Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-10
MORNING LEADER.
FRIDAY MORNING, FEE. 10, 1889.
A LOST AND WON.
[From Titan.l
HAPTER II.
GCOatiRUsdI

lCORtiRUed.I
Flora seated herself on q stool at her mother's
feet; she twinsd her arms about her knees, and
looked earnestly into her eyes-those eyes that
sParkled and glanced, anu looked so pretty-at
distance.
"MOther, did you love my father, when you
married hint"
Mrs. Beresford recoiled as the clear, low tones
fell on her; mOmentary paleness fitted over
her face, and she bit her lips as she put aside
her daughters arms. and drew-hsr chair some-
what backward. But the emotion was soon
over; the cold spark returned to her eyes, and
her voice was steady, feelingless, unfaltering as
ever, when she replied
"Yes, loved him when married him, and
for a whole week after"
"And then"
"And then began to see how transeendently
foolish had been to give up the chance Of a
wealthy establishment for penniless soldier,
who was now as uninteresting to me as a last
years newspaper"
Flora looked at her mothers calm face with a
kind of wondering incredulity. She put her
hands to her temples and mused.
care you convinced" asked Mrs Beresford; /;
"can you not learn wisdom from my expert
ence!"
Il think, said Flora slowly, without rails.
ing her head, 81 think my love would last Ions
ger than a week
"a month, perhaps As you are sentiment
tai, and even more foolish than l was at your
age. say month; and after that, what remains!"
"There are some women whose love has las.
ted all their lives"
"POor weak slaves if, indeed, there ever were
such. But for my plrt, l never believed there
were"
Blind people may doubt the existence OF
light, and we can excuse then," began Flora.
"Pm not blind"
'Far from it; your eyes are keen, piercing
enough" said her daughter, dePrecatingly;
don't let US argue, mamma. I'll attend to
what you say; I'll think abOnt it,"
"Ifyou don't accept Lord COurtnaye this week
we must return To-. Your aunt has al
ready dropped broad hints about our long visit" g"
Gay, perceive. Flora Beresford RGd her
mother have Outstaid their welcome; but Lady
OOurtnaye (that is to be) and the peerless NAM
ma will take new lease of their excellent rela
tivss hospitality"
Exactly" said Mrs Beresford, glorying in
the sneer which curled her child's rosy lips ;
"Iearn from that, my dear, the value of position,
of wealth, of rank. They are good things, are
they not! They are worth something, don't
yon think! 1t is worth while giving up ones
childish fancies to obtain these things, isn'ti
"Ay, mother" said the young girl, with
low, mocking laugh; "what is lovel what is
heart, even? begin to doubt if we have such
things Perhaps it is only childish fancy. We
can exist very well without them"
And that evening saw Flora BeresfOrd be-
trothed 10 Lord COurtnaye.
A week had elapsed Flora lOunged on the
sofs in her usussl lazy, but graceful manner, her
head resting on an embroidered cushion, her
slippered feet tapping the ground. And by her
side sat her lOrdly lover, engaged in the pleas
ant task of olasping bracelet, glitteIing with
diamonds, on her fair, round arm. He toyed
lovingly with the slender wTs. before he finally
| fixed the ornament, and when at last it was ad
iusted, he kissed the arm and hand before he
released it from his hold. Flora sprang back
inyoluntarily; she looked at her wrist as if she
would fain have erased from it the rnweleOme
kiss But the brillisnts sparkled brightly where
the unloved lips had been pressed, and the
young fnancee smiled eomplacently az she
looked at them.
Lord COurtnaye's face frightened as he saw
the smile. His eyes were fixed on her as If
they knew no other resting place. He was
not remarkable for talent or intellect, this young
nObleman; bet he was sincere, manly, honest
and loved her well. She was all the world to
him. Upon her he lavished bOundless wealth
I of love and an overwhelming food of tender
ness, all unheeded, uncared for. The incense
was thrown on the shrine of false idol; it
was deaf to his tenderness, blind to his wor>
ship. Alas! that true and earnest love should
ever be wasted thus; even as the sun shines on
barren deserts and senseless rocks that are un =
warmed by its glow, that reflect back not a
! e .f-b ham
| when he heard the murmured words Of thanks
that fell from the lips of his beloved. He took
her hand again, and seemed to find . strange
pleasure in pressing it within both of his, in
drawing the rings from the round white fingers,
and trying to place them on his own. What
children love makes of these strong, stern men!
| Less wise, but better; less strong, but purer;
less akin to earth, but nearer to heaven; they
need not blush to be so. AIe not children the
! links between men and angels!
Lord Courtnaye still kept the little hand
prisoner when a servant entered, followed al
most Immediately by a young girl, who ran in
to the room crying: "Flora are you here!"
Flora started from the sofa, Bnatched her
hand from her lovers clasp as she did 50. Then
she stood trsnsfxed; her face alternately change
ing from dark red to the pallor of death. She
feared TO embrace Evelyn; she shuddered as she
looked at her. The purity, the guilessness of
the familiar face showed her how fallen, how
degraded she herself was. Palsehood is shamed
when it looks on truth; guilt shivers when it
comes in contact with innocence. There are
certain nOxious things which dare not look into
the bright face of day.
The first impulse of Evelyn was to spring for
ward to her friend, but glance at the other
occupant of the room deferred her, and she, too,
stood still and silent, looking on the changing
face Of Flora. Lord COuTtnaye, with well bred
thoughtfulhess, seeing his presence was re-
straint upon the two girls, whispered few
words 10 his betrothed, and with a bow to
EVELYN, left the room. And then Flora crept
forward. shaking off her emotion by strong
effort, and with an attempt at her old play
fulness, as she embraced the young girl:
az VOW 1 was turned to stone with surprise.
[ should as soon have expected to see the ghost
of Oliver Cromwell, or Joan of Arc, or any
body else impossible and out Of the way, as my
little fairy, Evelyn Lester"
EVELYN permitted her caresses, but did not
attempt to return them. A cloud Overspread
her brow; there was one in her soul, and this
was her shadow She felt the sense Of the
change steal upon her-that dark change which
had taken place in q few short months. A
horrible doubt of her friends truth and faith
fuIness oppressed her, and she sickened as she
thought that on that very trust and faithful>
ness depended the happiness Of Eustace Fame
She gazed, then, into Flora's face. She looked
intently into her eyes, striving to gather there
something that should inspire her with new
confidence. But the bethrOthed was cowed by
that earnest inquiring gaze; her eyes dropped
beneath it; her cheek blanched; ell her forcs1
indifference greatly forsOOk her, and she sank
trembling and abashed on a chair, with her
heart full of that last, worst pang Of all-over
whelming self-cOntempt.
A Sigh burst involuntarily from Evelyn's bo.
som. Il was over her own disappointed friend
ship, the first and last selfish pang that smOte
her heart that day. She had come to see Flora,