Short Story Classics (American) Vol. 2

rtance that evening; first, because he belonged to a great family; secondly, because he was the handsomest man of his year. He wore a large g

his cheeks and hastened the beating of his heart. But when he looked once more the dark-blue eyes were gone, and his unruly heart went on hammering against his side. He laid his hand on his breast and glanced furtively at his fair neighbor, but she looked happy and unconcerned, for the flavor of the ice cream was delicious. It seemed an

id he, when the usual greetings were exchanged. "I have not cau

answered the girl, frankly. "I knew

invisibly expanding with an agreeable sense of dignity, "I assure

to his, as if questioning his si

t Ralph. "She takes thi

tle girl, who threw her German exercise-book to me across the yard, and whose merry laughter still rings pleasantly in m

sappointed at not finding m

exactly t

tness of her manner which made a facetious compliment seem grossly

emanded Berth

t an old friend?"

; ho

dly cherished my old picture of you in my memory. Now I have lost it, and I can not help regretting the loss. I do not me

oning look, and began to gaze inte

feel as if I had rushed into a whirlpool, from which I have, since the first rash plunge was made, been vainly trying to escape.

efatory flourishes, broke into the delicious rhythm of a Strauss waltz, "then it is no u

and she rose, somewhat h

moving down the long hall, "that you have asked me to dance merely because I sai

imputation!

t help adding, just a little bit countrified. His spirits rose; he began to relish keenly his position as an experienced man of the

e," said she, laughing, as they swung out upon the floor, "th

g his step, and whirling with many a capric

up his impressions of Bertha in the following adjectives: intelligent,

it was well for the peace of the family that he did not. It may have been cowardice in Ralph that he never mentioned Bertha's name to his family or to his aristocratic acquaintances; for, to be candid, he himself felt ashamed of the power she exerted over him, and by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing so inglorious a conquest. Nevertheless it wounded his egotism that she never showed any surprise at seeing him, that she received him with a certain frank unceremoniousness, which, however, was very becoming to

feeling humiliated, faint-hearted, and secretly indignant both at himself and her, and day after day he returned only to renew the same experience. At last it became too intolerable, he could endure it no longer. Let it make or break, certainty, at all risks, was at leas

and the farm, and she had expressed the wish that if he ever should come to that part of the country he might pay them a visit. Her words had kindled a vague hope in his breast, but in their very fran

in a voice which sounded almost tender, "then I should

ver loved any earthly being, and if you knew how firmly this love has clutched at the r

and, and stood fo

r. Grim," said she, visibly struggling for calm

ed he, "why are

mes feared that this might come. But then aga

or, laid his hand on the kno

proved of me, you have despised me in your heart, but you thought yo

wered she, hesitatingly; "but

which the ticking of the old pa

I can do nothing to gain-I will not say your love-but onl

on my own strength, and there I would conquer a place for myself, if it were only for the satisfaction of knowing that I was really a man. Here cushions are sewed under your arms, a hundred invisible threads bind you to a life of idleness and vanity

remove his eyes from Bertha. She held him as by a powerful spell. He saw that her face was lighted with an altogether new beauty; he noticed the deep glow upon her cheek, the brilliancy o

seating herself in a chair at the window. "But it was yourself who asked me. An

appear calm, "if I follow your advice, will yo

k, and shall, during that time,

you. Go

od-

y, reckless saunter, according as the changing moods inspired defiance of his sentence, or a qualified surrender. And, as he walked on, the bitterness grew within him, and he piteously reviled himself for having allowed himself to be made a fool of by "that little count

e good-for-nothing, a hothouse plant, a poor stick, and if I were a woman m

ished forms of etiquette, could judge so quickly, and with such a merciless certainty, whenever a moral question, a question of right and wrong, was at issue. And, pursuing the same train of thought, he contrast

, he heard himself hailed from the oth

ness), "in the name of this illustrious company, allow me to salute you. But why the deuce-what is the matter with you? If you have the Katze

d Ralph, who stood distractedly swing

well," said he;

had frequently warned him; "but a glass of sherry will soon restore you. It wo

emonstrate; but the end was,

for drinking. He made a speech for "Woman," which bristled with wit, cynicism, and sarcastic epigrams. One young man, named Vinter, who was engaged, underto

re in this city whom I could mention, I would wager six Johannisbergers, a

letters were written on the spot, and immediately despatched. Toward morning,