Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-10-09

Lrecy, her passionate, dark ing glance
an heightened beauty betraying the tri
umph of the moment to her! and here
was Loveday, ancing In and out among
the dancers unattended, her wild and
brilliant graces fresh as ever, as If to
prove her care free independence of
Aubcron's smiles
Toward her Accrington wcnds his way
with melancholy sweetness, and, catch-
ing her eye, without word wooes her to
him by the sheer force o his dominant
ga c. To see her struggle against him,
Nhirl past with defiant glance, circle
round the grassy mead, and fit back, q
littc nearer each revolution, lur. d by his
cycs-those deep, dark, mournful eyes
that seem to brood over grief and wrong,
and to plead for sympathy-till at last
she is close to him, laughing out a. sill
very echo of the waltz! She sweeps him
tho presentation courtesy" and comes
up to recover with fairy feet pointed,
and look Of pctu!ant waywardness,
crying;
"Eere l am, Co onel; now speak quick
", for my turn comes next to dance"
81 did not summon you, Sprite," said
Accrington, very softly, and looking
deep into her upraised eyes, without
Smi c.
"But-yes, you did! You--"
Looked at you, that was ALL" mur-
INJURED the gentle tones in her ear; 'but
perhaps mesmerizod you littlo.
Perhaps he did!
She tried to look at i'm independent
Iy, but could not endure, without emo
tion, tho earnest beseechng of his gaze
81 thought mamma had sent for mo
l saw you talking with her." said Love-
day, turning away, but slowly.
you will give me one watz?" asked
he, staying her in spite Of lerso'f
heSitated, glanciny involuntarily
at Aubcron with trace Of anxiety,
which Accrlngton Instantly OWNED as
The wish to avoid doing anything which
might not be to AuberOn's taste.
at is but o little thing for careworn
man like me to ask from your buoyant
youtA, that you should give me back five
minutes of my by gono days of happi-
ness!" said he wistfu'ly. "Shall you
dislike 1t so much?"
"No, no, no, no" faltered she, abashod;
81 shall waltz with you for my next
partner" And with that he let her 60
In few minutes Mcrrion Rae was
discngaged, and Accrington seized the
opportunity.
"Hor grace sent me to amuso you,
Queen of Scots" he said, airily, leading
her for promenade.
al am qu escent," returned the lady,
abSenty; "dO your best
"Fair queen, l beSeech your add"
a'Tis yours, S.r Colonel Speak,"
81 love a lady"
"Eh bicn! So do most mon"
"Alas, have a rival
impossible Who could rival Colonel
Accrington?"
Sweet demoselle, you are pleased to
laugh at me; yet am in trouble
Ibid you not offer to amuse mo?"
"True. Well, you may laugh, yet help
me, AM 1 will be ontent."
81 help youl Is it poSsible?"
"Are you not as wise a. you are witty
as good as you are pretty? You GER
tainly can, II you will, do much to extri'
cate he from dilemma.
"Ah, now am dying to aid you, your
nattery Is so sweet. Only show me how
| can be of use to yOl."
Suppose a cavalier, much like that
dark browel fellow Accrington, loved
sunny tressed Aurora like"
@Mlss Dellamere, for instance" inter
posed Merr on, laughing mischevously,
as he stopped and looked at her. "Oh,
| have not been blind, or Colonel, and
l wish you every success
"Thank you, Lady MerrlCn; now l
shall tell you the obstacle. Suppose
this lady was half prom sed, by the par
ents, TO a young man who loves herr
(Merlion s.arled and changed COLOR
"but only with fraternal love-" pro-
ceeded Accrington, who had not lost
this sign of emotion, "for his whole heart
is evidently given to another, and that
other -"
"Ha! ha! hal quito Comedy of Err
rors, " laughed Merrion, defantly meet
ing his significant glance, though her
brilliant face glowed with rich bushes.
"And now, what part can l play in oil
this? Or have you yet to come to that
point?"
"And that other" resumed Accrlngton,
boldly, "has only to accept Lis atten-
TINS for few days, during which she
may be endeavoring to teach her OWN
heart to respond TO his. I bus the first
named lady will feel herself free to love
me, and all will end well"
"But by what caprice do you confide
al this to me?" demanded the high
spirited girl, who would rather have
perished than permit any one to guess
the state of her heart toward Aubcron
"Ah, well-perhaps only to amuse
you! Let US talk Of something else,"
said the Colonel, carelessly. And quite
convinced that she understood all that
was necessary, he soon led her back to
her friends.
They danced together, Richard Ac-
,rington and Loveday Dellamere
He slid his nervous arm about her
waist, his left hand clasped her finger
lips &c icately, firmly. They fioaGed
:ound among the others, light as shad-
ows Gickerng, and upborne by the Wild
measure of q waltz whirwind. His
warm breath on her brow, his dark
syes softly shining down upon her, his
zente strength supporting hers as II
one will governed their motions. A sim
ynlar' sensation gradually took posses
sion of LOveday, as II she was being
0orne out Of herself, feeling as dreamy
and delicious as inexplicabe Perceiv-
ing by the relaxing of her self-poise his
growing power over her, Accrington
softly tightened his Gasp Of her waist,
stole & ilrmer hold Of ber hand, and,
timing his movement to the long drawn,
.onging notes of the next musical bars,
&c bert lower over her, and allowed his
dark eyes, charged with unutterably
oeseeching tenderness, to feed upon
All 10 oo,l efroo mad forth In