Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-03

Ing down upon the girl: then fancy.
our acquaintance would ripen fast"
"Oh! but don't go into dinner. I
dined long since-at the regular lunch
con. am not out yet. you know"
looked and felt disappointed. 7
would fain have read the disappoint-
ment In my face. for she went on
! brightly
but I come into the drawing room
after dinner. Mamma bids me sit quiet
ly In corner and not try TO attract no.
tice. But may speak IL ] am spoken
to" she added. with a glance of the
sweetest archness.
Il shall look In ali the corners till I
md you OUT" assured her, laughing
Even while I spoke. the dinner gong
sounded. and Vera few away like a
lapwiDg. I returned to the drawing
room with an increased curiosity to
know what her mother was like.
Gwynne was there.
"Oh, here you are, Jack" he said, al
L made my appearance. Then. In a low
er voice: And here is Beatrice; hear
her voice on the stairs"
The door opened. Gwynne went to-
wards It; and I. turning round from a
picture which I was pretending to
study, saw him leading forward a wo-
man whose beauty was so dazzling, so
entirely perfect. that for a moment L
could only stand and look at her with
something that almost bordered on a
stare.
She was above the middle height.
and yet one would scarcely have de-
scribed her as tall. so exquisite were
her proportions. A figure of more per-
feet grace L should think II would be-
impossible to see Her face, rising like
some queenly flower on the stem OF her
white throat, was such as 1 know not
how to describe.
A face of wondrous fairness the fea-
lures clear-cut, as though chiselled out
or marble; the eyes a deep violet-biue
fringed by long, dark lashes; and the
hair Of deep nut brown, very glossy
and abundant and tonight begemmed
with lustrous pearls.
! Her lips were full, yet not too full, a
delicious crimson, and sweet as any
rose in June
| want you two to know each other"
said Gwynne, In a voice Of deep feeling.
II shall not introduce you formally.
Jack. you know this is my future wife
Beatrice, you know this is my dearest
friend
I Lady Gramont put out her hand with
a frank, sweet grace OF manner, which
reminded me OF her daughter.
II need not say I am glad to meet
you." I said, fear little awkwardly.
Men generally are awkward just when
they desire to be most easy.
Il Will not say 1T either: but win
try to prove my gladness;" said Lady
A., Gramont, with gentle earnestness.
81 have already seen your daughter"
I said, after a pause. Her face lighted
up into new beauty.
"Ah. Vera!" she exclaimed. What do
you think of her. Mr.. Douglas?"
What must everyone think Of her?
She is altogether charming-and very
beautiful"
1T is kind of you to say So I, as her
mother. am prejudiced, OF course: but
do think Vera is very sweet"
Sir Thomas and Lady Mallory, and
some of the other guests, came into
the room at this moment feared I
should be separated from Lady Gra-
mont: but IL was not so. Lady Mallory
had assigned to me the agreeable duty
of taking her down to dinner. I doubt
ed not that this was at Gwynne's sug-
gestion. lie wanted me TO become ac-
Quainted with his betrothed wife.
1, upon my part. was well pleased to
find myself beside her. A man Is never
insensible to the proximity of a beauti-
full woman, and I quickly found that
Lady Gramont was rarely gifted as
well as dazzlingly beautiful.
Politics. arts, sciences, or literature
she was at ease on all these topics, and
expressed herself with a grace and bril-
liancy which left me lost in admiration.
Harold sat opposite me. / caught his
eye, and knew quite well II was say
ing
Il challenge your congratulations
now. Have / not indeed chosen the fair
est and noblest woman in the world ?''
After dinner. when we repaired to the
drawing room, I remembered my prom
Use to Vera. Sure enough, I found her
in the most secluded corner, almost
quite hidden by a great pot of pink
azaleas. She wore her white muslin
frock still, but had added a blue sash,
and an exquisite pearl comb put back
her lovely hair.
We'll, you see I have come" said,
dropping into the seat beside her
She nodded brightly.
Yes; but 1 knew you would"
"And how, pray?"
A delicate pink flush mantled her
cheek but she raised her ewes quite
frankly to mine.
1T can read peoples characters In
their faces" she said, laughing land
l. was quite sure you would keep your
word.
The frank childish flattery-if It was
hattery-charmed me more than I
should have cared to admit told my
self had never seen such a charming
child in all my life as this young
daughter OF Lady Gramont's.
We were allowed to keep undisturbed
possession OF our corner for nearly an
hour Lady Gramont, who sat at SONG
distance, with Harold leaning over the
back of her chair, could see us distinct
ly, and had an odd. vague fancy that
she kept Lady Mallory from disturbing
us.
Moro than once I saw my hostess
glance towards our corner, and on eacl
occasion Vera's mother seemed to muir
muir word, which prevented her from
calling me away.
Presently. however, Lady Gramon
herself rose and came towards US. He
grand, fair beauty showed to perfec
ton as she walked down the long, bril-
liantly-Hghted room. She wore a dres
of thick ivory white satin, edged wit