The Globe-republican., 1891-12-17

through an intricate figure with Auberon
Crecy, her passionate, darkling glance
and heightened beauty betraying the tri-
umph OF the moment to her! and here
was Loveday, glancing in and out among
the dancers unattended, her wild and
brilliant graces fresh as ever, as If to
prove her oare-free independence of
AuberOn's smiles
Toward her Accrington wends his way
with melancholy sweetness, and, catch
ing her eye, without word wooes her to
him by the sheer force Of his dominant
gaze To see her struggle against him,
whirl past with defiant glance, circle
round the grassy mead, AID fit back, q
little nearer each revolution, lured by his
eyes-those deep, dark. mournful eyes
that seem to brood over grief and wrong,
and to plead for sympathv-tiil at last
she is close to him, laughing out a sir
very echo of the waltz! She sweeps him
the presentation courtesy" and comes
up to recover with fairy feet pointed,
and look Of petulant waywardness.
crying:
"Here am. Colonel: now speak quick
ly, for my turn comes next to dance"
Il did not summon you, Sprite." said
Accrington, very softly, and looking
deep into her appraised eyes, without q
smile.
"But-yes. you did! You"
Looked at you, that was ALL" MUIR
INJURED the gentle tones in her ear: but
perhaps mesmerized you little"
Perhaps he did!
She tried to look at him independent
ly, but could not endure, without emo
ton. the earnest beseeching of his gaze.
81 thought mamma had sent for me
1 saw you talking with her," said Love-
day, turning away, but slowly.
you will give me one waltz" asked
he, staying her in spite of herself.
She hesitated, glancing involuntarily
at Auberon with trace of anxiety,
which Accrington instantly OWNED as
the wish to avoid doing anything which
might not be to Auberon's taste.
1T is but little thing for careworn
man like me to ask from your buoyant
youth, that you should give me back five
minutes of Gy bygone days of happi
ness!" said he wiStfuly. "Shall you
dislike it so much?"
mo, no, no. no." faltered she, abash0d;
II shall waltz with you for my next
partner" And with that he let her 60
In few minutes Merton Rae was
disengaged, and Accrington seized the
opportunity.
"Her grace sent me to amuse you,
Queen OF Scots" he said, airily, leading
her for promenade.
Il am Quiescent," returned the lady.
absently; do your best"
"Fair queen, / beSeech your add"
H.Tic ynnrS Sir Colonel
Il love lady,"
@Eh bien! So do most men,"
"Alas, have rival.
Impossible. Who could rival Colonel
Accrington?"
Sweet demoiselle, you are pleased to
laugh at me; yet am in trouble"
"Did you not offer to amuse me?"
"True. Well. you may laugh, yet help
me, and l will be ontent."
81 help you, Is it poSsible?"
3Are you not as wise "a you are witty
as good as you are pretty? You GER
tainly can. if you will, do much to extri-
cate ne from dilemma"
"Ah, now | am dying to aid you, your
flattery is SO sweet. Only show me how
/ can be of use to you"
Suppose a cavalier, much like that
sunny tresSed Aurora like"
"Mlss Dellamere, for instance" inter-
posed Merton, laughing mischievously,
as he stopped and looked at her. ooh,
l have not been blind, dear Colonel, and
l wish you every success"
THANK you, Lady Merrion; now
shall tell you the obstacle. Suppose
this lady was half prom sed, by the par
70 -hn hor
(MerriOn started and changed color)-
ceeded Accrington, who had not lost
this sign of emotion. "for his whole heart
is evidently given to another. and that
"Ha! ha. ha! quite a Comedy of Err
rors, laughed Merton, defantly meet
ing his significant glance. though her
brilliant face glowed with rich bushes.
"And now, what part can 1 play in all
this? Or have you yet to come to that
point?"
sAnd that other" resumed Accrington,
boldly, "has only to accept Lis atien
tions for few days, during which she
may be endeavoring to teach her own
heart to respond to his Thus the first
named lady will feel herself free to love
me, and all will end we'll"
but by what caprice do you confide
all this to me?" demanded the high
spirited girl, who would rather have
persisted than permit any one to guess
the state of her heart toward Aubaron.
"Ah, well-perhaps only to amuse
you! Let US talk of something else,"
said the Colone!, carelessly. And quite
convinced that she understood all that
was necessary, he soon led her back to
her friends.
They danced together, Richard Ac-
crington and Loveday Dellamere.
He slid his nervous arm about her |
waist, his left hand clasped her finger |
tips delicately, firmly. They floated |
round among the others. light as shad-
ows ilickering, and upborne by the wild |
measure of a waltz-whirlwind. His |
warm breath on her brow. his dark |
eyes softly shining down upon her, his |
gentle strength supporting hers as if |
one will governed their motions A sim |
yular sensation gradually took posses
sion of Loveday, as if she was being
borne out Of herself, feeling as dreamy
and delicious as inexplicable Perceiv |
ing by the relaxing of her self-poise his |
growing power over her, Accrington