Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-03-08
Gclcttc0 MlisfeIIanD.
Which Was The Heiress.

A talr, slender girl, with the golden hair
blown away from the blue veined forehead
and soft violet light shining in her eyes sat
by the window looking at the creeping vines
and springing clemats 1t was twilight-that
was the last glimpse that Henry Dalmayue
caught Of Lilias Raymond on the summer eve
ming when he went away 10 seek his fortune.
He had found it already, in certain SENSE
in so far rs man may find treasure trove in the
rich abundance Of a woman's love for Lilias
loved him, and Liias heart was IA gold mine
in itself.
She turned and went back into the house,
with the gisenng dew OF tears upon her
check aud mournfu CULVER upon her lips
''llow silly am - she murmured to her
self. at will be but year or two at the far
thest and lie has much more 10 endure than >
And Lilias repined at the fate assigned to
her in the great pay-bill Of the world. 1t was
hard to realize the truth of the blind poets
words, that they also serve who only stand
and wait"
If she could have worked and earned money
to help him; if she might also have been
privileged to bear weapon in the strife. A lasl
it is so hard to sit still and count the seconds
which must clapse ere the crisis Of our fate ia
drawn upor the leaden horizon OF life.
Sir Henry Dalmayne wen. 10 London, and
Lilas stayed behind to bear the separation as
best she might.
Engaged, eh 2" growled old Mr. Pechham,
IIenry's maternal uncle, whose skin had turn
ed yellow with the reflection Of much gold,
and whose heart was harder than the marble
of which his mansion was built. Nephew,
! you re fool Engaged at two-and-twcnty"
"But, Uncle Ralph, she is the sweetest girl
! you ever saw ~
'Sweelest girl. Sweetest liddesticks l'
roared out the irate old gentleman. "There,
| there, don talk sentiment to me Ive no
! patience with it,
Henry was silent The glitter Of the frcs-
| coed ceiIings-the flash Of silver and cut glass
the exquisite aroma ot the rare red wine,
and the velvet flush Of dollhouse peaches, be-
came distaseful to him all at once. Uncle
! Peckham had promised TO make his fortune
| for him-but Henry was not at all sure that
he wanted his fortune much on these terms
One glance, one smile from Liljas-werc they
not worth all these hollow pageantres ~
''lIere," said Uncle Ralph, Singing card
across the table. 'I'ye got you an invitation
to Lady Bruce's party tonight. You'l meet
some people there that are worth the know
ing p
Henry Dalmaync hesiated it was the eve
ming he had set aside in each week for writing
to Lilias She would miss her lctter--but,
after all, it would only be one days delay
lie could write as well the next night -
So Henry Dalnayne went 10 Lady Brure'5,
under the wing Of his uncle, the wealthy stock
broker.
'Well !" quoth Uncle Pcckham, when the
festivities were over and they were sitting
once more beside The FIRE that shoue and spar
killed. like blue-hued rubies beneath the carved
arabcsqnes Of the marble mantle in the rich
mans diniug-room; how do you like Sarah
Esterbrook ~
VERY well, sir"
every we'll" sarcastcally mmicked Mr.
Peckham. do you know that her father is
worth a quarter Of a million?'
"ls be, sir p
as he, sir ?" "Henry," roared the old
gentleman, II believe you arc fool Why
there are scores of the wealthiest young men in
town who would give halfthey possess; aye, the
whole of it if need be--ior the smiles and CLAN
ces Of Miss Estcrbrool, vouchsafed to you this
very night"
''She is very polite, sir, said Henry with
rather n puzzled look but
"Politc Aud pray what would you have,
Mr. Dalmayne2 Do you want woman to
tell you out and out, in SO many words, that
she likes you, before you can take hint ~
Henry colored like girl It was impossi-
bic to be quite insensible to the charms OF this
fattery, tic more especially as Uncle Peekham
was not ordinarily zone who butiercd his
phrases" as the expression goes.
eyes, my boy" went on the stockbroker
tapping the table emphatically with his finger
ends 'she does like you ! And Pm not the
only person who has noticed it,
"But, Uncle, she is SO plain /"
"What OF that? All women can't be We
muses., and the pretticst Of them have griuning
skull and cross bones under their pink and
white exteriors. Beauty is only skin deep I"
Henry thought Of pretty Llias, with thrill
Of tender recollection. Miss Esterbrook with
all her golden charms, could never hope to ri
val her.
Yet as the weeks went by lis thoughts and
ideas insensibly changed.
The yellow lustre Of the gold-wor.hipping
atmosphere in which he lived seemed 70 warp
him round the surface glitter Of society; ideas
gradually uprooted the old doomas and ankle
ties Of his youthlal faith Aud one eyening
carried away by the witchcry and enchanl-
mcnt Of the hour, he proposed 10 Sarah Ester
brook, and WAS accepted
Congratulations poured in upon him the next
dag.
You're the luckicst dog going, Dalmayne,'
cried one
81 only wish were in your shoes, +" echoed
a second and Henry, dazzled by the briliau-
cy Of bis prospects, believed that he was really
a most fortunate man.
For, according 70 public rumor, he was go
ing to marry one Of the richest girls ia Lon
don And Uncle Pcckham took 10 himself
all the credit for the whole affair
''This is better than plodding On ones
whole life long behind counting house
desk cried Ralph, joyously rubbing together