrs.
Courtney. Four o'clock sharp, MIR. Blake;
don'tforget."
take any notice Of that woman or her red
Mrs. Waynp hustled off. aTally-ho, in
deed! You'd cut nice figure on four
story coach with that girl as ballast, would
you not?"
"Well. don't let me see you try it, that's
all. my dear young sir"
Every good. ma'am," and bearing this
| injunction in mind l mounted the coach that
afternoon while my godmother was taking
| her sieSta.
1t was rather jolly on the whole, although
Aurora was inclined to be insinuatve and
her mother rather impressive and en-
barrassing. We had rapid and rather noisy
twelve miles drive, alighting at an inn for
oven all be late at the hop" said
| Aurora. at doesn't matter much; better
effect. you know; we know all the people;
there are no new ones"
Except-a-who was it-came here yes
| terday? Miss May-and Mrs.-somebody P"
/ ventured.
had consulted the hotel register.
"Well, l declare! You don't mean you
| are going that way, toO?" cried Aurora,
noisily. = did think better of you! Mann
| ma, here's MIR. Blake raving over that Miss
May like all the rest of the men,"
mo, you are wrong. have only seen the
| lady once"
sand You were conquered on the spot, I'll
| be bound!'
''Do look SOP"
"No, but for my part think she's plain
looking, not bit of color or dash, and so
awfully sort of offish, you know. | like a
woman with plenty OF go in her. No doubt
you think she is beautiful, eh, Mr.. Blake?"
'I've had no opportunity to judge; she is
very pale"
"Of course she is entirely too pale! Any
thing but washed-out woman, l say"
something you will never be accused Of"
said l, to pour oil on the waters as we dis
| mounted at our hotel.
| found my godmother in state of high
| dudgeon, into which | entered with such
! spirit that she turned me cut. l flew for
my dress suit and entered the ballroom,
where Mrs. Wayup walked off with me
| before I'd seen more than the flashing lights.
| The rosy Aurora, in characteristic gown,
marshaled me through the lancers and flung
me into glide polka before | could ex-
postulate. As another partner claimed her,
| /, painting for breath, looked around. Could
| | be dreaming? Across the hall, in a chair
| of state, sat my godmother. / quickly made
my way to her. Her towering feathers
| Quivered ominously.
You didn't expect to see me, eh, young
| man ?" said she.
1.-The keenest pleasures are unexpected"
| | answered.
"As you were bound to make fool of
yourself, | wanted to see you Go it,"
Il am deeply grateful, and will strive to
do you credit"
Saucy puppy"
| produced my dance card.
MY dear godmother, may | not have the
| pleasure Of the next"
Go 'iong!' said godmother, furiously,
| and went
As looked on from the piazza at the dane
ers | recognized the little dark lady who ac-
companied my divinity into the dining-room.
| She was seated inside the room near the
| window at which l stood. She was here,
then! l eagerly scanned the crowd that
was promenading. Almost Immediately a
| couple passed in front of the window and
the object OF my thoughts said in a pecu-
larry low resonant voice:
Il will stay here now, please. May l have
chair by Iante?''
Certainly; allow me"
| Her escort went off, returning later with
| chair for my white goddess.
Thank you very much. Now 90 claim
| your dance: would rather watch the peo-
| Pile, really would
Without waiting to hear more, l made for
| the other door, meeting the xpartner face
to face. ] knew him TO be good-natured
| fellow, one of Rory's adorers.
stay, Alleyn; present me to Miss May,
will you. old boy?"
"By George, just the man! Come right
along. I'm engaged to Rory for this; wish
| | wasn't. Is she not divine! '-meaning not
| Rory, but Miss May, whom we approached.
ALLOW me, Miss May; my friend, Mr.
| Blake"
| had remarked that at our presentation
| faint color for an instant dyed the white
ness Of her face, but cycling us with a swift,
dirppt GLANCE she said smiling Lift lp.
Mr. Blake, let me present you to Mrs.
Magnanda."
i bowed.
The men who for an instant had made way
when | was prestn ted commenced again TO
chatter like maGpies.
"Will you permit me ?" / asked, holding
out my hand for her card
YES" she said. in the same self-pos-
sessed but constrained manner, as she
handed it 10 me.
l wrote my name by one of the two
dances left, then paused by the second-a
waltz.
MAY II"
She gave me quick, inquiring glance;
something there was in it, questioning or
otherwise, followed by one of relief, /
thought, as she said:
Eyes, you may have it."
fully admit that as | wrote my name l
experienced heretofore unknown sensa-
ton; exultant, joyful, wistlul, what?
This woman,ruled without speaking; her
power of expression was subtle and intense
1t was manifested in movement, a look, in
the very folds Of her pale green gown that
fell in soft lines behind her.
was content to look at her and let the
other men talk.
One came to claim his dance, and took
my stand by Mrs. Magnanda and tried to
make her talk: it was slow work. The
little woman had an odd. nervous hesitaucy
of manner. with strong foreign accent
IAN unusual couple altogether" thought
/. l gathered nothing to satisfy my curl
osity save that Miss May-Gertrude-ha
been on the Continent and did not know
many people here. l talked easily until
Miss May appeared.
Il am glad you took care Of Tante, Mr..
Blake" she said.
Mrs. Magnanda was good to me, as l was
not dancing" | answered.
mo; | always walk or sit through quite
a number, too. think It's the better plan;
then one doesn't work to play, you know"
Then the music commenced.
Il think this is NINE" | said.
She looked at her card
Yes, but-would you mind much-''
Not dancing it?"
"Yes."
met if you give me the time"
Surely it Is yours"
Then shall we leave the heat and crowd
for while ?'
II should like to-"
To be continued