The news boy., 1896-05-09
TRANSPLANTED.

1t was the biggest ball of the season,
and the assembly room of the fashion,
able watering place was looking it's gay
est and brightest, thanks to lavish dec
oration and the Kaleidoscope effect pro-
duced by the throngs of brilliantly
dressed dancers as they whrled round
in all the infinite variety and pictur-
esque incongruity of fancy costume.
And yet, despite all the life and color,
there was something fictitious and un-
real in the brilliant gayety OF the pic
turesque scene; just as there was an
undertone of passionate pain in the
sweet music of the yalse which rang
through the room, an undertone which
seemed strangely out of harmony with
the superficial enjoyment of the crowd.
Or was it only the look in girls face
that was out of keeping, and seemed at
once to give the lie to all the hollow pre-
tense of pleasure around her? To one
unobserved spectator this idea sudden
ly occurred with the force of convic-
ton.
1t was a beautiful face, beautiful alike
in regularity of feature and exquisite
delicacy of coloring. But the smile on
the sweet mouth was forced and full of
unnatural gayety, while the great gray
! eyes had haunting look of WEAKNESS
which gave them an indescribable
| pathos. The girl was tall and slight,
and the white dress she wore, graceful
though it was, seemed almost too rich
and elaborate for her slender figure.
| She was young scarcely onc-and-twen-
ty-and looked even younger than her
years; and the man who was watching
her drew yet further back into the
shadow of the heavily curtaincd door
way as flood of memories rushed over
him-memories held in check till now
by an iron will. but released in a mo-
ment by the sight of the beautiful, sad
face that was all the world to him,
though for four long years it had passed
out Of his life. How he had missed her.
Surely he had never fully realized it till
now.
A chance remark arrested his atten.
ton. Two men near were talking to
gether. commenting audibly enough on
the scene before them.
How charming Maud Carruthers il
looking tonight. That girl grows
prettier every time see her!"
as it true that she's engaged tc
young Melbourne?'
Wants confirmation, should say
He's hard hit, and her people approve ot
him naturally; he's well connected ant
fabulously wealthy; but as to the fail
Maud herself-if she is engaged to hin
she might look little more Cheerful
over it,"
YES, shouldn't feel flattered in hi!
place." the younger man assented
"She's not bit like the other girls on,
meets about; don't know why, but sh'
seems out Of it some how"
well, her story is rather an odd one
you know"
but don't know more. Where doc
the oddness come in? Her people ar
conventional enough
"Yes; but she never saw them til
she was 16 or II: for her mother mar
ried beneath her, and was cut in con
sequence. The marriage turned on
badly, 1 believe, and Mrs. Carruther
died in Australia, where the child wa
brought up by the people with whor
she was staying at the time; rathe
a rough and ready bringing up,
fancy"
"Then how does she come to be here
and forgiven?"
"Oh, it all came out somehow; Ca,
ruthers died. and then inquiries wer
made as to the child's whereabouts
and she was transplanted over here
rather change from her experience
in the bush."
"An agreeable one, should think"
Him. that depends on how you loo
at it! Now, from her point of vie,
we may be little tame and common
place. don't know anything about i
mind you, but it's just possible sh
may prefer primitive nature to OIL
enervating and overdone nineteent
century civilization. To my mind tn
girl looks bored"
"Then if she marries Melbourne"
at will merely be to escape froi
the present position. Since her grant
fathers death year ago. she has foun
ii more wearisome than ever, or II
much mistaken. She was really fond {
poor old Draycourt, but for the res
of them-'Pon my soul. I'm sorry fo
the grill"
The music ceased, and the speaker
moved away and the long processio
Of dancers began to pace out into til
cooler air of the long, flower-decke
corridor.
But the man near them still kept h
place in the deep shadow of the Gu
tains, and watched, with eager eye
10 see that tall, white-robed figure pa:
through the doorway.
But he watched in vain. He had 10,
sight of her just before the dance en-,
ed, and she had no doubt left the bal
room by some other door. From Il
station he had chosen he could con
mand the whole room, and he soon sa
that Maud Carruthers was NO long,
there.
And tonight he held every momeI
wasted in which she was out ct sigh
For the last timc--it was for the la
fime-and already the precious m
ments were slipping rapidly awayl
He must find her again, even thoue
in order to do SO he must risk discover
and recognition.
i Little risk TINT she would recogni
him sfter four years, and y such wild