The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-01-26

What right had he to bring the blush to
Alicia's cheek, and to come putting
ideas into the heal Of bit of girl like
Edith, when all the while?- Oh. he
must be firt--a flirt!
Then the thought of poor Mr.. Fitz-
hardy flashed across her; perhaps he
had some right to accuse her Of flirting.
Yet the encouragement she gave him
had been very lukewarm at its best
she knew now that she had never cared
for him. except as an agreeable &C
when they next met she would show
him how lightly she held attentions 80
profusely scattered around.
She had not long to wait for an oppor-
tunity. They met that evening at O
grand ball given by one Of DR.. Lisle's
most aristocratic patients. Frances
found 1t rather duh. She had danced
half through her programme with one
uninteresting stranger after another, and
was beginning to vote the whole affair q
bore, when familiar voice behind her
said: What, Miss Lisle?-well | am
glad. How do you do? Is Mrs. Lisle
hereY'
"Yes, and papa, too" she replied, for
getting all her plans of revenge ut the
first glance from those honest gray eyes,
whose every look she was learning to
know SO well.
'And have you any dances leftr |
hope l am not too late. Jack and have
been doing duty at stupid city dinner"
81 have one or two, | think" said
Frances. feeling for her programme. II
could not be found; the cord and pencil
were there, but the card had been torn
off.
II must have lost it," she said: "how
very awkward"
do you remember to whom you were
engagedy'
Not bit; they were all strangers.
know hardly any one here"
Nor do |. | have a happy idea.
When any one claims you who you think
looks stupid say you are engaged to Inc.
Do, please; it will be a real act of kind
ness, as know no one"
Frances hesitated, but he looked SO
smiling and friendly that she smiled too.
This he must have taken for consent, for
he placed her hand on his arm and
walked off with her to the ballroom,
where they were just beginning waltz,
saying as he did so, "And now | only
hope aud pray they may be all duffersw
A son of the house. acting as master
Of the ceremonies. touched him ON the
shoulder, "Can introduce You to any
partners?"
mot necessary" he replied; my pro-
gramme is full"
What change had come over the
scenel Surely the lights were brighter,
the flowers sweeter, the gay costumes
more dazzling, the strains of the band
more exhilarating! After the dance he
led her to her mother and staid by them
oil the rest Of the evening. She danced
once or twice with the partners who
claimed her promise. because she felt
ashamed to refuse one after the other,
but he danced with no one else. She
asked him at last why he sat out so per-
sistently.
Because want to enjoy myself thor
oughly tonight" he replied, and Frances
felt her color come under the glance
that accompanied the words. She for
got ncr jealousy, forgot even ner re-
morse about poor Mr.. Fitzhardy. and
remembered only that she was happy
happy as she had never been in all her
short young life before.
Then, when cloaked and hooded she
followed her father and mother to their
carriage. he was still there to offer her
his arm and whisper, Thank you for
very happy evening" The hand clasp
which followed was undoubtedly far
closer and longer than formality re-
quired.
A day or two afterward, Mrs. Lisle
took her two eldest daughters to the
Royal academy. She was feeling very
tired herself, so made no attempt to go
the round of the galleries, but sat for
the most part on one of the center seats
while the girls looked at the pictures. I
They had not gone far before they
came suddenly face to face with the two
Jack Smith and Jack JOS
selyn, as they were commonly called;
and then, as SO large party cannot very
we'll keep together in the academy on
afternoon, very soon the friends
paired off-Frances with one of the gen..
tlemen, Mrs. Lisle and Edith with the
other
Then followed delightful hour for
Frances. There is no more completely
unfettered tete-a-tete than can be OBJ
tanned in crowded ballroom or assem-
bly,; the presence of the unheeding
crowd only helps to remove all feeling
Of constraint And SO the two young
people drew closer and closer to each
other. Matter of fact words conveyed
much more than their actual meaning,
through the tones in which they were
uttered and the looks that accompanied
them. Frances began to wonder, half
with hope and half with fear. what
would be the next thing he might speak
Of. Itcame as Q surprise to her.
"As this is your first visit here, you
have not been in the later rooms yet;
Come with me; there is something I
should like to show you in one Of them"
After some dextrous edging through
the crowd. Frances found herself in
front of two large portraits Good
heavensi Mr.. and Mrs. SMITH" f
"Well, what do you think of themr
a -