Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-22

added, innocently,, coming to the res
cue.
The minister only)smiled at the per-
sistent badinage of the youth; the wife
of another great man-herself a bril-
liant musician-approached the piano,
surrounded by an admiring group, and
Us the secretary joined it Bessie West
chester slipped her arm into her cous-
ms and passed into the deep bay win
dow.
Anything more?" she asked, eager
1y, as the shadow of heavy curtains
yelled them from the buzzing throng
without.
Eyes; everything is ready" the boy
answered low. Carroll Meredith got
back from Prince Georges this evening.
Old Pete recrossed last night; the river
is clear, and.I am going down ducbing at
two o'clock in the morning"
ST am so gladr' the girl murmured,
feelingly- "She is SO wretched at the
delay"
There is nomoon; and no picket, that
know Of" Mckee went on. "StiI,
thought it safer<to get passes for myself
and boy 1 had that dapper Yankee,
Maj. Bond, for Isupper, to get them
That is the reason was late"
''You dear, good boy!" The girl held
out her hand warmly. "But what a risk
for your
The clear face of therboy grew grave,
but he retained the little hand gently,
as he answered, with earnestness:
"Risk for me! Bess, you forget the
grave peril for her. You forget, too,
that would risk something really Sc
rious-ten times this-for your His
held.
Her face was turned Saway, and she
withdrew her hand-bnt very gently
as she answered, in n half sigh:
flush, Willie. We are not speaking
of that now. But do thank you, with
all my heart. Tell me,"-she inter
rupted herself suddenGy,-''was mamma
really talking seriously with Peyton
Fitzhugh?"
Seemingly in deep earnest" Mckee
answered. Coming suddenly on Miss
Nina and me, she stopped, but not be-
fore had heard her say: But you are
Virginian; your place is there!' and had
caught his reply: Perhaps; but moth
ing is doing this weather. 1 may go
across, and Then he caught sight of
us and stopped to shake hands with me"
you're welcomer' the gir3 said, wit tn
n toss of her head. ST am glad he did
not, with me! 1 mistrust that man,
Willie. His name and race should make
him southern soldier; yet he stayed
| abroad long, and now dawdles about
| Washington and Baltimore as society
| man. while his brothers are sleeping in
snow and eating mule ulesh!'
''Well, scarcely that bad" the youth
retorted, with smile. ga letter old
Pete brought Carroll from Gilmore
Howard is full of muffin worries and
starvation dances in Richmond Lord!
1 nearly forgot! This is for her; the run
ner said it was for your mother; but /
could not catch her alone.' He drew a
tiny folded slip from his pocket, glanc-
ing warily out to see if ,prying eyes
noted its transfer to Miss Bessie's fair
hand and its quicker disappearance in
her bosom.
81 don't like Fitzhugh's course, my
self" he went on; land 1 hope your
mothers lecture may wake him up"
Not if his own self-respect sleeps
the girl retorted, bitterly. HE doesn't
look like bastard in war;
Nor laggard in love, neitherA if I
can judge a man." Mckee urged. "a
face like his must have the soul, of G
man behind it. Then he's SO tlately
from Europe"
Three MONTHS" she broke in Scam
paigns are planned and won in less
time! 1t had been more graceful tx
stay abroad than to return only tt
lounge about union clubs and. toady
Yankee officials"
Perhaps he came here tonight OF
their account" Mckee answered, will
one of his quizzical lifts of his eye
brows. But wasn't he soft on he
once? 1t seems to me that at Capon
her first summer out"
A quick, warning gesture cut off hi
speech and wheeled him to the light, a
Mrs. Gray approached, leaning on Fitz
r hugh's arm.
t The latter's quick eye rested but al
: instant on the young man, flashed bacl
to the girl, and then his face-raise'
s from the low bow-was as vacuous a
h the average beau's when he said:
q ut is so long since we met, Mis-
n Bessie, that told your mother, thoug1
), l leave on the midnight train for Wash
t ington, that 1 must stop to felicitat
+ you on times perfected process of chang
e ing the little girl into the woman"
He extended his ungloved hand; an
e the girl, putting her own into it with a
IS much of frost as her sunny nature coul
is condense, noticed, woman-like, hoy
- brown and firm it was.
"You We're too good" she answered
g quietly. And perhaps, in times name
S l should thank you for the implie
l. compliment to him.
r, "Indubitably, nor the Virginian e1
claimed, courteously. st was but h
y bounden duty; and, sometimes littl
y slow, time ever fuldlls that
ID "You compliment him again, "'she r
IS piled, more colby. $50 few do the
g 'bounden duty nowadays"
"I have asked Mr.. Fitzhugh to joi
Il our little party to Philadelphia fc
+ Faust" Miss Nina broke in, joining tt
group.
N sI hone he will" Mckee said. con