The morning call., 1891-08-29

piled, in a low contrslto, turning away her
eyes. my cousin would have enjoyed it
more than II
/ seemed to see my way clearly.
"Ah! that is the difference in tempera-
ments," l exclaimed. And with that l be-
gan to talk, in the most casual, airy manner
in the world, of Ludovick, OF myself, OF
other fellow-artists. We were all unlike,
said. was the most peaceful, easy-Soing
fellow Imaginable; Reed Flagg also. One
could never tell from appearances. There
was Ludovick. He looked mild enough.
surelyI Yet one would hardly believe
what Bohemian he was. Those quiet fel-
lows were very deceptive.
l continued. l embroidered gracefully,
lightly. the suggestion of a gay Lothario. of
Don Juan sub rosa. about the unconscious
person Of our friend Ludovick. | made no
precise statements, as you may imagine.
said nothing which could shock the decorum
of even a rich spinster with a taste for the
warmer. more picturesque sides of life. But
| paused half an hour later feeling that l
had, with the most delicate innuendo ac-
complShed a chef d'9uvre. Poor LudovIck!
He would not have known himself in the
imaginative sembance | had drawn of him
in this apparently modest ana retiring
young artist who had broken more than one
heart and whose adventures had not been
without spice and SAVIOR and picturesque
pungency.
All TINS time, so pleased was l with my
but little Carried away with the fire of
improvisation, had forgotten to take notes
of the manner in which my disclosures were
being received. When, finally, did bring
my glance attentively to bear upon Miss
Verveyn, vague feeling of surprise and
almost alarm aSsailed me. She was much
paler than before l had begun speaking
and her lips were pinched. She held her
head partly turned from me. A moment
afterward she rose.
" You are not thinking nf leaving thiS
festive S"ene?" | exclaimed.
She made no answer She passed me
almost as though she did not see Inc.
A little later came upon Ludovick. He
was white and tiustered.
"Where is Miss Verveyn? cannot find
her"
why. l believe she is gone" 1 said.
Gone? She promised to let me take her
And he, too, disappeared from the picnic
After that had no desire to remain, and 1
likewise left.
Thus did 1 come to elaborate the most
artistic bit of fiction l have ever devised in
my life.
But. alas! The end was not yet
Three days later Ludovick came to me.
haggard, tired, with hair wilder than ever
before! In his hand was an open letter. He
almost threw 1t at ME. took it and read
WI" q" eIo"Ius CuAu uoWu my NerteuId.
My dear Mr.. LudOUick My. cousin has In
trusted TO me the answering of your letter. ASH
am frank woman shall so straight 10 the mar
row OF the matter / think il very probable that
she might lave accepted your proposal for her
maud, say, four days ago My cousin has always
had an ideal. She wished to marry, If at all,
man who had kept himself In all things IN
spotted from the world she thought she had
found ms rara avis In you You have TO thank
your friend, Mr.. - Il think his name IS for en-
tightening her mind as TO the exact state OF mat
ters. 1t seems, my dear Ludovick, that you have
been BIT gay. AS Tor me. l assure you that l
Ike you all The better for the n-ws. Don't b.
offended, but really did not think you capable
OF being so-aliye. However it's not TO me you
proposed but 10 my younger cousin. l have al
ways been a romantic Old woman. To every one
his fad. Aurora is different. l am sorry, but
you need make no appeal. She wont have you
now. Goodby. We leave tonight.
l.. NERvEYN.
Ludovick's flame had been the wrong
one."-EyELYN THORPE, in n. Y. Mercury.