The Irish standard., 1896-09-12

raid wentworth. - Il was certain u
come; but must confess my friend
Kenyon here was rather difficult to
! manage. He seems to frown on FASH
ionable assemblages, and actually had
the GOODNESS to propose that we should
both have prior engagements
Edith looked reproachfully ct Ken;
yon, who flushed to the temples, as
was usual with him, and said:
I'LL Nov, Wentworth. that is unfair. You
must not mind what he says, Miss Long
! worth; he likes to bring confusion on
men and he knows how to do it. I cer-
tainly said nothing about prior en-
gagement."
Y well, now you are here, I hope you
will enjoy yourselves. 1t is quite al.
informal little gathering, with moth
ing to abash even Mr.. Kenyon
They found young Longworth there
in company with Melville, who was to
he his companion on the voyage. He
shook hands, but without exhibiting
the pleasure at meeting them which his
cousin had shown.
my COUSIN" said the young man.
"seems resolved to make the going OF
the prodigal nephew an occasion for
killing the fatted calf. I'm sure
don't know why, unless that she is
glad to be rio of me for month"
= Edith laughed at this and left tho
men together. Wentworth soon con-.
trived to make himself very agreeable
to the young ladies who were present:
/, but John, it must be admitted, felt
awkward and out of place. He was
not enjoying himself. He caught him
self now and then following Edith
Longworth with his eyes; and when he
realized he was doing this he abruptly
looked at the floor. In her handsome
evening dress she appeared SUI
premely lovely, and this John Ken.
yon admitted to himself with \
sigh, for her very 1oveliness seemed
to place, her further and further
], away from him. Somebody: played
something on the piano, and this was,
in 4 way, u respite for John. He felt
that nobody was looking at him. Then
young man gave recitation, which
was very we'll received, and Kenyon be-
gan to forget his uneasiness. A Ger
man, gentleman wath long hair sat.
down at the piano with a. good deal OF
Importance in his .demeanor. There
was much arranging of music, and,
finally, when the leaves were settled to
his satisfaction, there was tremendous
crash of chords, the beginning Of what
was evidently going to be troublesome
! time for the piano. In the midst Of this
:. hurricane of sound John Kenyon be-
came aware that Edith Longworth had
sat. down beside him. =
~: IL have got every one comfortably
settled with every one else" she said
in whisper to him, land you seem to
be the only one who is, as it were, out
in the cold, SO you see have done you
the honor to come and talk to you"
ssIt is indeed an honor" said John,
earnestly. ..~.s..
= ..Oh, really" said the young woman,
laughing very softly, ''you must not
take things.so seriously. didn' It mean
quite what said; you know-that was
only as the children say. pretended
but you take ones light remarks as it
they were most weighty sentences.
Now, you must look as if you were en-
!. Pertaining me: charmingly, whereas 1
!, have sat down beside you to have a
. very few minutes talk on business. 1
2 know it's very bad form to talk bust
ness at an evening party, but you see 1
have no other chance to speak to you.
l understand you have had several
meetings of shareholders, and yet you
never sent me an invitation, although
I told you that wished to help you in
forming a company, but that is the way
you business men always treat
woman"
): .'::Really, Miss Longworth," began
Kenyon, but she speedily interrupted
him.-~ 49,:
II am. not going to let you make any
explanation. I have. come over here to
enjoy. scolding you, and / am not to be
cheated out of my pleasure" :'z's'
2''1 think" said John, "if you knew
how much have suffered during this
last day or two, you would be very
! lenient with me. Did you read that ar
ticle upon ME in the Financial Field?"
r.. ':No; did not, but read your reply
to it this morning, and think it was
excellent" I'D
''Ah, that was hardly fair. A person
should read both sides of the question
before passing judgment"
cit is woman's idea of fairness"
said Edith, ITO read what pertains to