The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-08-30
written for the sunday Herald
MILnRED'S FATE.
CHAPTER II-CoNTINuED.
ny VI. IL. VI.

In season for Mildred's wedding, tht
following spring. Mildred's Uncle, AT
first, hesitated about giving her to one
who was almost stranger, but she was
40 intent upon having her own way
that he yielded reluctant consent
and magnificent trousseau was being
prepared for the future Countess. Mil
dred was perfectly happy in her "tri
umph," as she termed her fascination
of the Count. She had returned all Of
Harod's letters, and spoke of asking
him to wait with Jennie at her we'd
ding, but Jennie objected to the mr.
rangcmcnt, and another was chosen IN
his stead.
One evening, in February, she sal
with her lover before the fire in hel
unclc's library, talking softly and
happily of their future.
"Are you very sure, my darling" he
was saying, "that it was myself, not
my coronet, that won you ~
"You are almost cruel in your doubts
ofme, Count Leonardo" she answered;
'T would love you quite as dearly, nay,
more entirely, if you had nothing but
yourself to recommendyou."
She held her hand towards him, and
he took her white fingers, and cast his
eyes upon the diamond symbol of Their
betrothal-that downward glance con-
caa!ing sinister light that shOne in
his dark eye.
"Perhaps I shall test your devotion
TO myself some day." he said, with an
accent on the pronoun that was un-
mistakeable.
She glanced up quickly into his face,
but saw nothing save smile upon his
features that she did not quite like Oh
understand.
"You will always find me as true as
Steel, she replies, with the same rosy
lips that had plighted fale faith to
Harold in other days.
"Did you ever love another, Mil
dred?n asked Leonardo, leaning back
upon the sofa and looking into her up
raised eyes. She waited for moment,
as though gathering strength to uttel
the falsehood, then said, "Never, you
are my frSt and will be my last, love. !
~ ought to be very proud of my
rose that has bloomed for me alone, "
he said, and again that sinister gleam
sent chill to her heart. She was al
most glad when he rose to bid her good
night, and, for the first time since theil
betrothal, she let him go without urg.
ing him to stay, "just little while
longer.
When he was gone that unpleasant
smile of his returned to her again anf
again, and she could not divine why il
impressed her so unhappily.
81 wonder if he can have heard OF
my old love affair."" she said to her
self; Il would not even have him sus'
pect such thing for the world, These
foreigners have such strange, suspi'
cious natures, it might sever us for
ever. "
After bidding her goodnight Leon
ardi walked lcisurely to his lodgings
and, admitting himself with a latch
key, went up at once to his room. lie
was startled by finding it occupied, ano
he staggered backward almost in hor
ror, as the intruder rose and confront
ed him.
"What brought you here?' he asked
with ashen lips, sinking slowly int
the nearest chair.
"Hard times" replied the other
leo ling coolly into his face, ana thrust
ing his hands into his own pockets.
~ swear l have no more money
said Leonardo; 81 gave you all coult
raise not three months since, and you
promised not to trouble me again for
year"
Cant help that" retorted the othe
doggedly. "I hear you are going t.
marry an heiress, and must have my
share of the rino, you know. If yo'
don't come down handsomely III
peach. Do the fair thing by me, ant
mum's the word. That means bust
ness, Jim, and you had better shell
out" He threw himself on sofa a
he concluded, and leered disgustingil
at his companion.
'I have not dollar nOW, jeff" SAT-
Leonardo; "but since you have hear'
it already, I.may as well tell You that
am engaged to an heiress, and as sool
as am master of her purse-string
YOU shall have thousand dollars, !
YOU will not trouble me again."
at is not enough; say two thousan'
and Pm your man,''
Leonardo studied a moment, a
though hesitating, and then said
"Well, two thousand, then, and your
not to come near me again until tn
ceremony is over, at least" "
"All r'g It, old boy; give usyour pay
on that said JEFF, slapping Leonard
familiarly ON the shoulder and roughl
grasping his hand, which the Coun
snatohed angrily away, and, pointin
to the door, said:
"Enoughl Now CO."
The man left the room and Leonard
was again alone, much to his relief.
The day of Mildred Livingstone
marriage was fast approaching, an
splendid preparations were being mad
to celebrate the bridal Of the wealth,
American beauty and the foreign nc
blemaf.
Mildred was more naughty and 81
percilious than ever, disdaining a
whom the scale of fortune placed b'
meath her, entirely forgetting ths faf
that she had once been a penniless o.
phan and had stung the hand this
most tenderly upheld her, utterly Il