Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-03

they had met on the avenue. He would
have preferred to sup alone with her.
All these irritating matters kept his
mind occupied during the performance.
After the close of the play the who'e
party repaired to the hotel, where sup
per was waiting for them.
The supper was perfect in all lis ap
pointments. and Miss Lyon failed not TO
EXPRESS her admiration. She was livellcf
than ever, and her merry chatter never
ceased for minute. Her VlVac'1y;
which at their first acquaintance ha1
captivated him, now made him uncom,
Portable. Did she not eYince lack Oh
sympathy for his trouble? He excused
her before himself by trying to persuade
himself that she only endcavored TO coA-
ceal her engagement to him. II that
was the case she succeeded perfectly:
for she treated him in no wise different
from tho other gentlemen.
Jack Spofford and the foreigner enjoy
ed themselves without restraint. Their
admiration for Miss Lyon was un-
bounded
Walter, who at first was in n moroSe
humor and anticipated to find the even
ing tedious in the extreme, felt strange
change come over him as the timc rap
idly pas ;cd away. He did not spare the
wine, as was his custom, and this may
have had something to do with his sen
sations. He gradually arrived at the
conclusion that Miss Lyon was most
charming woman, and began to think
that Ralph's taste was not bad alter all
If the presence of a lady cid not re-
strain Waiter from making the intimate
acquaintance Of the bottle, neither did
Count Hohenfe.s nor Jack think 1t rec
essary to apply the curb to their appc-
tites They were both accustomed 10
the society of theatrical ladies, and knew
that most of them allowed their male
acuuaintances q considerable LATITUDE OF
department. The fact was that MISS
Lyon herself was not averse to the JOYS
flowing from an indulgence in the nobie
Juice of the grape, and so it came about
that when the dessert was served, the
only member who did not show the IN
1uenco Of claret and champagne was
Ralph.
Naturally, under these conditions, the
conversation, which had been llvely IRON
the beginning, gradually became almost
bo;sterOus, and reached the utmost limit
of what is allowed in the presence OF
women Ralph alone did not participate
in the loud mirth, and evidently wished
that the whole affair was over.
He did not all like the conduct of his
fiancec. Could she, after a !, be no bet
ter than he was tod other actresses
were, given to sensual pleasures, without
stability and the power of feeling deep
and lasting affection?
He would not entertain the terrible
thought for an instant. But he was re-
solved to speak to Miss Lyon about the
matter in the morning
Why did she talk so much to Walter?
True, he had by his silence given her lit
tie encouragement to address her con-
versation to him, yet she might be lit
tie more considerate.
His brothers behavior, however, made
the Doctor simply indignant. Walters
face was flushed with the effects OF the
wine, he talked very much and rapidly,
and every word was addressed to MISS
Lyon. He endeavOred to pay her one
compliment after the other, but he had
not the kna TX of delicate 0attery, and
his compliments were invariably OF d
rather coarse character Nevertheless,
they evidently pleased the lady to won
they were addressed.
Ralph had given her credit for better
taste.
Waiter Warringham. grew bolder and
bolder as he became more intoxicated
He repeatedly seized Miss Lyons hand
and pre- Sscd it with unnecessary warmth.
She withdrew it, but not with the repel'
ling energy that she might have en-
ployed, Ralph thought. He felt tho
blood rush to his checks and was angry
at himself for it. He looked angrily al
his brother, but Walter did not notice it.
There can be no doubt about 1.-THE
young Doctor was jealous.
The German nObleman and Jack Spot
ford, after vainly attempting to make
the conversation general, had retired tC
corner of the table, and were eagerly
devoting themselves to the study of the
contents of the bottles. The younger
Mr.. Warringham mOnopOlzed the con
versation of Miss Lyon. The German
delivered a lecture on the qualities OF
good Rhine wine, to which Jack listened
attentively, though he had already
passed the stage in which he could still
comprehend all that was said to him.
Miss Lyon. was more vlvaciOus than
ever. Not with single word or the
slightest glance did she indicate her cor
sc'ousness of the presence OF her future
husband.
She listened to the gross batteries oi
Walter Warringham.
The little supper party was not as
= Hnfr nh
been.
Ralph sat in ominous silence. Hi:
eyes wandered from Walter to Mis-:
Lyon and from Miss Lyon to Walter
The flush had left his face, and he wa:
very pale now. He rapidly drained sew
eral glasses of champagne, and now, fol
the first time in the evening, the influ
cnce of wine became perceptibe @ in hin
as in the others. His jealousy grew tC
madness.
Walter at last lost all Sense of doll
cacy and propricty FOrgctful that she
was the intended bride of his brother,
forgetful of the very presence of Ralph
and the other gentlemen, he made an
attempt to kiss the handsome actress.
Up jumped Ralph with the lightning
like quickness of the tiger, and his right
hand dealt blow on his brothers check.
A curse escaped from Walters SUR
prised lips. His hands Involuntary
clutched bottle that stood before him,
and he would have hurled it at Ralph,
but the Count interfered and held his
hand.
Miss Lyon rose from her seat. At the
inetont whom she saw Ralph jumD up. it
flashed through her mind what risks she
was taking. She was in danger OF
alternating her lover. That would