Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-03-20

cOlilded heaYlly Win SOMEONE cOil'
lug in the opposite directions.
i beg your PARDON
Indeed, it was my fdnlt.'
Aud both passed on in their
several directions.
The person who had gone to the
wall in the collision was sight
enl dressed III deep mourning.
Sac tarne into a door to her left.
and, closing it behind her, tossed
her hat petulantly on to the table.
is that YOU. NeliP called a
voice from the balcony.
Yes; come in, want to talk TO
YOU
The other woman entered. She
also was dressed in deep mourn
ing.
What's the matterY she asked,
slancln at her companion.
Nothing more than usual. Why
will you insist on staying here.and
like thlsV--It's aNfdl.'
You are always so inpatient.
Nell. tell yon that
A sharp knock at the door IN
teIrupted her. 'Eatrezp called the
girl curtly, aud then, to both wo.
mans astOniShment, the big form
of Mrs. WidOver boned upon
them.
Can you spare me five minutes,
Mrs. Seymour asked she beam
ingly.
Oh, certainly. Do sit down.
said Mrs. Seymour, while Nell
drew forward a chair.
I'ye come to 'sk yov II you
Tould care to help u.s. Continued
Mrs. WildOver, as she proceeded
to unfold the scheme of the fair.
Mrs. Seymour and her daughter
had been at the HJtel dc Flanders
for over week, but somehow they
seemed to have as>inilated with
none Of the sets. Perhaps their
deep mourning isolated them, as it
prevented their joining the circle
des strangers, bat Mrs. WildoYer
felt that it would lie sweet and
coudescnding of her to take them
under her protection and to patron.
ize them.
'And now, what will You both
dol' concluded the good lady,
beamIng on them gOOd-naturedly.
will you take a stall, Miss Sry-
mour, or Will you sing in the con.
cerut, or play, or whatl
Miss Seymour hesltated and
glanced at her mother. I'm afraid
my singing anu playing don't
amount to much,' she began,
Ebut--
But she dances nicely, Mrs.
WHdover, If th 1t is of any u.e to
yOu.
Mrs. Wlldover gave little
gasp,and then suddenly recOllecled
that skirtdancing was one of the
recognized accomplishments.
That will be charmingn she ex
claimed. and you don't thiuk You
will be nervous?
Nell shook her head decidedly,
Then that's all tight. Aud
won't you help US at all, Mrs.
SeN moul9'
Oh, I'll Sell progrdmes, take
tickets, anything you like repll' d
the lady, laughing; make myself
generally ust fdl, IN fact
swell, anyway, thai's something
to do!' exclaimed the gill when
their visitor had departed.
'Exactllr
Bat whether the game is worth
the candle; whether it's worth
while vegetaung here fora fortnight
for the pleasure of showing one 's
ankles at a fancy tair, Pm sure l
don't know
Neither do | as yet, my dear.
Wait ii the time comes. Wehl
soon see. Bat yol are certainly
right in one thing, Nell; black does
not shew you off.'
Tie girl gave something be-
tween grunt and laugh and
glanced at herself IN tue long
mirror, tho invarlable adj met to
an apartment in f)relgu hotel.
she was tall and very slight,
with a clear, cOlolless complexion
and crisp red hair; her eyes were
heavily lidded, aud when she took
the trouble to raise them they
were of a curious changefd tone.
In her black gown no one would
have called her pretty; yet to an
observer there were great pos
sibllites about ber. She recog
nlzed the fact better than most
people, and therefore there Was