Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-31

dance, and had looked forward to it as to a
dream of delight; and yet now the evening
was more than half over, and / had not en-
joyed myself at all.
felt that there must be black ingratitude
somewhere or other to account for this state
of things.
All around me I could hear the buzz,
chatter and inane remarks of the wallflowers
and partnerless demoiselIes.
"Sueh a delightful ballp' '"What a
charmingly pretty scenep' "a most pleasant
evening-quite success" etc.; and I had
the consolation of knowing that these ex-
pressions were just as bitter meckery to
them as they were to me.
Some people were enjoying it, no doubt.
Miss Marsac, for instance, and that idiotic
young coxcomb with whom she was gliding
so gracefully around the room.
1 stood with my back against the wall,
gloomlly watching them, and giving myself
up to the bitterest reflections.
At that moment not understanding
tenant in the whole of that wretched country
felt more desperate and hardly used than 1.
For why? had not danced once with Eva
Marsac, and now the precious moments were
fast slipping away and 1 should have to go.
AT last the never ending din of the fddles
ceased, and the lovely Eva, in obedience to
a telegraphic summons from the ever watch
full maternal eye, gravitated to her place be-
side Lady Marsac, who sat in the front rank
of the dowagers, monument of Volumin-
Gus matronhood.
AT that moment I perceived Tom Coventry,
my chosen friend and ally and the only SON
of the house, in the act of putting up pla-
card roughly inscribed with the mystic
words, "Supper extra"
Here was my chance. rushed up to Miss
Marsac, and was in time to secure her for
the dance, just as Tom was bearing down
upon her. l saw his disappointed face as
he turned away, but had no sympathy to
spare for him, for was full of triumph, and
L recollect 1 was inspired to make some
witty remark about the knight of the rueful
countenance. The band struck up with the
last new waltz, and to the strain of that de-
licious melody 1 lost myself for a brief
space in dream of perfect happiness.
1t was over too soon. Eva said she was
tired.
''Tiredp' 1 whispered with tender re-
proach as we quilted the heated air of the
ballroom for the cool of the conservatory.
"Why, could dance forever with you with
out feeling tiredP'
She said nothing, but thought could
detect deeper flush on her fair face, and
augured well from her silence.
The conservatory doors were open, and we
passed out into the balmy summer night
The moon was shining peacefully over the
quiet park, and the spreading trees flung
deep shadows on the smooth bright lawn,
which sloped gradually down to the edge of
a dark lake.
From within came the echoes of the sweet
waltz refrain and the distant sound of dane.
ing feet and the murmur of many voices.
nnt do uyha cto in all .,
intense stiffness reigned, not a ripple dis
turbed the surface OF the cleaning water,
not a breath of wind stirred the glistening
leaves OF the evergreens. All was wrapped
in the solemn hush of nature. Naturally of
a poetic tenn permanent, l am sensitive to ex-
ternal influences, and 1 felt that this was an
not to be lost. In few
passionate sentences 1 poured out all the
love and devotion that lay pent up within
me, and / listened breathlessly for my dar-
ling's reply.
She looked more bewitching than ever as
she turned her face away and huttered the
feathers of her fan in pretty confusion.
"Ob, Mr. Robinsonp' she said, coyly;
''you cannot mean all thatl You will soon
forget me in the excitement of the war. You
see you are so very young"
1 confess that this allusion to my youth |
me, particularly as 1 happen to be
sensitive on that point; and 1 |
harbored lurking suspicion that Miss |
Marsac was aware of the fact. But put |
that aside as an idle fancy, and hastened to
assure her of my undying eonstancy.
AS for the warl1ke scenes of which she |
spoke, l added, should it be my fate to |
survive the perils of the campaign, L would |
prove my devotion to her by the ardor with
which wonld WOO honor and renown for |
ler sweet sake
She did not seem so much affected as
could have wished at the mention of the
hangers Of my profession, but she encouraged
ne to go in for honor and renown. and she
night have said something more salts
'actory; but at this mos. critical moment
Tom Coventry burst upon us in his usual
and tactless fashion. Though
le was my friend, L must say that 1 found
lis meddling and interfering ways very try
ng sometimes He seemed in great state
,f perturbation about something or other.
"oh. here you are, Jack, !" he exclaimed.