The Delta independent., 1901-05-03

while to look up and discover what
style of man sat beside her. Glancing
then suddenly and superciliously at
him, she found that he was the very
handsomest fellow she had ever seen
-well-bred looking, too, and, in ap-
pearance at least, just such a one as
she had been accustomed to - down to
dinner with even in the very best
houses.
He was staring across the table now
to where Mabel sat, laughing and con-
versing merrily with old Younge, and
! seemed slightly amused with the girls
| gayety. Was he going to fall in love
with Nab? Very likely, she thought.
1t would be just the very thing for an
aspiring cotton man to do--to go and
lose his heart ambitiously to their
| beautiful queen"
Then Denzil turned to her and said:
You were not in town this season,
Miss Trevanion?"
NO: mamma did not care to CO."
she answered, reddening a little at the
| Dious fib
Il do not think you missed much"
Denzil went on. pleasantly: 1t was the
slowest thing imaginable; and the op-
eras were very poor. You are fond OF
music. of course? | need hardly ask
you that
Il like good music, when I hear 1t"
Miss Trevanion said: but l would
rather be deaf to all sweet sounds than
to have to listen to the usual run Of
so-called singers-private singers,
mean"
"One does now and then hear a good
private singer, though" Denzil re-
turned. There were several in town
last year"
Lady Constance Dingwall was
greatly spoken Of" Mildred said; II
have heard her sing several times"
so have /. and admire her voice i'm
mensely: her pet song this season was
Sullivan's Looking Back and it suited
her wonderfully. Lots of fellows
rayed about her. and old Douglas of
the Blues was said to have proposed
to her on the strength OF it. She re-
fused him. however. Odd man, Doug
las: you know him. OF course-every
body does. He is slightly crazy. I
fancy. By the bye, you have not told
me what you think of Lady Constance's
singing"
Il would quite as soon listen to a
barrel-organ, l think" Miss Trevan-
ion answered. ungraciously: there is
Just as much expression in one as in
the other. She has good notes, grant
you. but she does not know in the
very least how to use them"
l 4 ol,
well. | am not Judge of music. l
confess. but for my part I would go
any distance to hear her sing Her
brother has managed about that ap-
pointment-I suppose you know"
/ Has he? l am glad OF that No,
/ have not heard. But what a disa-
greeable man he is. What a comfort
1t must be to his friends--or relatives.
rather-to get him out OF the coun-
try."
rs not that a little severe?" asked
Denzil. Poor James has an unfortu-
nate way OF not getting on with peo-
pie. but l put that down more to the
wretchedness OF his early training than
to his natural disposition, which 1 be-
lieve to be good, though warped and
injured by his peculiar position when a
boy. 1t was lucky for Lady Constance
that the countess adopted her. May l
give you some of these."
No, thank you." Mildred answered
and then fell to wondering by what
right this cotton merchants son called
Lord James Dingwall by his Christian
name-"James." She again recollect-
ed that this sort OF person" generally
boasted outrageously about any intim-
acy with the aristocracy. Miss Ire
vanion's hearings" upon this subject
had been numerous and profound.
Il think Lord James a very unpleas-
ant man." she said. feeling curious to
learn how much more Denxil Youuye
had to say about him.
Most ladies do" her companion an
swered. coolly: but then do not con-
slider ladies always the best Judges.
They form their ideas from the out
ward man generally. which in many
cases prevents fairness. Unless the
person on trial be lover or a relative,
they seldom do him the justice to look
within. You think Dingwall very OBJ
noxious because he has red hair and
rough manners, and yet I have known
him to do acts Of kindness which most
men would have shrunk from perform
ing. In the same way you would con-
slider a fellow down near us the great
est boor you ever met in your life. l
dare say. because he has nothing to
recommend him but his innate good
ness OF heart"
II dare say" responded Miss Tre-
vanion.
But would you not be civil to
man whom you knew to be beyond
expression estimable. II only for the
sake OF his goodness. no matter how
rough diamond he might be?" asked
Denzil Hounge, feeling somewhat eager
In his argument. and turning slightly,
so as more to face his adversary.
Surely you would; any woman-most