The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-10-31

i hit 4AEl Ra4r lat a. A14A VI AAAa4 oAAE-
and lit up by large, clear gray eyes,
her whole expression being one of some
what listless sadness. ! found myself
specializing as to who she was. where
she lived. and why she lived. as l soon
decided that she must, In semi-solitude
with her morose father-I took their
relationship for granted-who scarce
~ ever. while they were within my ken,
addressed word 10 her.
Night after night ] went TO Waux-
hall, drawn-though I would not then
have admitted it-by a pair Of clear
gray ewes. There the ill-assorted
couple always sat. scarcely ever speak
ing TO one another, she listening abb
| stractedly 70 the music, he mostly read
ing a newspaper. As the last item on
the programme was begun they inyari-
ably rose to depart.
One night confess II with certain
feeling of shame-I followed them with
the object of finding where they lived.
Down the Rue de la Loi and the Rue
Royal they went as far as the Place St.
Gudnle, and there. in crowd close 10
the cathedral, lost sight Of them, al
though | apostrophized myself as a
blank fool for doing so. !. penniless
playwright-I liked the name. though
still among the great unplsyed Sup
pose l met them, suppose my infatua-
ton for a pathetic pale face with
searching gray eyes should develop
| into real, passionate love fol- the living,
pulsing personality to which they be-
longed; what could ] do, whose
worldly possessions consisted of 6 20
sterling. few Enacted plays, and some
unpublished stories?
Thus | reasoned with myself, but
reason has little to do with governing
mans actions in these matters: and,
besides. ] argued. probably shall be
promptly disillusionized as soon as /
have spoken TO Miss Gray Eyes"
The very next evening my opportuni-
ty occurred; nor was / slow to seize it.
] reached Wauxhall early and took my
place close by the table where the IN
known ones were in the habit Of sitting.
Presently the man arrived alone. Ny
heart sank within me-she was not
coming-and then reboundcd. for there
should be no difficulty in tackling the
man when by himself. | pretended to
be earnestly reading paper. but out
of the tail of my eye observed the new
conner take his accustomed seat. The
band struck up lively tune, and | was
wondering how | should introduce my
self when a voice at my shoulder said:
Sir, when you have done with your
paper, may l glance at II for a mo
ment?"
! started at being thus suddenly adj
dressed, looked up and found the bent
figure of the father of Mfrs Gray Eyes"
standing by me. Here was lueki dip
lomatically offered the paper at once.
and before the evening was over had had
some talk with Mr. Mortimer: and fair
ly accurately did gauge his character
as that of man prematnrely aged and
deeply bitten with the gambling mania.
So far as ! would permit him his whole
talk was of stocks and shares, Of odds
and chances. When he rose TO go |
proffered him ny arm. He glanced sus-
piciously at me and then took l.. Be-
timorously enough to ask after his
usual companion, and to express hope
that she was not i'll. No; size had stayed
in on account of a headache.
was not slow in pressing my adj
vantage. The next evening ] boldly APP
preached the Mortimers, and, grudging-
~, the old man introduced me. Now,
said I to myself, now for disillusion-
ment. What self-deceivers we are, for
| neither wanted nor eyI ected to be
! disillnsioned
And / was not. Night after night l
talked to Grace-I had heard her father
call her so, and theneeforward she was
Grace to me, and the more we talked the
more we found that we had many tastes
in common. | became daily more de-
voted to this girl, of whose existence /
knew nothing a short month ago. oh,
If ! only should secure the first prize in
the lottery, or If only my comedy were
to be produced at the Tbespian, then |
might dare-what might | not dare?
One morning | went - the Botanic
garden, for Grace had said the evening
before that she often spent an hour
there at noon. A couple Of small chill
6ren came playing near where l sat.
They began chatting TO one another in
French, as they gathered up stones
from the path and arranged them on
the garden seat. / tried talking to the
youngsters, and they promptly began
transferring the pebbles from the seat
to my knees, laughing merrily the
while. was so taken up With them that
| did not notice anyone approach, and
was startled at hearing n sweet, familiar
voice say:
"Mr Drummond, what are those chill
lren doing?"
| rose at once, 10 the disturbance of
their playthings. Good T. orning, Miss
| Mortimer; this is an unexpected pleas
| ure."
She blushed at my remaTk-seeing, l
suppose, with feminine sharpness, that
! was there merely on the chance of
meeting her. The two little children
| evidently decided that | was an unsat-
isfactory comrade, and returned tn their
| garden seat as more stable foundation
for their buildings. When addressing
my companion they called her "Mees
Mariner" and l suppose that looked
surprised, for she said:
II was about to tell you, Mr.. Drum
mond, that my name is not Mortimer.
Mr.. Mortimer is my stepsather. These