The National tribune., 1893-12-21

| Nonsense halloa! nothing OF the sort.
Come upstairs: I'll introduce you. warn
| you, though, you won't care much about her.
| And whv not?"
"She's not your sort. She'll talk and she'll
| langh aud She'll dance. that's all"
And why won't | care about her, If she
| does all that?"
my good fellow, we all know you:" and.
| taking his friend coufdentialiy by the arm,
he SAID importantly: she won't kiss you.
/ She's perfect Icehcrg; you don't believe me;
| try for yourself I've known her ever since
she's been out. Ask anybody: you'll hear the
same thing-charmm'. but. ] repeat an ice
berg" And Leigh shrugged his shoglde,s.
Kay looked mp The wide staircase once more
at the pretty girl standing in the doorway of
the bal room. her simple long yellow gown
curling grace ully round her as the movement
Of the vaiSe had left it.
She had evidentIy been dancing quickly
and lef, off suddenly. for she steadyiDg
herself against pillar. and the large yellow
rus.-s HBd The ribbons in the bosom of her gown
betrayed her bresi ihessnesS. She was not beau
! a. ul hut there was a charm about her that
WAS very attractive aud made her conspicuous
I even in that ttrong. Lady Adelaide SkilwelPs
/ balls we're always well attended. for she had
all the prettiest women IN the County, good
music, al excellent door. aud she herself al
WAYS received with genuine eOrdiality. She
asked her friends for the pleasure it gave her
to see them. and not, is very usual, to do
them of" so that her radiance reflected upon
| her guests aud animated them.
| Kay stopped on the landing aud meditative-
ly drew on his gloves.
What do yOu bet." he said. quickly, THAT
| ! transform the ceierg into volcano before
| the evening is over?"
"wouldu't bet-can't on certainty; it 'ud
be robhin' you" Leigh answered, laughing,
"Lrave that TO me. DO you take my b~tf"
I" lay you 300 10 you don't get her to kiss
| you"
Done with you-that she kisses me to-
night"
"Of her own free will, mind you"
"Of her own free will. You know the glass
| terrace that ruus along the front of the house;
at o'clock you he behind the curtain that
| leads into the uiusic-room They are not using
| it tonight "-Lcigh's shouts of laughter al
| most drowned the last words. "NOw intro
| duce me-"
Miss Betty Dormer. may / introduce Cap
| tain Kay to you?"
| Miss Dormer inclined her head and said
| How d'you do2"
Kay looked into her ewes intently.
May / have a dance?"
| She handed him the program Of the dances.
/ He took this asa signal "f trust. and proceeded
/ to write his name against several OF the dances
| He was astonisled that she never even glanced
| at the program, but bade him hand it ON 10
| Mr. Leigh"
lyon will forget" he demonstrated, (which
you have given me if you do not look"
Provided you remember. Capt. Kay, need
not"
80 the first round has missed" thought
| Lulu rs he moved away to make room Tor
some other men who were waiting to talk to
| her. He went some distance away and took
sios Of his victim.
The first bars Of "Toujours on iamais. Z"
rang out; she looked cool and self-possessed
| with the usual busy ballroom traffic all around
| her; the men running about eagerly lookin
for their partners consulting their programs.
so anxious not 10 mistake plain for pretty
woman. heavy for 4 light dancer; of conver-
sation there Is hardly Any question. He re-
turned 60 her and ~bisked her away; she
| greeted him u itb amused smile.
| isn't it uglyY" she said. 1T looks like
Paddington Station a Summer Saturday
afternoon"
Yes only the guards are wanting to show
! you 10 your carriage"
"All the pretty girls frst-class, the amusing
second. the heavy third!" She laughed at
her own witIcistn. Il should get into the
guard's van, do so dislike crowds"
81 shall lie the guard. then"
! Whereupon Capt. Kay stopped dancing, aud
without more ado led her To a corridor, where
com table aru-chairs and divans temptingly
invited one TO chat aud rest and great pyra-
mids of ice hidden among flowers cooled the
somewhat oyerheaied atmosphere of the house.
| Drawing out easy-chair no put her into il.
There. that's better; here We will sit aud let
them dance. We will amuse ourselves"
" You will aniuse ] shall take a holiday
You look rs though you could talk. shall
| listen"
" | can't be amusing TO you"
"Have you brought me down here to be rude
to me2 If so. we'll go back"
"IIeaven forbid; you will stop here. ! will
| have my way; you are comfortable and il Is
very nice There will be rush for this place
in a moment so let US enjoy the quiet"
Does that mean that we are to sit here
without talking2 / can't do that for long
am a terrible talker."
With an effort Kay pulled himself together
She interested him so that he forgot the stakes
and il WAS already past IL o'clock.
} at means that / have found you, and sha
not risk losing you again just yet; you mus
stay here"
"Ohl oh! How about thisf" She pointed
TO her card.
t "PlI make that all right. Ny name Is dowr
for the next four dances. See-there ant
there"
You did not do that, did your" Her eye
cleaned with pleasure.
: And shall 90 filling 1t up-so there's al
! end 70 doubt and no escape"