Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-04-22
TRANSPLANTED.

est and brightest, thanks TO lavish deco
ration and the kaleidoscope effect pro-
duced by the throngs OF brilliantly
dressed dancers as they whirled round
in all the infinite variety and picturesque
incongruity of fancy costume.
And yet despite all the life and color
there was something fictitious and unreal
in the brilliant gayety of the picturesque
scene: just as there was an undertone
of passionate pain in the sweet music of
the yalse which rang through the room
an undert0ne which seemed strangely
out of harmony with the superficial en-
Joyment 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
pretense of pleasure around her: 10
one unObserved spectator this idea sud
denly occurred with the force of con-
yiction.
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 q haunting look of Wearl-
ness which gave them an indescribable
path0s. 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
NOuilS-ScdfCclA
and looked even younger than her years:
and the man who was watching her
drew yet further back into the shadow
of the heayily-curtained doorway as d
flood of memories rushed over him
memories held in check till ROW by an
iron will. but released in q moment 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 audlb1y enough on
the scene before them.
How charming Maud Carruthers is
looking tonight! That girl grows pref
tier every time | see herl
rs it true that she's engaged to young
Melbourne?''
Wants confirmation, 1 should say.
He's hard hit, and her people approve of
him naturally; he's we'll connected and
fabulously wealthy; but as to the fair
Maud herself-if she is engaged to him
she might look a little more cheerful
over it."
Yes, l shouldn't feel fattered in his
place" the youngest man assented.
''She's not a bit like the other girls one
meets about; don't know why, but she
seems out of it some how
We'll, her story is rather an odd one,
you know"
But [ don't know more Where does
the oddness come IL. Her people are
conventional enough
Yes; but she never saw them till she
was is or II; for her mother married
beneath her, and was cut in consequence.
The marriage turned out badly. L be-
lieve, and Mrs. Carruthers died in Aus
tralia, where her child was brought up
by the people with whom she was stay
ing at the time; rather a rough and
ready bringing uD. | f9ncy'
Then how does she come to be here,
and fOrgiyen%
''Oh, if all came out somehow: Car
ruthers died, and then inquiries were
made as TO the child's whereabouts, and
she was transplanted over here; rather
q change from her experiences in the
bush"
An agreeable one, should think
H m, that depends on how you look
at it. Now. from her point of view we
may be little tame and commonplace.
/ don't know anything about it. mind
YOU, but it's just possible she may pre-
fer primitive nature to our eneryating
and oveTdOne Nineteenth century civili-
cation: To my mind the girl looks
bored"
Then if she marries Melbourne
1t viii merely be to escape from the
present position. Since her GRANDPA
Tiers death a year ago, she has found
it more WearisOme than ever or I'm
Of poor old Draycourt, but for the rest
of the -- Pom my soul, I'm sorry for
the girl"
The music ceased, and the speakers
moved away as the long procession of
dancers began to pace out into the cooler
air of the long, flower-decked corridor.
But the man near them still kept his
place in the deep shadow of the curtains,
and watched, with eager eyes, to see
that tall white-robed figure pass through
the doorway.
But he watched in vain He had
lost sight Of her just before the dance
ended, and she had no doubt left the
ballroom by some other door. From the
station he had chosen he could command
the whole room, and he soon saw that
Maud Carruthers was no longer there
And tonight he held every moment
wasted in which she was out of his
sight. For the last time-it was for
the last time-and already the precious
moments were slipping rapidly away!
He must find her again, even though
III order to do so he must risk discovery
and recognition.
Little risk that she would recognize
him after four years and in such wide
" different surroundings His dress
too. with its heavy cloak, and broad SOM
Der hat, would surely be Il sufficient dis
guise if she should still chance to retain
slight recollection of her old friend and
Would-be brother; the man under whose
IooL an uer nappy CHILDHOOD ndu Deen
passed.
And even if she did know him, what
then?
He was surely capable of keeping his
secret still, as he had kept it in the old
days. She was little likely to guess it
now in all the pride of her triumphant
youth and beauty; now, when so many
younger, richer men were at her feet
Oh, he knew his place! And he smiled
grimly to himself Had not her self
complacent relations been careful to
point it out to him-most considerably,
no doubt-four years ago! Certainly,
there was little likelihood Of his forget
ting now. No, there could be no real
risk in the meeting should they chance
to meet. No possible risk for her, and
for himself-he would gladly give the ten
best years of his life just to hear her
voice again; just 70 meet her gray eyes
once more with tire old frank smile in
them that he knew so well No posi-
lble risk-no; he had been a fool and cow