The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-07-18
THE CULPRIT FAY.

"No. l have never seen in any
European drawing-room a collection
of fairer women" said Walter Sanger
to a young brother lawyer who stood
with him in the doorway.
shall / introduce you to Miss
Leland, who, amid all this array of
loneliness, still holds indisputably the
position of belle? You see her at the
head of the room. just replying to
the pretty speech Sturgis has beca
making to her. VIII You come,
Sanger?"
mo; l believe not. thank you.
GRAY. Somehow | don't care for
bellies; they're monstrous in their
ring. But can you tell me the name
Of that young lady sitting alone by
the jardinIere and trifing with its
flowers? should like an introduction
to her, if you have the ability and
inclination to give it me.
Mr.. Gray glanced at the spot des-
ignated, where sat a slender. grace
full girl. clad simply in white muslin.
and with a wreath of delicate flowers
placed lightly upon her ciassically
moulded head, which was also
adorned with a vast amount of soft.
silky. golden brown hair; her COM
plexion was pale and clear. and her
large hazel eyes had a liquid. dreamy
look like one whose mind held con-
tinually sweet converse with itself
independently of the small amount Of
intellect necessary to carry on ball
room conversation.
why, that's my cousin, Lucy Lee
She is a sweet girl; but rather
wonder at your preferring her to
Miss Leland"
why, my mind is somewhat
fatigued with going over my argu-
ment for tomorrow villain Fay.
you know-and fancy that queenly
Juno would demand q mans whole
attention and wit directed to making
her the compliments and pretty
speeches to which she has been ac-
customed. Now, yon sweet maiden,
with a name as sweet. carries repose
in her every look and attitude-she
ooks refreshing.
Charles Gray laughed little. but
he was accustomed to what he called
his friends little oddities and sn.
taking his arm. led him up and in
troduced him to Miss Lee. The
young lady bowed her graceful head,
smiled family, and by half look in
timated to the young gentleman that
he might place himself on the sofa on
which she sat. Charles Gray. having
thus disposed of his friend. fastened
to mingle his tribute of admiration
with those already offered before the
goddess of the evening-the eueenly,
imperious Maria Leland.
As cotillon was just forming. Mr..
Sanger invited Miss Lee to join it,
and was delighted to find that her
slender form was as graceful in mo-
ton as in repose. At the end of the
dance they seated themselves in a
small recess where stood a marble
table covered with beautiful engrav-
ings- Miss Lee, without interrupting
the conversation. began to turn them
over carelessly. One in particular
seeming to attract her attention. she
turned to the young lawyer. who had
been meantime inwardly admiring
her straight and delicate eyebrows,
and said. gayly:
What an interesting creature that
culprit Fay is"
1.-The culprit Fay! Is it possible,
Miss Lee. that l understand you to
speak admiringly of him?"
why. certainly. l am quite in
love with him myself. and do not
wonder in the least that the maiden
whom he loved permitted his
caresses9"
REALLY. Miss Lee. 1 must beg leave
to wonder equally at your taste and
your morality. II comprehend your
meaning. you consider that neither
the culprit. nor the-young person
who admitted his attentions. was to
blame,
Miss Lee glanced with a half smile
1t the flushed face of the speaker,
but the look of surprise and contempt
which she encountered aroused her
pride, and she merely replied in .
cold and somewhat naughty manner:
"May l request you to conduct me
to my mother. who is in the next
room?"
Walter Sanger presented his arm.
without word. and when Lucy had
seated herself by the side of a hand
some and elegant woman, whom she
called mamma. the young couple
parted with merely formal bow.
"Who is that. my loveP" asked
Mrs. Lee. .He is very handsome"
"An escaped lunatic. l suspect"
answered her daughter quietly; but
ut this moment Charles Gray brought
mp his friend Sturgis, who triumph
sntly led away the fair girl to join q
waltz quadrille.
As the gay company were leaving
the scene Of their festivities, Charles
Gray put his arm into that of his
hi ND