Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-23

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silence of his companion attracted bis atten-
uon, even In the midst of his high spirits.
"What Is 1t, KOta 2" he said, tenderly /;
''something troubles YOU"
To his astOnishment, Dakota burst into a
Hood of tears, s0bbing as though her heart
would break. In great perplexity, poor John
tried TO soOthe her, but the more he tried, the
more violent seemed her grief. Exhausted
with the rowing, worn with excitement and
Its subsequent reaction, there was nothing
for 1t but good cry, as the girls say But
John was not versed in the ways of the girls,
and he was reduced to a state of abject hu-
mility, when, of her own accord, Dakota
wiped her eyes, and her sObs ceased.
| "What was 1t, KOta 2" asked the lover,
with a beating heart he thought nothing
less than final renunciation was coming.
'Eleanor Rarne said-oh, oh-she said
she actually told me that her neuralgia passed
| off under the influence OF your conN ersa-
| ton, murmured Kota, with sympto ms of a
| relapse
''ls that all ?" exclaimed John, with a
| sigh of relief. swell, KOta, he continued
with a short laugh, ''her neuralgia certainly
passed off, and with a vengeance, should
say. Mrs Rarne is a strange person this
very afternoon she allowed me to infer that
| you were engaged to Mr.. Coast
John, that woman loves you! !"
"NO, do not think that But.she Graves
admiration from all quarters
John, repeated Kota, solemnly, ~ tell
you that woman love3--you."
well, answered John, smiling to him
self little glimmer of a complac' n. smile,
what If she does / cannot help 1t can ?"
81 hate her !" said KOta, vehemenlly.
80 do !, them answered John, sturdily.
And now, Miss Weston, how about MIR.
Coast ?"
"Oh. that was nothing.l" said Kota, has
tily II regarded him in the light-lu the
light Of father"
''Gay old father" commented: John, sOttO
vOes.
''Mr. Coast is an accomplished, pleasant
much.
80 do /, then," said John. "From
henceforth l propose to regard him in the
light of dear and venerated grandfather |"
'"You absurd John" said Kota, laughing
10 bewildering sirenT Is this the way you are d.
oprlnoely Monte cr;toi q this he way ,yOu:.aro
ndlculed and reiinquished Z"
Before eleven o'clock boat manned by O
strong crew came out from Shorelands and
took back the shipwrecked mariners; but,
before she left the island, Dakota sent her
lover to gather lily from the little pond.
ho buO lWO tuloIbu DTllllhully-ng0IcQ
hall of the hotel they met Webster Coast and
Mrs. Rarne. Eleanor was attired In sweep
ing robes of rose color, and on her hand gilt
tered the royal solitaire. Mr.. Coasts face
was a strange mixture of exutation and be-
wilderment ; 1t was evident he had taken the
fatal plunge at last, and 1oundered some
what in the unknown waters.
Dakota's eyes were vivid with happiness,
and her face shone with peach-blossom
bloom she stepped full under the chande
lier
"You see got the lily after all, Eleanor"
she said, holding up the closed flower
Mrs. Rane moved her hand so that the
gem flashed like ray of light her face was
serene, and her voice even and sweet
"And / took the Diamond" she replied,
and swept away with her conquest.
The next day the world, the wise world of
Shorelands, commented in whispers with its
usual sagacity.
"Poor Kota Weston" 1t said ''after all,
she will have to give up Mr.. Coast. Her
aunt will be bitterly disappointed. Well, 1t
only shows that maneuvres will not always
succeed. Mrs. Rarne is a fascinating woman,
isn't she ? By-the-way (don't mention this
for the world), suspect that John Vinton
was rejected suitor of hers. That was the
reason he went off in that boat yesterday /;
| desperation, you know have always no
ticed that he was desperately in love with
her haven't your WE'LL then. when he
was just in that state of mind, out goes that
wild Kota Weston in a skiff after him.
What could he do Of course, he had no
other alternative but to let her get up half
engagement. But, mark my words, Mrs
Brown, there is no real love there. If we
want real love, we must turn to Webster
Coast and that beautiful Mrs. Rarne I"