The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-24
TRANSPLANTED.

It wns the biggest ball OF. the season,
and tho ASSEM- bly, room of tho fashionable
watering place was looking Its gayest and
brightest, thanks to lavish decoration and
the Kaleidoscope eGe6t produced by the
throngs OF brilliantly dressed dancers rs
they whiriod around in NIL tho Infinite va
rlety and picturesque inoongruity Of fancy
costume.
And yot, despite all tho lilo and color,
there was something fictitious aud unreal
in the brilliant gnyety OF the picturesque
sceno, Just as there was an undertone of
passionate pain In the sweet music Of the
waltz which rang through the room, an
undertone which seemed strangely out Of
harmony with the superficial enjoyment
OF the crowd.
Or was 1t only the look I'm q girls face
that was out Of kouping and seemed at
once to give tho lio to all the hollow pro.
tense Of pleasure around horY To ono un-
observed spectator this Idea suddenly 90
CURED with the force OF a conviction.
1t was beautiful face, beautiful alike
In regularity of feature and exquisite deli
oaoy OF ooloring. But the smile on the
sweet mouth was forced and full Of unnat-
ural gayety, while the srent gray Dyes had
haunting look of WEAKNESS which gave
them nm indisoribable pathos. Tho girl
was tall and slight, and tho white dress
she wore, graceful though IL WINS, seemed
almost too rich and elaborate for hcr sen-
der figure. She WAS young-scareely ono
and twonty-and looked even younger
than her years, and the man who WINS
watching her drew yet farther back into
the shadow of tho heavily ourtained door
way as food Of memories rushed over
him-memeries held in check till NOW by
nm iron will, but released In moment by
the sight OF tho beautiful, sad faue that
was all tho world to him, though for four
long yenrs it had passed out of his lifo.
How he had missed heri Surely no had
mover fully realized 1t till now.
A chance remark arrested his attention.
Two mon Esar wero talking together,
commenting audibly enough OH the scene
before them.
How charming Maud Carrathors is
looking tonight! That girl grows prettier
every timo 1 SEQ her"
''Is It true that she is engaged to young
Molbournef"
wants confirmation, should say,
Hos hard hit, and her people approve Of
him naturally. He's we'll connected and
fabalously wealthy, but es tho fair Maud
herself-if she is enEag ed to him shc might
look little more cheerful over It,"
Yes; shouldn't feel f1attered in his
place, tho younger man assented. "She's
not bit like the other girls ono meets
about; don't know why, but sho seems on:
Of it somehow"
well, her story is rather an odd ono,
you know"
But don't know more Where does
the oddness como IMP Her people are con.
ventional enough"
"Yes, but she never saw them till she
was l6 or II, for her mother married be-
meath her and was cut in consequence.
The marriage turned out badly, believe,
and Mrs Carruthers died In Australia,
where tho child was brought up by the
people with whom she was staying Mt the
time-rather a rough and ready bringing
up, l fancy"
Then how does she come to be here and
forgivenf'
"Oh, 1t oil came out somehow. Car
ruthers died, and then inquiries were
made us to the ohild's whereabouts, and
she was transplantod over here Rather
change from her experiences in the bush.
AN agreeable one, 1 should think"
III m, that depends on how you look at
it Now, from hsr point of view wo NAV
be little tame and commonplace. l don't
know anything about 1t, mind you, but
It's just possible she may prefer primitive
nature to our enervating and overdone
nineteenth century civilization. To my
mind tho girl looks bersa.''
Then Is she marries Meibourne''-
1T will merely be TO escape from, The
present position. Since her grandfsthers
death, year ago, she has found 1t moro
wearisome than ever, or Pm much mis-
taken. She was ronlly fond of poor old
Drayceurt, but for the rest Of them-'pon
my soul, i IN sorry for the sfjrli,i
The music ceased, and the speakers
moved away as the long procession Of
dancers began to pace cut into the cooler
air of the long, flower deckod corridor
But the man nenr them still kept his
place In ths 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 doa BIT left tho ballroom by
some other door. From the station he had
chosen he could command the whole room,
and no soon saw that Maud Csrruthers
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 in
order to do so he must risk discovery and
recognition.
Little risk that she would recognize
him after four years, and in such widely
inherent surroundings! His dress, too
with its heavy cloak and broad, somber
mt, would surely BIO sufficient disguise
II she should still chance to retain slight
~ hos, AZ fu;.