The record-union., 1895-07-13


quite out OF date" Then, after pause:
MY dear BERTHE, why will men never
appreciate the little kindnesses we do
them? There is nothing SO beneficial as
for man TO fall in love early and with
sensible woman. l don't wish to imply
anything" laughing again. "but where
would you be now if l had been hirt. or
allowed you to make love to me-to say
nothing of what owe to old Jack? Think
of the blasting OF your fortunes, of your
parents dIsmay, had you fallen across
some penniless, pretty girl - for you,
with your romantic disposition, would
have gone down at once. Pray, pardon
the way put it, but, mildly, you are a
donkey, and don't know when you are
well otf!'
" ou will pardon the way l put 1t also,
Lady Evelyn" rejoined he, "but there is
a refinement in Irritation that is more
cruel and subtle than anything you can
cali by its name. II takes all you have to
give, 1t saps your being, and then leav
you, as 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,"
Il really cannot follow you," MUIR
INJURED his companion, sitting q yawn.
you go so very deep, and | told you l
want To be amused. You are none the
worse for the deadly injury 1 wrought
you" raising her eyebrows slightly, 80
come down from the high horse and be
con. panionable. Do" she added coax
iugly, and with the rare gift OF which
she had SO large portion drew the con-
versation back TO pleasing topics, and
chatted merrily until they returned
home.
Meanwhile Dorothy. escaping unseen.
had made her way to her own little room,
q liH Tnrn ain " 9parphlnu
garden for her, had found her an hour or
TWO later.
MAY I come In, Dolly?" he asked
gently, as he opened the door and cauti-
ously peered into the room.
Yes, dear" she replied: come and sit
down and talk to me-"
Dolly was lying on the sofa in the fire.
which. shining on it now and then,
revealed tum bled head of brown fluffy
hair. a sweet child's face, and eyes that
for some reason, perhaps headache, did
not sparkle with their wanted luster.
The room was half in shade, SO Tom,
after stumbling over many pieces of fur
niture, made for the fireplace and stood
in front OF it.
II didn't know you were seedy when
we went to the we'll this afternoon" be
ised TO tell me if her wish comes true.
And OH, Dolly" with burst of enthusi-
asln, what rattling fine woman she is!
She has given me three dances for this
evening, and shan't l feel proud. l shall
scarcely know if l am walking on solid
ground. Won't the other fellows envy
me. that's all!"
Yes, she is very pretty" said the girl,
wearily.
"Pretty?" cried Tom: "lovely, you
mean" Then. with little conscious su-
perlority, II think she's mans woman.
and OF course with ire). you can't expect
women to admire thenl."
NO" said Dolly. in an amused tone,
Il suppose not"
The boy sat silent for few moments,
but only few, when he ratified on.
by the by, have you Quarreled with
him?"
"Quarreled with whom?" returned the
girl, sharply.
MARTINI" said Tom. "You used to be
always together and for the last day or
two you have scarcely spoken to him."
At this moment the freight tlickered
over Dolly's lace, showing an expression
OF such suffering upon it that the boy was
startled.
Are you in such pain, Dolly?" he in
Quired.
"Terrible," she murmurs0. But the
next moment WAS sorry she had spoken,
for Tom had marched to her dressing
table, again stumbling over half the fur
niture; she heard him strike match, and
In 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
haudkerchleTs III the other. He perched
himself on the arm of the sofa, and COM
menced laying the wet rags upon her
forehead. lie was moving one prepara-
tory to supplying its place when some
thing struck him. and he peered sus-
piciously into her race.
dolly" lie whispered gently, lis any
thing the matter, dear? What have you
been crying about?'
Il crying?" with forced laugh. "Do
not talk such nonsense. l have such q
headache, so cover up my eyes quickly,
like kind boy. It's done it a great deal
OF 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 protestatlons that the headache was
completely gone, she dismissed him to
dress, telling him he would never be
ready III time.
At this moment Lady Evelyn's words,
"I ou are none The worse for the injury"
with their mocking sound, were ringing
in Bertie Martins ears as he assembled the
stairs to his room. Was he indeed none
the worse? When eight years previously
he had met Lady Evelyn, and in the full
enthusiasm Of youth, infatuated with her
beauty, had poured at her feet his fresh
full homage. giving all but asking moth
Ing (the boys worship that is so suon got
over, lie 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 hau 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.
W hen, three weeks ago he met Dorothy
Manners for the first time. almost from
the tirst day his heart had gone out to her
in her simplicity and sweetness. She had
we'll nigh restored the trust that had been
so crushed aud broken, that is 80 essen
.ial TO the character of a 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 appear
ance on the scene OF Lady Evelyn two
days prior to that event had changed
everything. The very sight of her had
reopeued the old wound OF distrust and
unbelIef, aud with no consideration for
Dolly or her feelings. he had purposely
avoided her, determining 10 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 soll-
tude of tho night, and a storm OF sobs
shook the wee frame as she asked herself
again ami 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 d back ward state.
There WAS nothing for i. but to complete
his toilet quickly as possible, and de-
scend 70 Inc drawlng-room. with many
apologlas lur Els late lppearance.