Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-04-02
DEFEATED.
BY FAIRFAX FERGUSON.


"Paul engagcd?"
Yes. He went with Miss Harland to
the opera last evening, aud this morning
he told me that he was engaged" y
And then, looking over to where Floy
Percy sat in The pleasant window, engaged
upon bit of delicate embroidery, she ex-
clsiriod: ....-.
"W by, Floy, how pale you have grown "
And Mrs. Forbes went over to the side of
the beautiful young girl. "Come let me
prescribe for you," she said. What say
you you to . ! journey to Carlton, to see sister
"Would you like to go, Floy And
Mrs. Percy looked tendcrly at her daughter.
The young girls lips quivercd, and
there was look Of mute cntreaty in her
gentle blue eyes.
eyes, mamma" she said.
"Thcn you shall go. You can take the
evening express and reach Elias before it
is too late.
"By.by, then, Floy? I hope you will
have pleasant journey" And Mrs. For
bes arose to go. .
Laying aside her work, Floy fitted out
Of the room and up to the chamber; and
then, burying her face in the cushion Of
an casy-chair, she sObbed piteOusly to her.
self.
"Oh PAUL." she moaned. "And l
have loved you so! I cannot believe that
you are false How can I bear this?"
AS Mrs. Forbes descended the steps Of
the Percy Mansion, she said the one word,
Home to the coachman; and then, en-
tcring the waiting carriage, she gave vent
to her thoughts:
"Foolish grill" she muttcrcd, half a.
loud, and clenching her jewelsd hands as
she spoke. bat 1 have disposed Of her.
No girl shall usurp my place as mistress
of Paul Ellcrslic's mansion. so long as /
can prevent it. No no! Too much do l
value my position to lose it thus. And
Paul's >note-let me read it once more.
What answer can l make to it?" arm
Drawing from her pocket folded note,
she opened it aud read: '. .'+
"Miss Pcrcy-Dear Floy 1T was with
many regrets that was detained from keeping
my appointment with you last evening but
when you know that the evening was spent by
the side OF dying friend, think that you will
forgive me. Ifso, give me the pleasure ofyour
company to the opera this evening.
Gas ever, your PAUL.
This note, which would hare explained
all, never was seen by Floy Percy; for,
womau.likc, Pauls crafty old aunt, Mrs.
Forbes, had quickly seen the love that
had sprung up in their young hearts, and
in her own base mind, she had resolved to
estrange tho two. t..:.
With low laugh, she returned the i'll
fated note to her pocket. She had akeady
told one deliberate falsehood; and when
the carriage drew up before Paul Ellcrslie's
elegant home, she was ready to tell another.
"Yes, nephew saw Miss Percy"
Mrs Forbes replied to Paups inquiry.
" She read the note, and, giving it back to
me, she said: 'Give it to Mn Ellerslie,
please, and say that cannot comply with
his request, as leave for Carlton this
evening"" .- -...-.. ..
Grasping the little note in his hand, he
turned and strodc away. lf
"Cruel, heartless grill" he mutteyed.
"How could have been so blind 2"
And yet his love for Floy Percy was
deeply rooted in his heart; aud, try as
he might, he could not crush it out. All
day long he wandered silently and aimless.
iy over his great house, his heart convulsed
with passion and all the while, his plot
ting aunt was solloquiziug glcefully over
the success of her plans.
H. IL Cn,,ko,cb,s c,,o ,~n. sv.r.l,,
sinking behind the distant hills, when
Paul Ellerslic ordered his great black horse
to be brought out, and, mounting, he rode
at gallop down the road. |''
The spirited stced snuffed the pure eve-
ming air with wide-dstended nostrils, and
arched his proud, glossy neck as he felt
the yielding turf rush past beneath his
feet; and his dased rider, hall. lf.uuconscious
of his wild speed, sat 10 his saddle, repeat
ing over and over in his mind the words:
"False! false! All! Floy, 1 little dream
ed of this!" ....
Gradually the shades Of evening fell
around, and soon the twilighfhad deepened
into darkness; and still the horse few on
upon his mad race, his rider enwrapt in
his own sad musings, paying no heed tohis
thoughts. But soon his speed slackencd
aud, white with foam, and fatigued by his
long continued efforts, the steed came
down to slow walk Suddenly, with a
wild, unearthly shrek, broad glare
streamed upon the road around the horse
man, and rumbliug, rushing sound FILL
ed the air. A moment of indecision, q
dreadful shock, and--nothing more.
AS the train rushed past, the signal for
brakes came short and quick; and in
another moment, the train stood motionless
upon the track, and the passengers Aocked
forth to ascertain the cause Of the sudden
halt. ttt ht4
ga man on horseback on the track.
We wcro coming around tho curve, and
when saw him; it was too late; the en-
gine struck him, and threw him off,"
1t was tho engineer that spoke, asd all
crowded around tho young man as he lay
upon the earth, few feet from his dead