The free press., 1895-04-11
DARRELL'S SACRIFICE.

It was at Mrs. Barrow Carew's bril-
liant dance the girls first heard of it,
md as fur trimmed mantles we're cast
aside in the dressing room the follow
inc carping conversation was imme-
diately begun by two of her "dearest
friends
"Well, I do hope that Papa and
Mamma st. Claire are satisfied with
their ma2@uvring, for good less knows
they have simply trapped Sir Vernon
Harrington into marrying Genevieve, e."
said tall, stylish damsel, applying a
little powder deftly under her chin,
with an injured feeling against all hui
manity in general, especially an inno-
cent, golden-haired little maiden who
had, all unconsciously, won the match
par excellence of the season.
''Man@uvring, Bella, did you say?"
oueried small brunette, retreating
slowly from the pier glass with a swift
and satisfied glance over her white
shoulder at the dainty white satin clad
figure reflected therein. "That is
mild way of putting the affair, for 1
call it nothing less than pure, I'M
adulterated brass. To think of those
poverty stricken objects seizing upon
that poor young fellow and making
matters so terribly pronounced that
breach of promise suit would be his
only release from their talons."
"Oh, of course 1 know" rejoined
the charitable Bella, "that she was
only waiting to snatch the chance at
the least sign of attention on his part,
and in the meantime the little simple
ton would have given the world, l
fancy, to get handsome Darrell King
don, though managing Mamma st.
Claire, l presume, would not let her
look at him, for, you know, he made
ducks and brakes of his fathers i'm
mense fortune. SO Darrell is out of
the question, for Vieve's marriage with
the baronet is the only means of saw
ing them from total ruin"
"Indeed! Well, 1 am not in the
least surprised. They have strained
every point to keep up with Mrs. st.
Claire's fashionable sister, Mrs. Carew,
and she has helped the campaign
along with the skill of an old veteran"
So saying, the friends left to enter
the ballroom. They greeted Gene
We've in the most rapturous manner,
congratulating the baronet, who stood
beside her, with warmth they did
not feel.
We've received their effusive atten-
lions with bright and grateful look
In her lovely gray eyes, too young and
inexperienced yet to realize how much
envy and malice lay hidden beneath
their sweet smiles and honeyed
speeches.
But the man by her side saw plainly
through their masks of pretended
Irendship, and in answer to Vieve's
gentle Don't you think they are very
Kind, Vernon?" said hurriedly, not
wishing to destroy her innocent faith
In the world: 81 think they intend
to be, darling"
She was just on the point of asking
his meaning, when her partner ap-
peared and asked for his waltz, and
ueneyleve went smilingly away, leav-
ing Sir Vernon gazing after her slen-
aer young figure with wealth of love
IN his usually cold blue eyes. He
knew perfectly well that We've was not
IN love with him, and though the
knowledge sometimes marred his hap
piness he loved her too we'll to relin-
quish his claim upon her. And when
New months previous he had asked
her to become his wife he could not
neip admire the girls truthfulness
"nen she answered, with tears in her
'oVeiy gray eyes: 81 cannot be your
'"ae' Sir Vernon, for, though I ad-