The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-05

ladies.
who is Mrs. Lewis?" asked Lois of
Miss Cowan. She felt she nstinctively
disliked the overdressed lady with the
overassured manner who had Just left
them.
"Oh, she is very bad form!" answered
Miss Cowan. II can't understand how
people can let her run them. l believe
she positively takes money for bringing
nice young men like Mr.. Grey to balls"
And In fact, Roland Grey was way
laid, on his approaching Lois, by Mrs.
Lewis, who seemed determined to Sc
cure such a presentable young man
for her many social requirements.
Dycey came and sat down by Lois.
Il have just been hearing how delight
fully you sing, Miss Campbell. You are
fond of music? Did you hear 'Lohen-
grin last night?"
Lois flushed. "Oh, yes" she replied.
Il have never been to the opera be-
fore"
Dycey was. pleased with he" enthusi-
asm. You should go to Bayreuth."
How : should love that But fear
there is no chance of my doing So at
all events, this year"
Il am taking a party there in Aug
ust. You must come with us, Miss
Campbell"
Lois, in the excitement that the sound
or mention of Wagner aroused in her,
at once began to ply Dycey with ques-
tions about it, so that Lady Beau
champs remark when the party had
broken up was natural enough.
You seemed to get on with Mr..
Dycey, Lois. He is amusing, is he
| not?"
Yes. We quarreled at ,dinner over
| Boschkoff, and made it up afterward
| over music"
He knows a good deal about music"
said Mary Beauchamp. He is really
cleverer than most Of his set. 1t is
their creed of mutual admiration which
annoys me, though 1 can't help liking
them individually. 1t will be very in
teresting if you become one of their
shining lights. 1t might very well
come about through your singing and
Mr.. Dycey's good word. But be COM
mon mortal as long as you can" She
added: Il like your friend, Mr.. Grey
very much He seems so straightfor-
| ward and sincere"
The musical sympathy between Lois
and Mr.. Dycey having been fully es-
tablished, MIR. Dycey volunteered his
services for accompanying her in the
| songs she had arranged to sing at a
concert Lady Beauchamp was giving.
| Their practices brought him often to
the house, more often than was neces-
sary. but then he wished to improve
his acquaintance with this new little
| girl" as he called her to his friends.
| lie got into the way of escorting Lois
and her chaperon to concerts Lady
| BeauChnm who did NOT cara for
music, performed her duties faithfully.
Once, and once only, did she fail her
| sudden summons to the country.
| Lois was wild with disappointment:
she ives to have heard Paderewski.
She roamed about the drawing room
disconsolately after Mary had gone.
She could not settle to any occupation,
but stood drumming with her fingers
against the window pane, and staring
absently into the park
Suddenly hanson drove up to the
| door, the bell rang and the butler an
nounced MIR. Dycey."
l saw Lady BeauCh1mp driving into
Victoria station this morning" he said.
'and l feared that looked as if you
were not going to St. James's hall this
afternoon"
Yes" replied Lois. she was called
suddenly into the country, so l can
not 60"
you must not miss this concert"
he exclaimed. Il have hanson wait
ing. Come with me-"
The girl hesitated.
Dycey interrupted her with a slightly
plying smile. you don't mean to say
you are afraid of the proprieties, Miss
Campbell? l assure you it is all right
quite usual now. Won't you Gomez"
Lois flushed at the thought of being
considered prudish. She did not like
this mans smile at her timidity.
+, I'll be ready in a minute" she said,
l,and left the room hastily.
why should she not so?" she argued
with herself. There was nothing wrong
in it. and it would be delightful.
She felt shy and strange in St.
James's hall. seated beside Dycey, who
knew so many people, yet delightfully."-
important, too, as she studied with him
his large edition of the sonata She
was soon lost in the music, and thought
of nothing else. But her sense of exul-
tation forsooii her when the concert
was over. AS they made their way to
the door her cavilier exchanged re-
marks with many acquaintances, and
Lois felt they eyed her inquiringly.
"Dycey has picked up new girl"
she heard one lady remark. and flushed
furiously.
"Oh, please don't trouble. l can quite
well go home alone" she implored, as
Dycey hailed a cab.
That's out of the question" he re-
Piled with lordly air. II shall GER
taintS see you home"
AS they were getting into the han
som, Roland Grey came along the
pavement He stopped for a second in
surprise, then took off his hat stifly
and walked on.
Lois was angry with him, angry with
herself Why should he look surprised?
She had done nothing wrong, she re-
peated to herself. All the same, she
devoutly wished that he had not seen
them.
When they reached the house, and
Dycey had rung the bell, she said, put
ting out her hand:
Thank you so very much. / can't
tell you how immensely I enjoyed the
music. 1t was most good of you to take
me-"
mot a bit," he replied. 1T is a great
delight to have such a sympathetic
companion" He had taken her hand,
but did not mean to be dismissed at
once. Don't you think We had better
have a little further practice for to-
morrow? We could have 1t before Lady
Beauchamp returns"
The vision of Roland Greys aston
ished eyes rose before Lois, and she
said, hurriedly:
Il am afraid not now. / am rather
tired. But you will come early tomor-
row, to see that nothing goes wrong,