The Cecil Whig., 1871-03-11
v. THE EPILOGUE.

MIS-. Laurence, VINO, ike mlddle-aSed
ladies, was very fond of matchmaking,
had evidently made up her mind to foster
my love affair as much as possible;
for I was continually being invited to her
house, and always met Edith Vane. l
came to know the Colonel also, and in time
was invited to Worcester Square, where
Edith played the hostess like little queen
Need say that came daily to love her
more and more? And I had the happiness
of believing that she was not Indifferent to
my devotion. Riding by her side in the
Park, | used sometimes to look back upon
the old days when I worshipped her at a
distance and hardly dared to hope that l
should ever be SO blessed as to be daily in
her society.
One afternoon had gone to Worcester
Square, and as Edith was too tired with a
ball the previous night to 60 out riding, /
stayed chatting with her in the pleasant
drawing room. And that summer after
noon l put my fate to the touch and a
strange answer received to my pleading,
when l told Edith Vane how loved her,
and asked her to be my wife.
She did not reply at once, but at last she
said,-
"Please do not think unkindly of me, :"
but | have confession to make.'
81 cannot think unkindly of you, Miss
| Vane, Edith ! You know it would be
impossible
DO you remember" she said, "that
| night at the Opera, when gentleman was
to meet me with white camellia in his
buttonhole?''
'Perfectly. How can ever forget it L?
1T was the first time l met your
"Well," she said slowly, "although per-
haps you did not see him, saw the gentle
man with the camellia that night
"Did you?'' l said, feeling terribly
annoyed. Some fellow had been there with
the flower ;camelias were common enough
How was it l hadn't seen him?
"Yes," she went on, "and have seen
him since, very often!' And as she
spoke she hung her head down, as if to
| lllue Her DluSHeS.
How l cursed Teddy and his hateful
advice Some one had heard of the letter,
and had taken advantage of my plan to
steal my darling's heart.
"And-and-" l said trembling, al
know l have no right to ask-you love
him ?"
A burning blush came over her face and
neck, as she looked into my eyes, and said, -
81 do!''
I clasped my hands over my face, and
groaned. Here was pleasant end to all
my plotting! And yet she had given me
many reasons for believing that she had
some love for me. 1t was very bitter to
hear her confess her love for another man,
and to know that it had been brought about
by my agency.
was startled by laugh. Edith Vane
was sitting near me,-positively laughing
at my misery.
81 hardly thought l should have been
insulted," said, Indignantly.
But still Edith did nothing but laugh.
elbow have insulted you?" said she.
"1ow have you insulted me? Why, by
laughing at my disappointment when you
have confessed your love for another man.
"But have not done that ~
81 cannot stop to guess riddles, Miss
Fane,'' said, abruptly. "What do you
mean?''
"Why 1 mean that love and here
she half turned her head'away-" the gen.
tlcman who had camellia that night at
the Opera, and he says l insult him by say
ing so. o Frank -
And then, looking divinely beautiful, she
held out to me,-my white camellia And
in another moment she was hiding her rosy
face on my shoulder.
The appointment with the wearer of the
camellia was kept for life.
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