Year: 1873

Die aunlrerS anu aSplTduLs lol hei i"'oi n''o
begun to hover around.


Although not yet eighteen, Lucy possessed
much gentle dignity of manner, and while a
playful ease and vivacity characterized her
department, it was marked with sufficient
reserve to check anything approaching famil-
iarity, or an undue expression Of admiration,
or too near an advance to Aattery, from which
her sense and good taste alike revolted
There was no coquetry in her nature; and
while she fully enjoyed, as all girls will, the
homage paid her by the "sterner SEX she
made use of no arts to win it, nor ever feigned
in return sentiment she did not feel.


But in our dissertation on the character of
our heroine, we are neglecting to attend to
the newly arrived guests, who now began to
flock into the handsome and gaily-decorated
rooms. Soon band of music began to dis
course enlivening strains, and manly and
graceful forms mingled in the mazes OF the
stately quadrille and floating, dreamy waltz


Lucy, of course, was the cynosure of all
eyes. With her radiant color and sparkling
eyes, she looked more than usually animated
and beautiful, and her bright smiles and sill
very tones revealed the joyous lightness of her
innocent heart.


"Lucy," whispered her mother, during a
pause between the dances, "you have already
twice danced with your cousin Edward. You
will make yourself conspicuous if you do it
again. People already remark his attention
to you, and seem to fancy that there is some
thing special in it; and I do not wish such
an idea to gain circulation"


Lucy flushed deeply, and could not forbear
aslightly reproachful glance. "Oh, mamma"
she returned, "you would not have me rude to
Edward? 1 could not refuse him the dances
he asked me for, and have promised him
one more Must break my engagement


81 will arrange it for you," said Mrs. Car
roll; and turning to her nephew, who just
then approached, she said with smile


"My dear Edward, I am quarreling with
Lucy for allowing you to engross so much of
her time She must dispense her favors with
greater impartiality. I have been assailed
by several malcontents who complain that
they cannot obtain place on her card, and
on looking over it I find that your name is
three times recorded. The last of these you
must now allow me to efface;" and as she
spoke she drew pencil across the name on
the card which she had taken from Lucys
hand.


A frown contracted the young mans brow,
and look of anger for an instant sparkled in
his eyes; but beseeching glance from Lucy
checked the hasty words that rose to his lips,
and with a forced smile and slight bow he
rejoined-'


eff my cousin desires to be released, her
wishes shall certainly be obeyed; :" and with
more stately air than usual he turned away
and walked to the farther end of the room.


Lucys heart beat, and for the moment all
her happiness was marred by the fear that he
was deeply offended with her mother, and per-
haps with herself; but directly her mothers
dulcet tones pronounced her name, and look
ing up, she saw a tail, foreign-looking man
standing before her.


"My daughter, Mr.. Stanley" said Mrs.
Carroll and the strangers eyes rested with
undisguised admiration on the face of the fair
debutante, as he made courtly reverence in
acknowledgement of the introduction. He
requested the honor of her hand for the next
dance, and she was fain to allow him to write
his name in place of that which had just been
erased.


Well pleased with the result of her maneu-
vre, Mrs. Carroll moved away, and Mr.. STAN
ley devoted himself with ardor to the agree
able task of trying to make favorable i'm
preston on la belle Lucy. At first, he found
her slightly distraite; but his flowing, graceful
conversation soon engaged her attention, and
she was soon responding with her usual gayety
to his delicately-worded compliments and
well.pointed remarks.


Mr. Stanley was an American gentleman
who had just returned from abroad; he had
spentseveral years on the continent of Europe,
and had acquired, during his sojourn among
foreign society, peculiarly polished address,
ease and grace of manner, and the art of
adapting his conversation so entirely to the
taste of his listeners as scarcely ever to fail to
please. Lucy found him very agreeable, and
in the course of ten minutes quite forgot her
n1omentary regret at Edwards discontinue.
The latter, meanwhile, watched from distant
part of the room the conversation between the
pair, which both seemed to find so interest
ing. Modification and jealousy ranked at
his heart, and his pleasure, at least, for the
rest of the evening was totally destroyed.


Mr.. Stanley had the reputation of being
extremely wealthy, and this was a special
charm in Mrs. Carroll's worldly eyes. Her
scheming brain was already devising means
by which match between her daughter and
himself might be brought about She was
particularly suave and gracious in her manner
to the stranger, and requested him to let her
husband and herself have the pleasure of
seeing him frequently at their house.


Could she have obtained glimpse at his
past life, she would have been less ready to
form such plan as that Of effecting union
between him and her young and innocent
daughter. But in this world the surface of
things alone is often read, and on the surface
Alfred Stanley, handsome, cultivated, intelli-
gent and refined, appeared in every way an
eligible parti.


Lucy's beauty and winning manner i'm
pressed him in turn quite as favorably as her