The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-26
LONE VALENTINES DAY

not TO meet.
He got up in evening Dress and was
dancing with stout lady, who was neither
very pretty nor very young.
Nora sure he recognized her, and she
fancied smile crossed his face
From that moment her enjoyment was
gone
All she longed for was to escape from that
now hateful ball.
The moment she could in decency leave her
partner, she sought out Meg.
'Oh, Meg, he is here-that hOrrid mani!
rs he realy?" said Meg, with sympathetic
concern, though in her heart she thought her
friend was troubling herself unnecessarily
over a very trifi1ng thing.
He is indeed. L him minute or two
ago. and he knew me; and believe he smiled
such a hateful, complacent smile-the
wretch!'
My dear, wouldn't worry if 1 were you
No; L know you wouldn't. You always
can take things quietly, and keep sweet
tempered. But I'm not like you a bit, Meg.
shan't have another moment Of enjoyment
for thinking that pei maps, that man is telling
everybody what he heard me say this morn
ing"
"oh, he wouldn't do that dear"
Il don't know. A man who would delib-
erately play the eavesdropper to such a con-
versation is capable of anything. He might
even come and ask me to dance with him.
Just image what my feelings would be! And
yet, you know, l couldn't refuse him.
Meg tried to say something pleasant and
consolng, but in minute two some
Qudlulduc0 Claimed n6r, ana Nora, lett alone,
retreated to the conservatory, where little
while ago, she had seen Dr. Emerson.
She would remain with him as much as she
could, she decided then surely that horrid
her
why, my dear, whatever brings you
here?" said the doctor, in good-natured sur
prise. You're not tired of dacing, or short
of mariners, surely?"
They're not dacing, just now, and I am
a little tired. I'll stay with you few min
utes If you'll have me- It's so deliciously
cool in here, isn't it?''
pretty we'll But if you're feeling warm,
I'll get you something cool to drink"
Before she could stop him he was gone;
and she, left alone in the little grove of palms
and ferns, found a seat for herself in re-
tired corner, and, resting her cheek on her
hand, fell into fit of musing.
The doctor was long away, fully eight
ten minutes, and when he returned, someone
was with him.
Nora's heart elapt with indignation as she
saw it was the man whom she so wished to
avoid.
She rose from her seat, and, perhaps, she
herself little dreamed how beautiful she
looked with the warm flush of Indignation on
her cheek. and the heaughty sparkle in her
eye
Picture her amazement, however when she
heard DR.. Emerson saying, in his frank jovial
We'll, Sir Basil this is the other young
lady, for whom L responsible tonight. Not
a light charge, can assure you Nora, my
DEAR Sir Basil Brooke. Sir Basil, Miss Nora
Drummond.'
She bowed without speaking.
Indeed, she was great deal too discom-
posed to speak just then.
Ii thunderbolt had fallen at her feet she
could scarcely have been more amazed than
she to find that this man was the great
Sir Basil Brooke.
Sir Basil, upon his part, seemed perfectly
at ease.
H6 "a nxx1od thn nr,s i,,tro
without saying he had met the young lady
before; and Nora, of course, determined to be
equally reticent.
There was nothing for it but to treat that
unfortunate episode as though it had never
been.
May L have the pleasure of dance with
ycu?" asked Sir Basil, easily
Thank you, but afraid I am engaged
for them ALL
"Oh, do hope not! May I look at your
tabets?'
Of course, she could not refuse him.
He cast his eye down the tablets, then
There are two disengaged ones here, see.
May 1 have this one?"
And, as he spoke, he smiled-a smile full
of sly malice, Nora thought.
eff you WISH" she answered. coldly Her
pride was up in arms. He is gloating over
what he heard me say" she murmured to her
self, bitterly. If he were fifty times Sir
BASIL am still convinced he is no gentle
man. Under the circumstances, it is an i'm
pertlnence in him to seek to be introduced to
me-
Il believe 1 have the pleasure of knowing
your uncle, Miss Drummond.' said Sir Basil.
with suave courtesy.
He looked fully into her face as he spoke.
and she thought she could still detect smile
of sly malice lurking in his eye
Indeed" she answered, in a coldly careless
tone.
Yes; I met him good deal in Scotland a
year or two ago. I hape you will remember
me to him.
Thank you; I will do so if you wish"
Her tone was still so cold-almost heaupht