The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-11-14
THE OTHER GIRL.

IA letter from her lOver!" cried Grace
Burney. why, do think she ought
to be the happiest girl in the world. 1
only wish had lover to get letters
from"
"She don't seem bit happy" said
little Ernestine Vaux, in an awed whis-
per. "Oh, dear. how I should like to
read real lovers letter!"
And all the time Lesbia Field sat
quite silent, her eyes fixed on vacancy,
and troubled curve to her lip.
The three girls were guests of Mrs.
Delacroix, an elegant elderly lady, who
liked to surround herself with the soci-
ETY. of attractive young people, seeing
that she had no daughters and nieces of
her own.
She had met Lesbia Field one sum-
mer, in lonely place in the woods.
and she boldly asked Aunt Zilpah Field
to "lend" Lesbia to her for season.
Of course Lesbia was fascinated by
the charming city lady, and allowed
herself to be carried off without the
least protestation. And, in the general
novelty and confusion of things, she
never said word about her engage
ment to Thomas Tarbox.
Thomas was a hard-working school
master in an adjoining country district,
and Lesbia had thought it great piece
of good fortune when he asked her to
be his wife.
Mrs. Delacroix had borrowed Lesbia
for only week at first but a year
went by. Aunt Zelpah paid the debt of
nature, and still Miss Field remained
with Mrs. Delacroix.
Il couldn't spare her any way in the
world" said the fashionable lady. "She
writes my notes, prepares my menus
and reads to me in that sweet voice of
hers. My cousin, Grace Burney, is
very well, and dear little Ernestine, my
husbands relative, is gem; but Lesbia
suits me exactly"
Yes. it was letter from Thomas
Tarbox. He had an opportunity to
come to New York and he looked for
ward with pleasure to the chance of
seeing Lespia at last.
Was she really ashamed of honest
wrong of her? Why had she declined
for him Mrs. Delacroix's invitation to
her ball the next week? OF course, he
was very worthy young man, but she
shuddered as she thought of the clothes
he would probably wear-of his coun-
try-cut hair-among Mrs. Delacroix's
guests. Was she ashamed of him?
Grace Burney was chatting merrily
with Miss Staats-Burgoyne when Les
bia came down to the dinner table that
evening.
"The handsomest man / ever saw!"
said she. Don't you think so, Sophie?"
"Oh, handsome! yes!" said Miss
Staats-Burgoyne, who was great heir
ess, and little niece of Mr.. Staats Won
Staatsburg on one side, and sole daugh-
ter of the Burgoynes on the other.
"But it isn't his face altogether so much
as his elegant manners.
"But," added Miss Staats-Burgoyne,
"there's no use, mean to fascinate
him. know he's betrothed to so1he
other woman-a boy and a girl engage
ment, am told"
"Fie for shame!" laughed Mrs. Della
croix, flirting with another girls prop
erty."
Lesbia Field had taken no note of the
gay conversation transpiring around
her. She was still thinking in a per-
picked way of the letter she had that
morning received.
How should she reply to it? In what
words should she make poor Thomas
Tarbox understand that all her views of
life bad changed since she was district
school teacher in Saconda county?
Il won't be so mean," thought Les
bia, with little catching of the breath.
'I'll telegraph to him and tell him to
come right here, and then-then he will
see how utterly impossible it is for me
to keep the engagement. He was al
ways sensible young man, and-oh, l
beg your pardon, Grace! You were
speaking to me?"
speaking to youp Of course was, 4"
laughed Miss Burney of the sunny
cur1s. "What sort of brown study
have you fallen into-with such Woe
begone face, too?"
"We're only telling of a possible
case" explained Miss Staats-Burgoyne,
slowly drinking a pineapple ice-"of
Grace Burney stealing this elegant
eastern Apollo from his down-east
fiancee. She declares she'll do it. And
wouldn't that be nice to steal another
woman's lover?"
"Are they already engaged?" listlessly
asked Lesbia.
"Oh, yes; hard and fast!"
Lesbia shrugged one ivory-white
shoulder.
"If I'm going to the Stats Burgoyne
ball." she told herself, 81 must have all
my wits about me. It's great promo
ton to be asked to such a function
me, poor little Lesbia Field!"
A smile dimpled her lip as the sudden
fancy crossed her mind of the little
schoolma'am of Saconda listening to