Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-09

cali Cy ItS hlJue. ~ to0eS ~ ~ s'e'~
to give. II saps your being. and then
leaves you. a. the world would say. with
no reason to complain: but the more you
value truth and refinement In woman the
more DO you suffer by IT,"
II really cannot follow you," MUIR
INJURED his companion. stihing yawn.
you 10 10 very deep. and ! told you
want to be amused. You are none the
worse for the deadly injury wrought
YOU" raising her eyebrows slightly, 30
come down from the high horse and De
companIonab,e. Do" she added coaxing-
~, and with the rare gift Of which she
had 10 large a portion drew the CONVEX
sation back to pleasing topics. and chatted
merrily until they returned home.
Meanwhile Dorothy. escaping unseen.
had made her way to her little room. ana
there Tom, after vainly searching the
garden for her. had found her an hour
or two later.
May l come In, Dolly?" he asked gen.
tly, as ne opened the door and cautiously
peered into the room.
YES. DEAR" she replied; come and SIT
down and talk to me-
Dolly was lying on the sofa In the nre-
light. which, shining on 1t now and then.
revealed tumbled head of brown funny
hair. a sweet chiids face. and eyes that
for some reason, perhaps headache, dio
not sparkle with their wonted lustre.
The room was half IN shade. 30 Tom.
after stumbling over many pieces OF
furniture, made for the fireplace and stood
In front of 1t.
II didn't know you were eeedy wheh
we went to the well this afternoon ne
commenced. Lady Evelyn has PROMISED
10 tell me IL her wish comes true. Ana
oh. Dolly" with a burst Of enthusiasm.
what a rafting fine woman she Is! She
has given me three dances for this eve
ming. and shan't / feel proud--l shaii
scarcely know II / am walking on Solo
ground; won't the other fellows envy me-
yes, she is very pretty" said the
girl YEARLY. .,
mean" Then. with a little conscious SUI
periority: Il think she's mans womah'
and OF course with ire) YOU can't expee'
women TO admire them"
mo said Dolly. in an amused tone'
II suppose not.
The bow sat silent for a few moments
hut only for a few, when he rattied on
"By-the-by, have you quarreiied WIN
him" .., ,,e
girl. sharply. ,,, .., o. ha
always together, and for the last Gay
or two Won have scarcely spoken TO him.
AT this moment the freight fiickered
over Dollie's face, showing an expression
of such suffering upon 1t that the boy
was startled -
Are YOU in such pain, Dolly?' he In
quired.
Terrible" she murmured; but the next
moment was sorry she had spoken ior
lxrI %, Hnr u
again stumbling over half the furniture'
sbe heard him strike n match. and In a
few moments he was back at her side
with a tumbler filled with eau de cologne
and water in one hand. and two or three
handkerchief In the other. He percned
himself on the arm of the sofa, ana COM
menced LAYING the wet rags upon her fore-
head He was moving one preparatory
to supplying its place when something
struck him, and he peered suspiciously
into her face.
Dolly" he whispered gently rs any,
thing the matter, dear? what nave you
been crying about?"
al crying?" with a forced laugh; don't
talk such nonsense; I have such head
ache. so cover my eyes up quickly. IKE
kind boy. It's done II great deal or
good" she added. gratefully.
So Tom said no more, but shook his
head, and, perhaps more gently than be-
fore. changed the cloths and famed her
until the dressing gong sounded. Then.
with prostestations that the headache was
completely gone. she dismissed him to
dress. telling him he would never be
ready in time.
At this moment Lady Evelyn's words.
you are none the worse for the injury"
with their rocking sound, were ringing
in BERTHE Martins ears as he assembled the
stairs to his room. Was he indeed none
the worse? When eight years previous ne
had met Lady Evelyn, and In the full en-
thusiasm OF youth. infatuated with her
beauty, had poured at her feet his fresh,
full homage. giving all. but asking moth
ing Uhe boys worship that Is 80 soon got
overD. he was met. not with the quiet re-
preston that would have put her In the
right for always and raised her above all
women, but the quiet amusement. the
light laugh, the shocking. shocking"
that had stung him to the quick. and
sent him from her presence man instead
OF boy. From henceforth he was
woman's enemy, albeit his gentle and
courteous manner to their sex.
When three weeks ago he met Dorothy
Manners for the first time, almost from
the first day his heart had gone out to
her In her simplicity and sweetness. She
had well-nigh restored the trust that had
been 30 crushed and broken, that Is SO es-
sential TO the character OF strong man.
He had decided to put his fate to the
touch at that evenings ball. as his visit
was ended the next morning, when he
was leaving Newton Chase. But the ap-
pearance on the scene Of Lady Evelyn
two days prior to that event had changed
everything. The very sight Of her. had
reopened the old wound OF distrust and
unbelief, and with no consideration for
Dolly or her feelings. ne had purposely
avoided her, determined to keep many
miles between them In future.
Perhaps had he known that with all
her brave appearance the curly head was
pressed tight into the pillow In the soil
tude Of the night. and a storm OF sobs
shook the wee frame as she asked herself
again and again what had she done?
how had she offended? he would not
have judged all women from the same
standpoint.
The gong sounding In the midst Of his
reflections awoke him to the knowledge
that his dressing was in a backward
state. There was nothing for 1t but to
complete his toilet as quickly as posi-
BILE. and descend to the drawing-room.
with many apologies for his late appear
ance.
Don't mention II. my dear fellow"
said his host. patting his shoulder, I'VE
have all had to be so careful this eve
ming; you are nothing to Tom. who has
posed before his glass for two hours at
least, and has to finish afterward." And
Tom. who was attired In very high
collar. smiled as cheerfully as that instru-
ment would allow him TO do.
Dorothy was looking her very pretti-
est her cheeks flushed with color. and
she was laughing and talking as merrily