Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-06

l sHdIiuS the DeHSnam celebrity. Tne
only wonder is that you have been per-
mitted to enjoy your liberty for Sc
long. should advise you to have
Daisy Molyneux."
| Not your cousin?''
| No: she would not suit you nearly
as well as Miss Molyneux would"
| Thanks awfully, old chap; only
Just needed an impartial opinion like
yours to help me decide. IN propose
to Daisy tonight: she is going to be nj
Lady Vivyan's dance-and so is Sybil
SO can get it settled either way. Will
you be there?"
Yes. l expect so''
Right. then ! shall see you later"
AS Cecil Briarley watched the re-
treaty. figure of the wealthy and coro-
neted friend who was SO overburdened
with unsought affections, and didn't
Know which of two maidens he really
loved, he summed up the situation in
| one word which he muttered very low,
and with heartfelt sincerity. No one
neard 1t. but it is safe to conjecture
| tnat 1t was syllable of most en-
phatic disapproval
Lazy Vivyan'S rooms presented a
| gay and brilliant scene that evening.
10 welcome the new year with dancing
and revelry. with music and mirth,
was, perhaps, typical of the giddy So
cial whirl in which hostess and guests
| revolved in their more or less import
ant positions; but, after all, every day,
| every hour. starts a new year, and it
| Is only sentiment and commercial con-
| venience that settles on one particular
| chime as marking the commencement
of another circle.
Lord Densham arrived early. He
was attired with his usual care and
correctness, and he wore also an air of
determination that suited him very
well. 1t displaced the appearance Of
Indifference and listlessness which
usually made the hereditary legislator
look limp and fabby. He speedily dis.
covered that both Daisy Molyneux and
Sybil Castlelnaine had come. and with
a sigh OF relief to think that his de-
cision was at last made, he proceeded
to seek out Miss Molyneux that he
might acquaint her with the honor he
proposed to do her.
1t was considerably later when Cecil
Briarley arrived. He was not in the
best of spirits, and did not intend to do
| much dancing. One of the first per-
sons he noticed was hts own. cousin.
What. Sybil-you not dancing?'
How are you, Cecil? No: / haven't
been here long"
''Shall we sit down somewhere until
some one comes and claims your"
by all means; it is quite a long
time since I've had the chancNof talk
ing to you, Cecil
Have you never heard of Tan
talus?" asked her cousin, as he led her
to a secluded corner.
Who was he? An ancient god
wasn't he?' replied Miss Castlemaine
Was he relative of Bacchus? The
spirit decanters are named after him."
No" said Cecil, very seriously. He
was young man who longed for a
certain prize, and it was just out Of
his reach.''
And this is apropos of what?'' in
quired Sybil
"Tantalus would have been happier
if his prize had been out of his sight
as We'll as oHt of his reach"
Why can't you talk like a rational
being, Cecil?''
Il only wanted to say that in order
to escape the madness of Tantalus,
nave been letting my prize go out Of
sight. They are waltZing very nicely"
he added, drawing her attention to one
of the couples who were floating near
them.
Lord Densham and Daisy Molly
neux?"
Yes. Densham's a nice fellow, isn't
he?"
'Ye-es. l suppose one would hardly
call him shy or modest. would one?"
Her merry brown eyes looked up into
his. but they didn't find any responsive
| twinkle.
"He has no need for modesty; he
| knows his worth"
Every bit of it, said Sybil.
Yes; but when a fellow like thai:
can choose any girl he likes-when ne
| knows they are all like pretty apples
| asking to be plucked. it is enough To
| make him conceited.'
"And other fellows jealous?" added
Sybil mischievously.
Eyes. and other fellows jealous"
"And / suppose none of the pretty
apples can be strong enough to refuse
| to fall into his hand?"
'It would be a modern miracle if they
| did,
''Then, perhaps, the age of miracles
| has not yet gone said Sybil, nOddinS
gayly to him, as Lady Vivyan came up
and introduced a new partner to her.
A little later Briarley was trying 10
soothe his feelings with a cigarette IN
the smoking room. when Lord Dens-
ham came up to him.
Il say old chap, funny thing has
happened. She has refused me-
"Who has?"
"Why, Daisy MolyneuX."
| by Jove! Were any signs of insan-
ity ever noticed in the family BEFORE?
asked Cecil.
"No, l believe not answered the
peer. failing, as usual, to see any sar-
casm in the question. Il tried to POM
out to her what it meant. but she stuck
to it. Nice little girl too
"WeH, I'm awfully. sorry, Densham
really l am"
TT doesn't matter so very much
Miss Castlemaine is here, isn't she
lsYou see, l can ask her, and get 1T set
I. tled.' -,
""Of course you cam said Cecil, VIII
trace Of bitterness in his tone.
81 think IN go and find her. Ir
| rather sorry / wasted my time ovel