Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-02

, lutul "do OOhiU uOS OC D"'N1 ~
the man seemed too young to be
her father. Surely l said to my
self with a jealons paug, surely be
cannot be her loyeri
The whole evening I pestered
my friends IN the hope of getting,
in some indirect way, an introduc
tion to the girl who had fascinated
me, but | was quite unsuccessful
Once her eyes met mine. Nhat
she read there l do not know but
she suddenly turned aside, her pale
cheeks showing sudcen glow Of
rose color. Vexed with myself for
making her blush, l turned away
in an opposite direction, and took
care not to approach so near htI
again.
The evening wore on, and it was
evident that my ambition was not
to be gratified. About 3 o'clock
left the ball room and .muffied in
my thick ulster, was making my
way along side street which led
to the main thoroughfsre where
handson we're to be found,
when l heard a rush of flying feet
behind me.
turned, and there, close to me
stood The Snow Fair, white opera
cloak wrapping her from head TO
foot, and her sweet, sad face look
lug out at me from within a hood
of swansdOwn.
| stood and started, too much
surprised to think or form con =
j. cture.
is there a letter box nearF she
gasped out, for she was breathleSs
as much from excitement it seemed
to me, az from the e&ertiOn of run
ming. On, please, please tell me.
Where shall | look for cneF she
went Oh, without giving ME time
to collect my thoughts.
Tdon't know where the nearest
letter box is,' [ replied, but | can
easily find out. If you Will in
trust your letter to me | will see
that 1t is posted
NO, 1 canno'; dare not trust 1t
to anyone. Do try to find out for
me-
The words died away on her
lips, Tor she as well as /, had heard
the noise of some one running mp
to us, and the next moment the
man with the short black bead
stood over us. Rage knotted the
veins on his forehead till they
seemed to he near bursting. Rag,
for the space of two seconds, krpt
him speechless. During those two
seconds the girl crept perceptibly
nearer to me, and something
smooth, stiff, thin, like a piece OF
thick pastebosrd, was pressed luto
my hand. l slipped it at once
into the pocketof my ulster.
What are you dong bereF ht
said to the glrl in a tone OF sur
pressed fury, and before she had
time to answer he turned savagely
upon me. 'How dare you speak to
my daughter he demanded, al
vancing upon me in slow and
threatening manner. | had Just
time to see a look of mute suppl
cation 10 the girls eyes. She was
entreating me not to betray her.
Really, SIR l said, with as
much GOODNESS as | could command;
really, you must pardon me for
saying that you seem little less
than reasonable. One ia permitted
to speak to young lady at a ball.
'In the open street? In this ella n
sestine manneIP
'We were not in great privacy
TO be sure, but that might be urged
in mitigation OF the offence ] said
with a smile.
you shall not hoodwink me.
What was it that she was say ingtC
you when l came upP
I'll have been guilty OF indis'
cretlou, the fault is mine, and
am ready to answer for 1t, but you
cannot expect me to repeat what
ever tri6es l may have permitted
myself to say to the young lady
whom fear l may not have an op
portunity of meeting again. NJ
gentleman would be guilty of sucl
a thing, nor, am sure, would you
it you had been In my place.
l saw by the mans face that
had achieved my object. L ha'
led him to believe that there ha'
been nothing more than a llttl
foolish Irritation between the youn
lady and myself. He seized th
girls hand, tucked it under hl
arm, and marched oft.
AS for baying an opportunity Q
meeting her again, | will tax
or,o,ons oood care that you don't