The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-07-14
FANNY cnfsTER's DESTINY.

OlGy hGteGtA AASAoe0Ns sS1hS"A$0 sHess
Her old guardian, Judge Spofford,
watched her perfect recklessness Of
conduct with an anxious eye. Hav-
ing no children of his own, he had
taken the little orphan left to his care
into his heart as well rs his home
She had proved afiectionate, good
and everything to satisfy him, save
the horrible propensity Of flirting,
which she had evineed almost from
her "baby days"
In vain the Judge demonstrated
with her; his words had no effect
whatever.
"If men are SO weak" she would
respond with wicked shake Of the
head, 81 am not responsible. They
must bear the consequences.
"Do you ever intend to marry ~
the Judge asked her one day.
She looked at him gravely for a
moment.
"No,n she responded frankly. "My
intentions are to remain always as
now. / have wealth, beauty, youth
and an ati'ectionate guardian; wha,
more do wantt"
"At present, nothing" he returned
But the day may come when all
these may be swept away. Your
wealth may disappear, your beauty
fade, your youth be but the remem
berance of the past, and l your guar
dian be mouldering in the dust. In
that day what recourse would YOU
have leit."
She smiled and then laughed out
right.
"What a doleful picture you have
conjured up" she calculated. 81
ever such an extremity comes l will
teach, or sew. or do something to sup
port myself. Anything guardle
would be preferable to marrying one
of the deceitful dandies OF the nine
teenth century"
"You are too hard" the Judge re
joinded quickly. "Thera are som.
men left. All are not dreaming pop
injays. For instance, look at John
Wallace"
The beauty curled her lip disdain
fully. John Wallace TO be mentioned
to herl John Wallace, n poor, friend
less orphan, that had entered hei
guardians office as an orphan boy
and had studied and worked himself
I'D until he was admitted to the bar
was too much beneath her in social
rank, for even his name TO be tolerated
John Wallace" she reiterated
"Why, guardie, l am surprised thai
you should refer to man like him.
One without blood or lineage; ont
but even his very existence may bt
an inefiaceable Disgrace"
"You have too aristocratic ideas fol
Republican Americans" he responded
and then he longcd to tell her some
thing OF her family, OF which she has
lived in blissiul ignorance.
From that time forth she seemed tc
flirt even more desperately than be
fore. If she accidentally met John
Wallace when he came to the hous,
to consult the Judge, she treated hin
with supercilious contempt. Th'
Judge flushed with shame.
Fanny, dear" he ventured to sa,
to her, alter she had been more thar
usually irigid in her conduct. "yor
wound me. What pleasure can yot
find in humiliating John Wallace a,
you have done? Why not at leas
treat him in lady-like and polite
manner"
Because his airs annoy me-" wa
the reply. "He bears everyth.n:
with cold, calm, unimpassioned bear
ing that seem to say, i am as good a
you, and do not heed you,' which
consider insufierable insolence from
an inferior"
The Judge sighed, but made NJ
comments.
New years came at last, and Fam,
was preparing for a ball. She looket
into the mirrors that reflected her witt
evident satisfaction, and then swep
down from her apartments to th'
Judges library to ask his opinion O
her toilet. Voices within attracted
her attention.
al wish to address Miss Chester
and first ask your consent" she hear'
some one say.
"The puppy" she CALCULATED, as sh
recognized his voice as that OF ;
young Englishman with whom sh,
had recently been made acquainted.
The Judge hesitated for moment
"Miss Chester must please herself,
he returned; "but as you have men
toned it to me, l feel in duty bount
to correct you in regard to popula
belief. Miss Chester's fortune, a
well as my own, has been lost throug
an unfortunate speculation"
The fellow fairly gasped.
as it really so" he asked.
The Judge bowed his head.
"But of course that will make n
difference with you," he suggested
"as YOU wish to seek my war
through no mercenary motives"
The dandy WINGED.
"Pardon me, he stammered.
have labored under a mistake. Not,
he added, "that wish to seek he
wealth, but now that she is reduced
she might be induced to follow he
mothers profession-an actress"
The Judge rose to his feet.
"Be so kind as to leave my hous
sir" the Judge commanded, and th
fellow skunk out.
| For moment Fanny stood like or
transfxed. The calamity-that {
loosing her wealth-would nave al
palled her; but the other-that ht
mother could have been an actress
chilled her blood. She rushed int
| the library.
"Tell me-is it so?" she question:
agonizingly.