Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-05-30

IDENTIFY been aroused by the singular abb |
straction of this handsome, dis
but sardonic-lool<ing oti-
cor But the next moment he was sim
gularly Interested.
A tall young woman had Just moved
into the center of the room with an in
dolent yet simple gracefulness that
seemed familiar to him. A change in
her position suddenly revealed her face.
1t was Miss Faulkner. Previously he
had only known her in the riding habit
of confederate gray which she had al
first affected, or in the light morning
muslin dress she had worn at Gray
Oaks. 1t seemed to him tonight that
the careless elegance of her full dress
became her still more; that the pretty
willfulncss of her chin and shoulders
was chastened and modified by the
pearls round her fair throat. Suddenly
their eyes met; her face paled visibly;
he fancied that she almost leaned
against her companion for support;
then she met his glance again with Il
face into which the color had as sud
denly rushed, butwith eyes thatseemcd
70 be appealing to him, even to the
point of pain and fright. Brant was
not conceited: he could see that the
girls agitation was not the effect OF
any mere personal influence in his
recognition, but of something else. He
turned hastily away; when he looked
around again she was gone.
Nevertheless he felt filled with a
vague irritation. Did she think hin,
such a fool as to imperil her safety by
openly recognizing her without her
consent? Did she think that he would
dare to presume upon the service she
had done him? Or, more outrageous
thought!-had she heard of his dis
grace, known it's cause and feared that
he would drag her into disclosure to
save himself? No! no-she could not
think that! She had perhaps regretted
what she had done in a freak of girlish
chivalry; she had returned to her OLD
feelings and partisanship; she was
only startled at meeting the single
witness Of her folly. Well, she need
not fear! He would studiously
avoid her hereafter, and she should
know it. And yet-yes, there was c
yet" For he could not forget-in
deed, in the past three weeks it had been
more often before him than he cared
to think-that she was the one human
being who had been capable of 4 great
act of self-sacrifice for him-her
enemy, her accuscr-the man who had
scarcely treated her civilly. He was
ashamed to remember now that this
thought had occurred to him at the
bedside of his WHEAT the hour of her
escape--cven on the fatal slope on which
! he had been struck down. And now
this fond illusion must go with the
rest-the girl who had served him SC
Loyalty was ashamed of it! A bitter
smile crossed his face.
well, | don't wonder! Here are al
the women asking ne who is that good
looking Mephistopheles, with the burn
ing eyes, who is prowling around my
rooms as if searching for a victim
Why, you're smiling for all the work.
like poor Jim, when he used to do the
Red Ayenger."
Susy's voice, an illustration, recalled
him to himself. Furious | may wei
be-" he said, with a gentler smile, al
though his eyes still glittered, furious
that / have to wait until the one womal
| came to see, the one woman have
not seen for so long. while these pup
pets have been nightly dancing beior'
her--can give me few moments from
them, to talk of the old days"
In his reaction he was quite sincere
although he felt slight sense of re
morse as he saw the quick faint colo
rise, as in those old days, even throug
the to-night's powder of her cheel
, That's like the old Kla' uns," she sale
, with slight pressure of his arm, "bu
we will not have a chance to spea
] until late. When they are nearly a
3 gone you'll take me to get a little rt
: freshment, and we'll have chat in tn
$ conservatory. But you must drop tina
! awfully wicked look, and make you
e self generally agreeable TO those won
y en- until then"
. 1t was perhaps part of this reactio
e which enabled him to obey his hostes
I, commands with certain reckiessne:
- that. however, seemed to be in keepin
with the previous Satanic reputation /
had, all unconsciously, achieved. II
women listened to the cynical fiippanC
of the good-looking soldier with an III
disguised admiration, which, in tur
excited curiosity and envy from h
own sex He saw the whispered que
tioning, the lifted eyebrows, the scorl
full Struggling of shoulders-and kne
that the story of his disgrace was
the air. But 1 fear this only excite
Continued next Saturday.