Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-26
THAT GIRL IN BLACK.
BY MRS WORDSWORTH
BY MRS. WORDSWORTH.
IcoNrINUEDl

I
/ she turned and saw him.
Her first glance was OF annoyance; ne
/ saw her clearly from where he stood;
there was no installing the fact. But,
so quickly that II was difficult to be-
iieve it had been there, the expression
OF vexation passed. The sharply con-
/ tracted brows smoothed, the graceful
head bent slightly forward, the lips
parted.
"How do you DO, Mr.. Norreys?" she
said. I'VE are always running against
each other Unexpectedly, are we not?"
Her tone was perfectly natural, her
manner expressed simple pleasure and
qualification. She was again the third,
I the rarest OF her three selyes-the per-
sonality which Despard, in his heart of
hearts, believed TO be herself.
He smiled-a slightly amused, almost
slightly condescending smile, but a
very pleasant one all the same. He
could afford to be pleasant now. Poor
silly little girl-she had given in with a
good grace, truce TO her nonsense Of
regal airs and dignity; truce, too, TO the
timid self-consciousness Of her first in
PRODUCTION.
''She understands better now, see,
he thought. Understand that little
country girl is but, alb, well, but little
country girl. Still, must allow and
he hesitated as his glance fell on her; it
was the first day he had seen her by
daylight, and the words he had mentally
used did not quite "it"-'I must allow
that she has brains, and some character
of her own"
81 can imagine it seems so to you"
he said aloud. "You have, think you
told me lived always in the country. OF
course, in the country ones acQuaint-
ances stand out distinctly, and one re-
members every day whom one has and
has not seen. In town it is quite differ
ent. I find myself constantly forget
ting people, aud doing all sorts Of
stupid things, imagining l have seen
some one last week when IL was six
weeks ago and so on. But people are
really very good natured"
She listened attentively.
How difficult it must be to remem-
Der all the people you know" she said,
with the greatest apparent simplicity;
indeed. with a tone Of almost awe-struck
reverence.
u simply don't attempt it" he re-
piled.
"How-dear me, I hardly know how
to say it-how very good and kind Of
you il is tC remember me-" she said.
Mr.. Norreys glanced at her sharply.
Was she playing him off? For an in
slant the appalling suggestion all but
took his breath away, but il was quickly
dismissed. Its utter abSurdity was too
self-evident; and the expression on her
face treasured him. She seemed so in
nocent as she stood there, her eyes hid
den for the moment by their we'll
fringed lids, for she was looking down.
A faint, the very faintest, suspicion
of a blush cOlored her cheeks, there was
a tiny little trembling about the corners
of her mouth. But somehow these
small evidences Of confusion did not ir-
rltate him as they had done when he
first met her. On the contrary, Poor
little girl" he said to himself. Il see L
must be careful. Still, she will live to
get over it, and one cannot be positively
brutal"
For an instant or two he did not
speak.
Then: 81 never pay compliments,
Miss Ford" ne said. "but what am 60
ing to say may sound 10 you like one.
However, trust you will not dislike it. p"
Again he unaccountably hestated-
what was the matter with him. He
meant to be kindly encouraging to the
girl, but as she stood beside him, look
ing uD with a half-curiOus, half-depre-
eating expression ia her eyes, he was
conscious OF mis- face slightly flushing;
the words he wanted refused TO come,
be felt as II he were bewitched.
Wont you tell me what you were go
| ing to say?" she said at last. ~ should
| like 10 hear it"
ITS not worth saying" he olurted
out. Indeed, though l know what /
mean, I cannot express it. You-you
are quite different from other girls,
Miss For. 1t would be impossible to
confuse you with the crowd. That's
about the sum Of what was thinking,
| thought meant to express it differ
entity. Certainly, in the way have said
il, no one by any possibility could take
il for a compliment"
To his surprise she looked up at him
with q bright smile, smile OF pleasure,
and-Of something else.
ION the contrary, do take II as a
compliment, as a very distinct compli-
ment," she said, considering who it
comes from. Though, after all, 1t is
scarcely / that should accept it. The
the circumstances of my life may have
made me differenJ-my having been so
little q town, for instance. l suppose
there is some advantages In everything,
even in apparent disadvantages"
Her extreme gentleneSs and Difference
put him at his ease again.
"Oh, certainly" he said. For my
part, I often wish had never been any
where or seen anything! Lille would,
in such a case. seem so much more in
teresting. There would be still things
left to dream about"
He sighed, and there was something
genuine in his sigh. Il envy people
who have never travelled, sometimes" "
he added.
Have you travelled much?" she
asked.
"Oh, dear, yes-been everywhere
the usual round.
But the usual round is just what
with me counts for nothing" she said
sharply. Real travelling means living
In other countries, leading the life OF
the people, not rushing round the capt.
tails OF Europe from one cosmopolitan
hotel 10 another"
He smiled a superior smile. when
YOU have rushed round the capitals of
Europe you may give an opinion" his
smile seemed TO sag:
THAT sort Of thing is impossible, eX-
cept for bohemians." he said languidly.
II detest talking about travels.
DO you really?" she said, with a
worry distinct accent OF cOntcmpt. "Then