Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-19


girl who has been sitting all the even
ng alone. She's stranger VIII you
be so awfully good TO take her down for
an ice or something?"
Despard looked around. He could
scarcely refuse request so coucneo'
but he was far from pleased.
''Where is she? Who is she?" he
asked, beginning languidly to show
signs Of moving.
"There-over by the window-that
girl in black" his friend replied. "Who
she is can't say. Her mother told me
her name was Fforde. Come along, and
I'll introduce you, that's good fellow.
Despard by this time had risen TO his
feet.
Upon my souI!" he calculated.
But Mr.. Leslie was ia too great q
hurry to notice the UNUSUAL emphasis
with which he spoke. -.
And In half second he found himseli
standing in front of the girl who, the
last time they met. had aroused In MIN
such unwonted emotions.
miss Fforde," murmured young
Leslie, "May introduced Mr.. Nor
reys?" and then Mr.. Leslie turned on
his heel and disappeared.
Despard stood there perfectly grave.
he would hazard no repulse; ne waited
for her.
She looked up, but there was no smile
on her face-only the calm self-compos-
edness which it seemed TO him he knew
so well. How was it so? Had he met
her before in some former existence?
Why did all about her seem at once
strange and yet familiar? he had never
experienced the like before.
These thoughts-scarcely thoughts IN
deed-hickered through his brain as he
looked at her. They served one purpose
at least, they prevented his feeling or
looking awkward; could such state OF
things have been conceived possible.
Seeing that he was not gong 10
speak, remembering, perhaps, that II ne
remem bered the last words she had
honored him with, he could scarcely be
able to do so, she at last opened her lips.
"That," she said quietly, slightly in
clining her head the direction where
young Leslie had Stood, was, under
the circumstances, unnecessary"
"He did not know" said Despard.
81 suppose not, though l don't know.
Perhaps you told him you had forgotten
my name"
No" he replied, II did not. 1t
would not have been true"
She smiled very slightly.
There is TO dancing tonight" she
said. "May l ASK" aud she hesi-
tated.
"Why ventnred to disturb you?" he
interrupted. 81 was requested to take
YOU down stairs for an ice, or whatever
you may prefer to that. The farce did
not originate with me, assure you"
800 you mean by that that you will
not take me downstairs?' she said, smil-
ing again as she got up from her seat.
81 should like an ice very much"
Despard bowed without speaking, and
offered her his arm.
But when he had piloted her through
the crowd, and she was standing quietly
with her ice, he broke the silence.
Miss Fforde," he began. "as the
fates have again forced me on your no
tice, l should like to ask you u ques-
ton"
She raised her eyes inqurlngly. No
he had not exaggerated their beauty.
81 should like TO know the meaning
OF the strange words you honored me
with as I was leaving Mrs. Eaglewood's
the other evening. / do not think you
have forgotten them
NO" she replied, 81 have not for
gotten them, and | meant them, and l
still mean them. But | will not talk
about them or explain anything said. ="
There was nothing the least hippant
in her tone-only quiet determination.
But Despard, watching keenly, saw that
her lips quivered a little as she spoke.
"As you choose" he said. "Of course,
in the face OF such very uncompromls-
ing refusal, / can say nothing more"
"Then shall we go upstairs again"
proposed Miss FfOrde.
Mr.. Norreys acquiesced. But he had
laid his plans, aud he was more diplo-
matte adversary than Miss Fforde was
prepared to cope with.
81 finished reading the book we were
Speaking of the other evening"" he be-
gan in a matter fact voice; Il mean
-" and he named the book. "At least,
I fancy it was you | was discussing II
with. The last volume falls off greatly"
"Oh. do you think SOP" said the girl in
a tone OF half indignant disappointment,
falling blindly into the trap. 81 on the
contrary, felt that the last volume made
amends for all that was unsatisfactory
in the Others. You see by it what he
was driving at all the time, and that the
persinage and apparent cynicism were
only means to an end. | do hate cynic-
isn't is so easy and such a little makes
a great effect"
Something in her tone made Despard
feel irritated. sis she hitting at me
again?" he thought. And the idea threw
him, IN his turn, off his guard.
The natural result was that both for
got themselves in the interest OF the
discussion. And Despard, when he, as
1t were, awoke 10 the realization OF this,
took care not 10 throw away the advan,
tage he had gained. He drew her out
he talked as be but seldom exerted him
self to do, and when at the end OF half
an hour or so an elderly lady, whom he
knew by name only, was seen approach
ing them, Miss Fforde sprang TO her
feet, exclaiming:
Have you been lookidg for me? l
hope not'-he smiled quietly as he pre-
pared TO withdraw-he had succeeded
fro BE CONTINUED.
A strange Freak.
rbo --;fa IF our esteemed citizen Mr.