The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-02

Il
81 believe met lady of that name
at tie Lakeside several years ago. How
| came she to honor me with her re-
membrance?"
"Oh, she had just met Mrs. Stick
ney, who would naturally remind her
of you."
He looked decidedly annoyed, aud
made no reply. At that moment he
readiness, and excusing himself, with
dlew, mentally execrating the oifcious
! Miss Westall. /,
plains Miss I'rafford's expression of
disapproval when Mrs Lane announced
| my name. Meddlesome gossip!" he
muttered.
When tho guests assembled in the
parlor that evening it was discovered
that Mr.. Stickney possessed fine
baritone voice. He was pleased to
| find that Mss Trafford was a skilled
pianist. and musical evening fol-
lowed which was pronounced q sue
cess.
The next day Mr. Stlokney and Miss
Traford, accompanied by old Mr..
Daniels and elderly Miss Street, went
off for spin on their wheels. Mr..
Stickney would willingly have dis
pensed with the society Of his elderly
companions, but contepted himself
with the anticipation OF future rides
with the charming Miss Tratford.
In the afternoon he engaged her in
game OF cribbage, and in the evening
their musical programme was con-
tinued.
Two or three days passed pleasant
ly. Mr.. Stickney had rs many oppor-
tunities Of enjoying Miss Trafiord's
society as he could reasonably expect,
but he felt vaguely that their inter-
course was unsatisfactory. Her man
ner was cordial and fr endly, with not
trace OF consciousness, AMI therein
lay the trouble. She treated him ex-
acny as she did old Mr.. Daniels. and
he could not understand it. 1t was
quite as though he were ''out of the
race" In some way. When he paid
her compliments, as he ten did, for
how could he help it? she was tolerant
of them, but looked half amused, AMI
as if they had no meaning. And once
when he spoke to her with universal
warmth, she looked ut him III sur
prlsed, grave dlsapproval.
She gave him her society freely
enough in the crowded little parlor !;
but she never encouraged any tetc.a-
tetes, and always included some sold
fossils" as Mr.. Stickney mentally
characterized thcm. in their bicycle
ride.
At country places one is lax in mat
ters OF ceremony, and Miss Traffprd
frequently went rowing with Mr..
Hodges, the dull young man hitherto
alluded to, without the presence OF n
third person; when Mr.. SticNney
asked her to favor him in the same
way she declined to do so.
"Bat you 60 out alone with
Hodges" he said.
"rhat is not the same thing" she
coolly answered.
"Why not?"
eff you do not SEQ tho distinction,
I am afraid 1 cannot make it clear to
you"
"Why you are not-you cannot be
engaged to that Mr.. Hodges!" he ex-
claimed in startled tone.
"And If L were," she replied, "it
would be no concern OF yours, Mr..
Stickney."
The severity of her tone silenced
him for the moment, and before he
had recovered himself she had moved
away.
He was amazed at the turn of al
fairs. That he, the aggreved party,
to whom explanations were due, should
be treated as the offender. was indeed
turning of the tables, and he deter
mined that the subject OF the inter-
view should be continued. He simply
would not be dismissed in so insulting
n manner. Did she think he had none
OF the rights or natural emotions OF
mankind?
81 never knew q woman who could
be SO cxasperating" he said to him
self. "Nor so charming" he added
with ruclul smile.
That evening he said to her
"You did not give me the true rea-
son OF the difference in your treatment
Of Mr.. Hodges and of me. Now did
you?"
81 was not aware that I gave any
reason," she replied in her careless
way.
Don't you think one ia due me-"
'No. 1t is folly to talk about such
/ a trite. l do no; want to strain at IL
gnat, but ont Of respect to Mrs. Stick
ney. to say nothing of myself, [ am
unwilling to row with you alone"
"What in heaven's name has Mrs.
Stickncy to do with it? L owo her no
! allegiance. Because L was in love with
her. or thought myself SO, two years
! ago, Gs it is evident Miss Westail has
told you, 1t does not follow that I
can never enjoy woman's society
, agalnl"