The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-01-03

Snow l ask YOU" she answered
laughing, "would life be worth
living without sp%eculations2 As well
speculate on what a bit of cake will
reveal as on the stock exchange or a
racecourse. Suppose nov you were
to try it. If l give you a bit OF
wedding cake will you put it under
your pillow for three nights and tell
me your dreams2n
Such folly was most unlike ct aid,
serious, sober minded Sir Miles, but
even the gravest man is weak in the
hands of the woman he loves, and
Sir Miles Berkely had for some time
past imagined himself to be very
much in love with bright, saucy
Elvira Delane.
To be asked then by her to do
even such a foolish thing as dream
on a piece of wedding cake was not
to be withstood, and he consented
Internationally, even promising to
tcn ber without reserve what dreams
invaded his slumbers.
"All right, we'll 60 back into the
dining room presently and I'llegive
you the cake" she said, ''only we
must not say anything about it,"
"Of course-of course; il people
know they would laugh, and think
us very foolish"
"Speak for yourself; + don't see
the folly" she replied, trying to
llaQk ysrv-damss@sse<teN
with merrinlens 81 ths fu1 81 favinF
lured Sir Miles into the silly child
ishness, all for the love of her bright
eyes, as she knew full well.
While as for him, he did not even
detect the snub In her last sentence
so happy was he at having a secret
and a compact with that queen of
his day dreams-Miss Elvira Delane.
So exhilarated did he feel from
the encouragement she had given
him that he grew bold, and when
they rose to stroll round into the
dining room in search of the cake he
leant ove her and asked in a
whisper if she would give him just
n flower out of the lovely bouquet
she was carrying In remembrance OF
the happiest day he had ever spent
in his life.
The sight of this big man trying to
look ardent and lover like, but only
succeeding in being sheepish, amused
Elvira vastly, nevertheless she gave
him the flower, and with it a glance
that fired his soul still more, and was
to him as a very glimpse of heaven.
Wicked, thoughtless Elvira, how
much farther does she intend to carry
this cruel play?
They went together to the dining
room, which was nearly empty, as
many of the guests had already
taken their departure, and Sir Miles
received the piece of cake from
Elvira's fair fingers.
She gave it to him in an awed and
grave way as though she were per-
forming some occult and strange
my stery, but she was inwardly con-
vulsed with laughter the while. The
function over which to her was
tan, By to him scanned almost
as serious as if it were a matter of
life Or death-they went into the
hall where Pierce Vaughan was
standing, waiting while his uncle
made his last adieux. He was to
accompany him back to Aboyne
where he intended to stay for
he night and return to his chambers
IL town and his work In the morn
ng.
81 have been looking or you
'verywhere, Miss Delane," he said.
Il was afraid ! should have to go
Without saying 'au revoir.'
ooh, indeed" answered Elvira
81 have been sitting in the
observatory with Sir Miles Berke-
ey."
The two men looked expressively
t each other. Pierce Vaughan with
ndignation, for during his quest for
,lvira he had been considering that
would be wise to win her; Sir
lilies with triumph, for did she not
hus acknowledge her preference for
imself.
She had succeeded in bringing
bout the combination which she had
ranged in the beginning of the
ay. She had by her Irritation with
ir Miles reused Pierce into caring
omething about her. |,
Whether Sir Miles was made to
lffer on their account did not
'ouble her in the very least. He
'as her foil, and as such she elected
} keep him.
She shook hands rather coldly
18th Pierce, who said he hoped to
e down in those parts again shortly
nd hoped they would meet. To this
he gave a cold assent, but did not
lvite him 10 her fathers house.
And 80 they separated, to be p,
tartled by a sensation even before
last WOrda had diad from THAR,