The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-10-25

"How long was it? A year, two
years, before 1 knew that he thought
me false to him, never guessing that it
was Kate's bethrothed husband he saw
me greet SO warmly, when l never
guessed he was near.
"Poor sister Kate never knew the
anguish her handsome lover caused
me.
eff Harold Russell loves now, it
will be some brilliant girl, not the
faded shadow of his old lovei Yet
yet"
The eventful evening came at last,
and the girls were shut up in their
rooms, untwisting wonderful crimps
and otherwise preparing for conquest.
In her own room with the door
securely fastened, Effie Selwyn was,
she said in her own heart, making a
goose" of herself.
Her thirty years of peaceful life,
with only one heart struggle, had left
her face as smooth as In girlhood.
Blooming she had Dever been, her
oval face having soft, dreamy COM
plexion that was seldom flushed with
color, though its exquisite fairness
was never pallor.
considering it is twelve years
since I wore this dress and flowers, I
do not look 50 antiquated. A train is
always train, and suppose the over-
skirt modernises it, )" thought Effie.
Then she went to box hidden away
in her bureau drawer, and from its
most secret corner she took ring,
wrapped carefully in soft cotton.
"Dare II" she whispered, turning
it round under the gaslight and show
ing the device, an enamelled violet,
with flashing diamond for its heart.
"Will he despise me if put it on?"
she thought. "Will he think l am
too easily won back again? Should /
despise the hasty judgment that led
him to condemn me unheard,
twelve long, long years ago?"
She hesitated some moments, then
put the ring upon the forefinger of
her left hand, turning it so that the
violet was hidden, and only plain
gold band seemed added to her other
rings.
"Effie, are you going? Girls, your
aunt is going
"O!" cried Carrie, 'you magnif
cent auntie you will throw all the
girls into the shade, What superb
silk and you in full dressl |" she con-
tinued, with more enthusiasm than
grammatical precision.
"Where did you dig up that violet
silk?" asked Mrs. Marshall. 81
thought its glories had departed years
ago. Do you remember the evening
you wore it, when papa gave Kate her
first party?"
II remember" Efiie said, in low
voice.
Tho evening was half gone, and
Ellie had only seen at distance the
tall figure and handsome face OF the
hero of the evening.
He was much altered, Eflie thought.
Yet, as the hours flew by, she caught
herself recognizing certain express
sions of the dark eyes, the mobile
mouth, certain infections OF the deep,
manly voice, and once her heart beat
tumultuously as familiar laugh rang
out upon the air.
More than once she had screened
herself from tall figure approaching
the place where she stood, and more
than once the violet silk had fitted
into another room just as Harold hus-
sell thought he could touch 1t.
There had been much dancing when
a small party of music lovers collected
around the grand piano, begging MISS
Selwyn to sing.
"Just one song, Miss Selwyn, Mrs.
Grant herself entreated There are
SO many anxious to hear you.
Very reluctantly the lady drew OH
her white gloves and seated herseil
before the piano.
The group around her listened Tor
the usual brilliant prelude ana an
elaborate and difficult "show OH
song. but after a moment OF silence
the little hands struck two rich' luii
chords. A moment she paused theh
70 steady the trembling heart; then,