The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-12-04

know, Senator Weston, and his record
in re covered him with glory. He was
quite a lion in society, and after hover
ing around numerous lesser lights it is
said that he became seriously attached
to bright particular star who was not
quite SO easy to win. At any rate he
was rather melancholy individual
when he rejoined the regiment. but nu-
merous missives found their way be-
tween here and Washington, and he
gradually grew more cheerful. y
absence makes the heart grow
fonder.'
Exactly. Mr.. Prior, and last summer
he made a flying trip east, ostensibly
on business, and came back looking as
If his object, whatever it was, had been
attained. Since then the missives have
been more frequent than ever, and it is
said that a picture of a very beautiful
lady's face is concealed in that odd little
watch charm which he always wears
So you must admit, Mr.. Prior, that Miss
May Farwell doesn't stand much
chance"
st looks like it; and yet would adj
wise that bright particular star in the
east to look out for her satellite, for the
nearer star may have greater attrac-
ton"
"Ah! Mr.. Prior, you have forgotten
that fruit that falls into ones mouth is
never SO desirable. as"
Miss Farwell's partner felt fattered
at her look of relief when he joined
her and her hurried exclamation Of:
elbow long you were!'
He complimented her on her radiant
appearance at the close of the ball, not
suspecting that it was outraged pride
that made her cheeks red and her eyes
sparkle.
She was conscious only of so strong a
feeling of Indignation that WEAKNESS
and everything else was forgotten ex-
ccpt determination to show to the
world in general, and one couple in par
ticular, that she was not the unsophis-
ticated girl they imagined her to be. To
herself she Indignantly denied the sup
position that he had been flirting with
her, or that she was in love with him.
They were simply good friends, and he
might be engaged to half a dozen
ssbright particular stars" for all the diff
ference it would make to her except in
| her opinion of the man. She assured
herself that the detestable gossip she
had heard would not alter her opinion
or regard for him; but as she lay with
throbbing temples while the gray morn
| ing light was stealing into her room,
| she found that her opinion of the man
had considerably altered. She remem-
bercd the walk home with burning
sense of humiliation, his smile as they
stood in the porch and looked down at
her blushing face; he had tried to play
upon her feelings, she told herself, and
smiled to see how easily he could inhu-
ence her. Indignation at herself for
yielding so to his influence made her
more indignant at him.
She awolse after few hours of not
very refreshing sleep. The incidents of
| the previous evening seemed to have
| troubled her dreams and now came to
torment her the first moment of walk
ing, Life this morning seemed very
fat and improbable. She told herself
that this feeling of oppression was alto
4
sion, and clasping her fingers over her
eyes resolved to think the matter all
over calmly. and by SO doing convince
herself that there was nothing in it
worth being unhappy over, and then
Danish it from her thoughts entirely.
| She disposed Of the conversation she
had heard at the window without much
difficulty. She recalled that Mrs. Gray
was one of the ladies whom she had dis
liked from the first. She had perceived
her gossiping propcnsities at their first
meeting and had taken no pains TO cul-
tivate her acquaintance. AS for the
gentleman with her, she had danced
with him once and should not have re-
membered him again but for the Incl
dent at the window. Then what pos
sible difference, she asked herself, did
their opinion of her make; and, she de-
cided that It was not worth remember
ing. The other incident of the evening,
| the walk home, it took her longer to
dispose of, and calmly as she tried to
think of it, she felt her checks burning.
She was quite honest with herself, and
owned that in remembering it lay the
greatest sting, and s'why should it?''
she asked. lie was not the only officer
who had been sentimental, (she felt
that tssentimental' was not the righ4
word, but could not think of a better
one), not the only one who was ru-
mored to be engaged, and had tried to
! get np q filtration, and why should his
behavior trouble her more than the
rest?
bered that her own behavior in this
case troubled her q good deal. She
could excuse it TO herself by saying that
she was nervous and upset, but she
could not excuse it to him, and the
memory of his triumphant smile and
| the words: ''He is not above flirting
with the nnsophisticated young ladies
who fall victims to his charms" made
her forget her resolution to think the
matter over calmly. She would feel
better, she told herself, when she had
shown him that she was not ..yic.
tim" In the meantime she would re-
cover from her disappointment in dis
covering what his real nature was and
should remember in the future that
''heroes in battle might have contempt
ible weaknesses in times of peace" She
lay very still for 2 few minutes, feeling,
rather than thinking, from what pedes-
tai her hero had fallen; for she, too,
had heard of his record in rs, and adj
miring him for that, had been quick to
attribute to him every other praise
| worthy quality. She had heard hints