The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-26

| Clifford contented himself with few re
marks, bat seemed unable to take his
eyes from Eugenie's face. Maisie did
all the talking. The call was brief, and
when at last the little woman looked il
the glass over the mantel to settle rose
colored bonnet and adjust fussy LITTLE
green plush wrap, all hobs and fringe:
and golden clasps, her eyes had wistful
look that was unusual to them.
"How lovely you look in that white
dress with not a single ornament!" she
said to Eugene. s'It would neva do fol
me. Unjust have bwightness. But taste
is a great compensation for beauty,
Taste have. Don't you like my bon
metz"
ut is just the color of wild rose,
said Eugenie, and Maisie, quite content,
seized Roy's arm and skipped away; but
while she had been prinking at the glass
this same Roy had looked into Eugenie's
eyes and said in voice too low to be
heard across the room, MAY come
again, Miss Ashton p and she had an
swered, whenever Miss Maisie likes to
bring you, in tone that was scarcely
civil.
AS Maisie walked homeWard, Roy
stalking silently beside her, she herself
for once was silent For the first time
since Mr.. Bunny had brought this sweet
heart home to her she was unhappy. He
had looked at Eugenie as he had never
looked at her. What he had said to her
as they stood apart she did not know,
but there was glow on his cheek and a
flash in his eye that she had never seen
there before. She olasped her hands over
his arm, hoping he would place his upon
them. He didsnothing of the sort, though
Maisie had lovely little hands, in very
pretty gloves. Maisie would have for
given him had he stolen kiss in the
shadow of the church they were passing,
or walked with his arm about her waist,
as did the lovers of the housemaids in
white aprons whom they met. Her whole
soul craved morsel of tenderness, but
he did not offer one. At the door, though
Mr.. Bunny called over the balcony,
"Come hup, Clifford; were not abed yet, .
Roy replied, Thanks, not tonight" and
took his leave. Maisie sighed as hespoke.
In his place how gladly would she haye
availed herself Of the opportunity to
lnger.
For the first time in her life Maisie
laid awake and wet the pillow with her
tears. She was filed with sad presenti-
ments; suddenly awakened to the fact
that she was deformed and no longer even
young. Hitherto, despite all her chatter,
she had believed that she had charm of
manner and taste in'costume thatcom-
pensated for everything else. Oh, the
bitter, bitter hours The Maisie that
awoke after troubled mornings sleep
was scarcely the same Maisie whose in
nocent vanity made her see everything
about her through rosy glasses, and
though she tried to believe that all was
well she could not. Her misery grew
greater as days passed and Clifford did
restlessly, listening to Mr.. Bunny's words
intently, hoping to hear him speak of
Roy. He never mentioned his name, but
there had been talk Maisie did not know
of.
One night after they had retired Mrs.
Bunny prodded Mr. B. with her elbow.
Asleep, lover she said
mo, and not likely to be SO long as
you keep poking at me, missus," said
Bunny.
sThats the crossest word hever you
said to me, Richard Bunny" said the
lady.
'.Aye, missus, I'm vexed, said Bunny.
Sand 1 believe it is the same thing
I'm vexed over" said Mrs. Bunny.
What spoke for was to ask you about
this Roy Clifford. Why does he stop
away like this? Maisie is upset by it, I
can see that"
Perhaps they've had tiff,1 said
Bunny.
Indeed no." replied Mrs Bunny.
Now you know that our poor little
Maisie IS plain and will get no prettier.
If anything is to come of this sweet'art-
ing it ought to come soon. You should
settle it, Bunny, for the girls sake, else
we've done 'er arm and no good. She
was content enough in the days when
she earned 'er bread"
"Ah, / doubt we've been two fools not
to stop with giving 'er what we could
take from our pockets. Lovers are bad
goods to 'andle," said Bunny. "rm
going to speak to Roy Clifford; and
though there was time when is father,
boy like myself then, gave me my
passage to America and ten pound to
boot, and SO started me in life, and /
looked upto i'm as If ed been the Prince
of Wales, no less, why l could buy and
sell the old family today, and when l
speak III speak plain, mind you. Only
if tits tiff, why it's you can see to it
best, and it's not likely Ell get more
money with another girl than wen give
i'm with Maisie.'
81 wish it was like that. said Mrs.
Bunny, ''but / doubt your young man
is looking for more beauty than we can
give him with our Maisie, old gentle
man"
CHAPTER III
~