Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-02

without givfne maderaoisGha chanca Of second consia ton, both sifitr1z duced the young Erenchman to Nellie and Arthur Dunbar.
 As the two men met face to face, Kate could not but mark tho contrast. 1 It was like the chance encounter of two dogs-say Cesar and some little toy terrier-the one careless and digni- fed; the other full of fun and grimace.
 Yet, for all that, Leon d'Estrevi1le was a very handsome young fellow, with his delicate features and large, luminous dark eyes, if he had only gone to Regent street for tailor instead of to Shoreditch.
 "Now," mademoiselle chirped, pleas antly, ''you can enjoy four-handed game. Leon, ask Miss Grahame to be your partner, and see if you cannot be match for Miss Barlow and her young friend"
 She emphasized the s'her'' so as to in- sinuate that MT. Dunbar must not con- slider himself as one of the parlor party.
 do not believe that there ever was game of croquet played where so much small feeling was exhibited as on this occasion, chiefly caused, am sorry to say, by the reprehensible conduct of Arthur Dunbar, who would strike Leon's ball so viciously when the op- portunity offered and make such a dis graceful null of his attempts to cro- quet Miss Grahame's, and did laugh so hilariously when the young French man in trying to reta1iate crashed the mallet down on his own shin, that even Kate was annoyed with him, and Nellie could have wept for vexation.
 But now the dinner bell; and Kate Grahame had to endure the humi1ia- ton of seeing the party separate, with out mademoiselle making the slightest sign of conciliation.
 This slight of one who had done her such service cut the sensitive girl to the quick, so creeping to the governess' side she whispered:
 May ask Nellie and MT. Dunbar to ! dine with us?"
 Mademoiselle Campignon was petri- fed at her audacity.
 Kate Grahame," she demanded, "have you taken leave of your senses? have suffered anguish at your conduct during the past twenty-four hours. To think that a young lady, who has en- joyed the careful training that you have, should condescend to pick up 8 promiscuous acquaintance with 8 total stranger, an American, too, who may be petty tradesman's son for all you know to the contrary, is enough to make one's hair stand on end with hor- TOT. What do you suppose Miss Balder- stone would say to such conduct? am sure it would nearly break her heart. !" "But he has the manners of a gentle man," Kate faltered.
 "So has my hair-dresser. Yet you would not have me ask him to dinner. would you?''
 Thus the storm swept over the poor girl, and she could only bend her head like the tender sapling and let 1t pass by. 'Mr. Dunbar leaves here on Monday, and perhaps we shall never see him again." she said, ruefully, "and I only wished to show him some attention for the great service he rendered me-"
 ''The great servicel He pulled 8 ! puppy-dog out of the river, and you make as much fuss about it, as if he had saved your life"
 "Oh, mademoiselleI'
 But here Leon, who had been walk ing in advance, came with much taste to the rescue.
 "What church is that, whose spire I ! see in the distance over the trees?" he asked.
 Mademoisclle waited for Kate to re- spond, but as she was silent, answered;
 "Sunbury, very pretty village about a mile from us. After dinner, I am sure Miss Grahame will be happy to show you the place. She is famous walker, and"
 But Kate was not to be disposed of iu | this off-hand manner,
 ''I shall spend the afternoon in writ ing to Miss Balderstone, and shall be denied the pleasure of accompanying you sir. Besides, your aunt has just been reading me 8 homily on the inn propriety of cultivating the acquaint7 ance of strangers"
 It was very saucy thing for the young lady to say, but she was at bay now, and, sweet as her disposition naturally was, I do not mean to main tain that she was a paragon of womanT ly perfection.
 A glance flashed between aunt and nephew-a glance which said as plain as words on one part: ''You have gone too far" and on the other: ''I know it, , and the young Frenchman frankly ex' plained:
 My aunt forgets that she is not ir France, where they shut. up young ladies in glass cases until they are old enough to be married. Let me propose a modification of her suggestion-sup pose we make up party, ourselves ana our two late opponents. What do yor say, Miss Grahame?"
 Kate looked inquiringly at her gover ness.
 ''Oh. go, my dear child. if you wisf to do so. There is no resisting Leon."
 Kate felt grateful to the gentleman for getting her out of what she felt wal bad scrape, for she dreaded doing anything unmaidenly, and shranls frou any act that might be construed by Ar thur Dunbar into a slight.
 She wished that that inconvenient gentleman had departed from Will l