Middletown transcript., 1903-06-20
TT was a gay season at Long
III Branch that summer; one
1 incessant round of gayety.
A picnic party one day,

cI A picnic party one day
sail on the water th'
the next, followed in the evening
by a concert or hop in the spac
ious and brilliantly lighted ball
rooms.
On this particular night it was
a lawn party, and the numberless
twinkling lights mingling with
the trees, shrubbery, and flowers.
with the many-hued, gayly light
ed pavilions scattered here and
there, presented a scene more
like fairy-landthan anything else.
It was early yet, and the
grounds were nearly deserted
with the exception of two gentle.
men coming leisurely up the
walk, one in full evening dress,
the other attired in gray trav-
cling suit, and carrying a small
portmanteau.
They were both fine looking,
with that easy, well-bred air OF
those accustomed to moving in
polished society; but in Hugh
Darrell's face there was some
thing that attracted more than a
casual glance from the beholder.
The tall, commanding form, in
tellectual face and winning man
ners, were combined with that
greater attraction, large for
tune, aad it was not surprising
that young "lawyer Darrell" was
considered desirable target for
scheming mothers and ambitious
daughters; but he had been an
acknowledged favorite of fash
ionable society all these years,
and, at the age of thirty-five, was
still single, and, for all people
knew to the contrary, heart
whole.
His intimate friend and old col
lege chum, Harry Winthrop, had
come down three weeks before
with a party of friends, and had
written his old classmate to join
them.
I am glad you are here, old fell
low, Harry Winthrop was saying.
I have ordered q room for you,
and had hard work finding one,
too. You will have ample time
to dress and take a luncheon
sulting his watch-before joining
the dancers. And, by-the-way,
Darrell, look well to your heart,
for Ethel Clifton, who is one of
the guests here, has captured
every one Of US fellows, myself
included. To be forewarned is
to be forearned, you know, with
light laugh.
Hugh Darrell's lip curled
rather scornfully.
I have heard of Miss Clifton,
and consider myself in no danger,
he answered, with a contemp-
tuous laugh; / detest a 1irt.
They were crossing the upper
hall as they were speaking thus
carelessly, and neither of them
noticed a door slightly ajar, or
knew it to be in the locality of
Miss Clifton's room; but she had
heard their remarks while pass.
ing, as she stood there before the
dressing-case, looking more like
a fairy queen than anything else,
in the white satin dress trimmed
with old point lace, with a tiny
string of pearls around the white
throat and wrists, and woven in
and out among the shining yellow
braids and curls; a fair, delicate
ly-tinted, oval face, and laughing |
blue eyes, with pair of daintily- |,
curved, scarlet lips, that were !
slightly curled in contempt just |
now at what she had heard.
Indeed, and 50 he considers
himself in no danger-detests a
flirt. I wonder who this wonder
full paragon is? All. I think 1
remember hearing Mr.. Winthrop
speak of some friend of his that
was coming, she was saying to
herself.
There, that will do, she said
aloud, as the maid put the last
finishing touches to the exquisite
toilet. You may go now.
And, indeed, it's an angel you
look like, said the maid, admir-
ingly.
Ethel cast another careless
glance at the fair reflection in
the mirror, and, with a gay little
laugh at this fattering remark, |
passed through to Aunt Elinor's
room.
Two hours later, as she was
standing alone for a moment,
after a five minutes delicious
whirl in one of Strauss dreamy
waltzes, she saw Harry Winthrop
approaching with tall, distin-
guished looking gentleman be-