Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24

ttA'A an AtfIN a&t4 iNJt tttktN NM
then a sweet. gentle look In the thought
full brown eye
To me that placid maiden was a lovely
picture-the little ocean Of undulating
brown hair that fell In merry wsvelets
from the forehead, the gentle brown
eyes. set in that dawn-tinted face. the
retrousse nose that was both coquet-
fish and impudent, and above all. the
little mouth that smiled one moment and
seemed inclined TO pout the next.
Once a slender white hand almost touch
ed my hair as IL moved aimlessly about,
and then IT went back to fits thin COM
panion. What pretty little hands they
were. and how they trembled at tines!
They were hands that would have been
useless for drudgery. and yet any man
would have shaved for them. There was
something bewitchingly fragile and de-
pendent about them. They were the kind
OF hands that can place themselves in
a larger pair and, by their very weakness,
inspire the larger pair to strength.
Such was Josephine as she sat there
clothed in her gown OF snowy white.
She unused and I unused. while ever and
anon a peal Of laughter from the dining
room told us both that the Colonel's
egg-nogg was fully coming up to ex-
pectations, and that, like some self
made men. It was making itself felt
in the world.
Despite the simplicity OF my Christmas,
and despite ~Josephine's indifference, j was
happy, and would have continued so but
for subsequent events.
Just as the clock was about TO strike
Q, one OF the fragile little hands hid Itself
beneath the roses for n moment, and the
next minute It emerged with a note. di-
rected 10 Miss Symington' in big. mascu-
IL. -. AA..l I--a,htnA fauA tho
words. II shall call at g." and then /
saw her blush again, and then a tear
spanked in one of her eyes. At n a
moment the doOr-bell rang. and there was
n wild scramble to conceal the note, ana
for want Of a better h~iding-place the
poor little missive finally landed in the
fire. A second later the parlor door
opened, and a tall, manly young fellow
stood on the threshold. He looked RI
diculously embarrassed. In one hand he
carried his silk hat and In the other ne
bore his cane and gloves. Being thus
encountered he had TO let go something
when Josephine greeted him, and so he
sacrificed his hat.
Good evening, Mr.. Argyle said my
adored. with freezing dignity.
Good evening Josie-Miss Symington,
replied the handsome stranger, unbutton-
ing the overcoat, which, in his confusion,
he had forgotten 10 remove In the hall.
Then they took seats. Josie resumed
her scat in the chair by my side, and
as / still occupied the other, Mr.. Argyle
was forced to isolate himself on a SOFA
which was at/least two yards distant
from The vision in White. The young
man glared fiercely at me from his po-
sltlon. and | could see that he envied me
my seat, but / had no idea OF yielding
il. | am courtesy itself on ordinary oc-
c%asions, but this upstart was despicable
to me. When he entered the room he
had not so much as bowed to me. al
though we had met before.
There was a painful pause. during when
none of us spoke. Mr. Argyle from
sheer rage at me, plucked the petals from
the big chrysanthemum that adorned his
coat. and once in a while he cast a
tender glance at Josie. He was a hand
some fellow, and / despised him for II.
The sweet hostess. like all Of her sex.
utterly forgot tina we had not greeted
each other. and 1 don't suppose the idea
OF introducing us ever crossed her mind.
And so / sat still and said nothing.
After the bushes, the embarrassment,
and the rage had subsidized on all sides,
Mr.. Argyle remarked: Miss Symington.
did you know that 1t has been a year
since we met beforeY'
FHeaUN. i nave HtNFi lighhhN oeSNN
It," replied Miss Symington. coldly. q
could SEQ that she was telling a story,
for she blushed at the f~alsehood.)
I said nothing, and still sat unmoyed
in my chair.
go YOU have forgotten everything In
ono short wear. JosIe?" pltifully respond
ed the destroyer OF the chrysanthemum.
THE year has been a short one to
you. then" replied our hoGtess. with Il
slight tremor In her voice. and the roses
on her bosom became agltated.
"Oh! | didn't mean th~at"-hastily ex.
claimed the young man, II meant-Oh!
confound 1t. ] don't know what / meant.
Don't be so merciless, dear"
"You will please address me as Miss
Symlngton," frigidly replied the daughter
OF the Colonel, and l could see icicles
forming on the mantelpiece.
Somehow / had a vague suspicion that
A. was time for me TO leave, but neither
OF the couple appeared TO notice me, and
then-Argyle was too anxious FOR my
chair. And so there / sat and awaited
developments.
"Josie." continued my hated rival, ig-
noring tie fact that Miss Symington had
forbidden familiarltles in the vocative
case. "Josie, dear. ] cannot let the year
20 by without seeing you; without one
kind word from your lips-without some
hope for the future"
1 ought TO have slipped out then. but
/ didn't, for l wanted to hear Josle's
answer.
IAN of your wishes have been granted"
replied the maid. in a slightly coquettish
voice.
oYou now see me, and I speak kindly
TO you. AS for hopes Of the future, that
upon yourself. Every man Is the
architect of his own fortunes'-yours are
in your " hands"
An unexpected-a horrible. a frighttul
thing followed these words.
Almost before / realized what jose
phine had said, I felt n fearful blow
across my face, and as l fell headlong
from my seal, / heard these words: You
darned old whiskered scoundrel, get out
OF tina chair"
In a sudden burst OF passion Argyle
seized the sofa-cushion and hurled
q at me with fearful force. For a mo-
ment | was stunned by the blow. and as
| rose. quivering with rage, | saw that
no had captured my chair. My first I'M
nulse was to tear the insolent
10 pieces. but. as ] beheld the shocked
expression on Josie's face, l aimed my
self. and determined TO bide my time.
In nv heart l resolved that this man
never live 10 see another day.
But i loved JOSIE. anu lot htf sdhV 4
my bitter resentment.
"Jack-Atr. Argyle, l mean" scftly
aid the angel IN white, your hIsua2e
that you forget you are In 4
lady's presence
That one word Jack hurt me moro
han the blow-more than any blow /
ever received. AMI not a single
expression OF sympathy did she give me-
Inc companion OF her youth, her brother.
in all ave ihe love l have foI
her.
"a thousand pardons. darling said
he handsome young man, for his ears
mad also caught that word Jack" and
his tones had changed from wrath to
tenderness.
"But you must near me- continued
Argyle, "anh once / have spoken, 1t
shall be forever"
CThat's what they all say, though they
generally drop around the next night,
md stay till the old man runs them of
With a shotgun. or something worse.)
The roses were trembling violently now.
nd the big chrysanthemum seemed
for them, when Jack began:
..Josie, one year & tonight. with my
,yn ears, / learned the falslty OF wo-
YOU, whom / loved better h
III else on earth. Months have dragged
,y 0he rascal took pains to emphasize
he word 'dragged). but time has not
my affection, and 1 feel that
cannot give o up. Tell me hat you