Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
From Cornhill Magazine.

v
In the middle and a
diamond pin in the
sailor knot Of his tie. He had his frock
coat open and his thumbs In the armholes
of his waistcoat. The attitude denoted COM
placency. and the man was complacent.
We'll. the funny part Of it is" he was
saying lightly, his shoulders pressed against
the mal.telpiece. that am dining at the
Burton Smiths this evening"
'Ah?' his companion answered. looking
up at him with eyes Of envy. "And so
you will see her?''
'Of course She Is to come to them to-
day. But they do not know about our en-
gagement yet, and as she does not want
to .blurt 1t out the moment she arrives
why. for this evening it will be a secret.
Still thought would tell YOU"
He stepped away as he spoke to straight
en- a red morocco-covered dispatch box
standing on the table behind him. 1t bore
besides the Haunting gilt capitals II. o. q
modest plate with the name Ernest Wib-
be-ley"- his name.
The other waited until he resumed his
place. Then he answered. holding out his
hand. Yes. am glad you told me. old boy;
and l congratulate you most heartily, be-
lieve me-
THANK you. jack Wibberley replied
i knew you would. l rather feel myself
that Fate cannot harm me. have dined
today"
HAPPY dog!' said Jack. and presently
disappeared.
The Burton Smiths. whom we heard them
mention. are tolerably well known in London
Burton Smith himself Is a barriste-. with
money and many relations-Irish landlords.
Scotch members. Indian judges and the like
bis wife Is young. gracious, and fond of
society. Their drawing rooms ON the top
most fiat of Onslow mansions-rooms with
sloping ceilings and dozen quaint hooks
and corners-are seldom empty during the
regulation hours.
This particular dinner party had been
planned with some care Lady Linacre
will come. no doubt" Mrs. Burton smith
mad said one day at breakfast, coming
Inst she held In her hand. and Mr.. May"
But Burton Smith objected to May. He
Will talk about mounting but Inoia, ne pro-
tested. and the superiority oil Calcutta over
London. A little OF these Bompay ducks
goes long way. my DEAR
We'll. James," Mrs. Burton Smith re-
piled piacidiy-the Hon. Vereker May is a
son OF Lo.o r1awthorn-"he will take me in
ana 40 not mind. only / must nave MI
WioDeriey on the other SIDE TO make con-
Versalon ana Keep me alive. Let me see
she comes that afternoon-Iour DO YOU
know, James. when We were at Temple
RothIey Tor Christmas l Thought there was
something between your consin and Mr..
Then. Ior goodness sake, do not let them
slt tosether! burton smith cried, or they
VIII TAX to one another ana to no one else
Tety Well mrs Smith assented. They
snail SIT opposite to one another and Mr.
NipDeriey shall take in Mrs. GaIantlne
she Will be sure to tiirt with him, and we
can watch Joanna's face. / shall soon see
II there Is anything between them"
Mr.. .Wibberley was a young man of some
Importance. II only In his capacity of pri-
Vate secretary to a minister He had a
thousand acquaintances. and certainly two
three. He might be some
thing some day-was bound to be. He
dressed well. looked we'll and talked well
He was little presumptuous perhaps even
=. .rine eonceited; but women like these
Things In young men, and he had Infinite
TACT. AT any rate he had never vet found
himself In place too strait fo- him.
ms evening as he dressed for dinner-as
smile at some refiection-his own. bur NOT
IA the giass-he was in his happiest mood
Everything seemed to be going we'll with
MIN. he mad no presentiment Of evil He
was going to house where he was appre-
ciated. Mrs: Burton Smith was a great ally
OF his. And then there would be, as we
know, some one else. Happy man!
Lady Linacre." said his hostess as she
introduced him to a stout parsonage with
white hair, a double chin, and diamonds
Wibberley bowed. making up his mind that
the dowager was one of those ladies with
strong prejudices. who draw their skirts
together II you prove a home ruler and
leave the room IL you mention Sir Charles
Dixie. Mr.. May. you have met before"
Mrs. smith continued. land you know Miss
Burton. l think?'
He murmured assent while she-Joann,
shook hands with him frankly and quiet
ly, with the ghost Of a smile perhaps. He
played his part well, too, for a moment
but halted in his sentence as it flashed
across his mind that this was their first
meeting since she had said Yes" He re-
covered from his momentary embarrass-
ment, however, before even Mrs Burton
Smith could note it, and promptly red
Mrs. Galantine his arm.
She was an old friend of his-as friends
go In society. He had taken her in to din
ner, that Is. half-a-dozen times. who is
that girl?" she asked, when they were
seated; and she raised her glasses and
stared through them at her vis-a-vis. Il
declare she would be pretty II her nose were
not so short
He seized the excuse to put up his glass
too. and take look. 1T is rather short"
he admitted. gazing with a whimsical sense
Of property at the deficient organ. But
some people like short noses, you know.
Mrs. Galantine."
"Ah! And theaters In Augustp she re-
piled incredulously. And drawing-room
she would be pretty If 1t were not for that
Would she?" he questioned gravely.
"Well, think she would, do you known
And certainly Joanna was pretty though
her forehead was too large and her nose
too small, and her lips too full. For her
eyes were bright and her complexion per-
feet, and her face told Of wit, and good
temper and freshness. She had beautiful
arms, too, for a chit Of nineteen. Mrs
Galantine said nothing about the arms
not out Of modesty. but because her own
did not form one of her strong points. Wib-
berley, however was thinking Of Them and
whether a certain bracelet he had by him
would fit them. He saw Joanna wore a
bracelet-a sketchy gold thing He wonder
ed whether he should beg 1t for a pattern.
or whether 1t might not be more pleasant
to measure the wrist for himself.
But Mrs. Galantine returned to the
charge. she Is a cousin, Is she not?" she
said. speaking so loudly that Joanna look
ed across and smiled. Il have never met
her before. Tell me all about her."
Tell her all about her! Wibberey gasped.
He saw a difficulty in telling her ''all about
her." the more as the general conversation
at the moment was not brisk, and Joanna
could hear every word. For an instant in
deed, his presence of mind failed him, and
he cast an appalled, glance round the table.
But then he bent to his task. Mrs Gal
he murmured sweetly, confdenti-
ally, "pray-pray beware Of becoming a
potatov'
The lady dropped her knife and fork with
a clatter. How horrid! potato. Mr.
What do you mean?'
What say" he answered simply. You
nj ta IL nj