Her
dress of crimson merino contrasted well with her clear dark
complexion. Her magnificent hair, arranged with far more care than
usual, was wound in many a heavy braid around her head, while,
half-hidden amid the silken bands, and drooping gracefully behind
one ear, was a single white rose-bud, mingled with scarlet
blossoms of verbena; the effect adding greatly to her beauty.
Excitement lent a brighter sparkle to her brilliant eyes, and a
richer bloom to her glowing cheeks, and thus she sat waiting for
Arthur St. Claire, who felt his heart grow cold and faint as he
looked upon her, and knew her charms were not for him. She
detected his agitation, and as a kitten plays with a captured
mouse, torturing it almost to madness, so she played with him ere
suffering him to reach the point. Rapidly she went from one
subject to another, dragging him with her whether he would or not,
until at last as if suddenly remembering herself, she turned her
shining eyes upon him, and said, "I have talked myself out, and
will now give you a chance.
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