The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-26

How he would have admired her'
would not he, Kltty?"
81 was Just thinking So" Miss Leven
replied.
who do you say would have i'd
!nlred me, dear Miss varney?"
"a man OF singularly good Judgment,
my dear, where women's looks were
concerned. a man who could have had
his pick OF all the prettIest women In
England, and who knew what was
what"
THAT man." said the lngenue, point
ing deferontlaFty to one OF the photo
graphs. He was a great friend Of
yours. was he not?"
"a great friend of mine-yes-and Of
Miss Leven's," was the answer. Miss
Leven's eyes agreed.
And was he engaged to-" began
Lucy Gray. and stopped, overwhelmed
with confusion. ITO either OF you"
was what she had just saved herself
from saying.
ITO neither Of US. dear" Miss Var
ney replied. He was just a very great
friend"
Miss Lcven rose and left the room.
Lucy thought there were tears In her
eyes.
She turned around impulsIvely to the
woman who was left and stole her
hand into hers.
Dear Miss Varney." she murmured.
Have l been stupId?"
mot ut all, dear" Miss yarney an
swered cordially, holding Lucy's hand
closely. I'VE. are couple Of absurd
old women. that's all! Robert Nus
grave was our friend. and we loved
him! My dear child. what things I
have been saying to you'll"
She gave faint, nervous laugh, and
put the girls hand away.
But the girl took hold of her again.
and begged:
"Dear Miss varney, do tell me about
It. 1t does Interest me so much to
compare notes. you know. ] am not
such baby, really. 1 know what love
means"
do you, really2" The older woman
mockingly smiled. 1t was q sweet.
confused. self-mocklng smile that show
ed the girl what a lovely and attrac-
tive. woman Miss varney must have
once been, and that not so long ago.
do you KNOW" that lady continued,
that you are very inslnuatlng. little
thing?"
Tell me now, do tell me-" pleaded
Lucy, seeing, and quick to profit by
the advantage she had gained. Tell
me all about him! Couldn't you? Oh,
I do think him so handsome"
THE most handsome man Of his
time" she corroborated, land quite the
most remarkable. He did wonderful
things. Any woman might have been
proud to have been loved by hfm-or to
have had him for a friend"
But he did Iove-a woman?" cried
the young girl. eagerly, catching at the
first triumphant part of Miss Varney's
sentence, not its lame and impotent
conclusion Her little hesitation was
due to thought that would force it
self thought she not to have said
1.-TWO women?
did he? Some woman, of course.
But we never knew anything about
that" said Miss varney loyalty. He
was very fond of Kitty and me. We
both knew that, and were proud OF 1t
his respect and esteem. / don't know
that there was any difference in his
way OF looking at US! He was very
fond of us-he nlrted with us BOTH"
WAS he a flIrt, them" asked the
girl. in a disappointed tone.
Terrible, my dear" Miss Varney
said, smiling with a retrospective indul-
gence. But we don't Judge him. Why
should We? He could no more help
flirting with us,or any other pretty Girl
we were pretty then-than We could
help falling in love with him. He never
pretended, at any rate. And he never
knew. That Is as well, isn't ~"
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