The Placer herald., 1873-05-17
ry for a position sometimes. Why am |
better than the rest? | will marry you, Mr..
Everard I"


"Thsnks, Corinne." He attempted to
pass his arm around her but she drew back.
"No," she said icily, eve will leave love
and sentiment out of the question. only
promise to marry you, Launt Everard."
'Just as you please" he retorted in
differently. "When shall we be marred?"
"Two months from to-day, on condition
that we do not meet again till the wedding
day." she answered calmly.
81 am willing, Corinne. Will you be
ready by that .;me?"
She bowed and turned away.
Gas ready and willing as the lamb is to
be led to the slaughter" she murmured
bitterly. He did not hear her. There was
something in the nature of this stately high
minded girl that he did not understand. But
when did any man ever understand wo-
mans heart. He turned away and COM
meuced drumming with his fingers on the
window-pane.
"Have | heart? Has she heart?
Have we-bah! There is gulf between
them as wide as the road to the Eternal!
Well-could she love, wonder?" Everards $
thoughts were getting somewhat tangled.
He stopped drumming on the window-pane.
Not sound broke the stiffness Of the Sum
mer air. Away down the sweep of the
Hudson river few boats glided to and fro.
A gentle breeze rufled the glossy ivy leaves
that clung around the pillar of the piazza.
A gilded butterfly flew in at the open door
and poised itself on one of the pearl keys of
the pslo. Miss Deorme, with her head
resting on her clasped hands, sitting at
small table, wondered vaguely that trouble
could darken such day as this.
"Corinne!' Everard's voice rang clearly
through the silent room.
She raised her head and glanced at him
indiferently.
"Did you ever love, Corinne?'
eyes, | have loved" she answered smil-
ing bitterly, "Oh, yes"
"Wbom did you love?" he asked curious
ly. She grew white even to her lips.
Launt Everard, observing it, knew that the
passion of her love had been stronger than
death She lifted her head proudly
'You have no right to ask, nor | to an
swer. My secret is mine till choose to re-
veal it. ONLY have loved, Launt, ah,
me! have"
She dropped her head again upon her
hands. There was world Of agony in her
usually cold voice. Evera,d conquered the
impulse he felt to cross the room
and take the stately form in his arms and
comfort her. His cynical air returned. He
lifted his hat from the table.
81 am going Corinne, as you bade me-
Au revoir.
He opened the hall door and went out.
"Gone!' said Miss Delorme bitterly to
herself, "without a word! He cares no
more for me than if were a stone!"
Laurence went to New Y York on business.
The intervening months passed quickly.
The day before the wedding the following
telegram was handed to Miss Delorme:
"Corinne, at what hour will you be
mine?"
Miss Delorme answered decidedly:
"Launt, not yours at any hour.
Launt puzzled over this some time, and
finally, put the question in different FORM
"At what hour tomorrow shall we be
married."
Miss Delorme telegraphed in return:
cat ten.' This was characteristic and
satisfactory.
When Laurence Everard led his bride to
the altar, it was with this thought uppermost
in his mind:
els she to be offered up as sacrifice on
the altar of my dead love? No. Oh Cor
nnel are you, too, going to prove tratorous?
love you now-not Lettice."
Laurence handed his wife out of the car
81 Il L.. I
her to her parlor.
Laurence" she said as he was leaving
the room, 81 have word to say to you"
He listened with grave attention. 81 can
lay aside restraint, now that we are at
home," she said coldly. He bowed courte-
ously. "lhen | tell you, Mr.. Everard,
that we are man and wife only as the world
sees us. You will understand me, | am
sure. l am Mrs Everard--in name To
you, / am still Cornne Delorme."
He looked panied, but not surprised.
''It is your will, Corinne-not nine"
81 understand. If you have married me
for my money, it is yours"
"Corinnep he exclaimed reproachfully,
cam not as wealthy as yourself? do
not want your money!"
every well," she replied YEARLY. 81
care not. Leave me now, please"
He closed the door gently and descended
to the library. His handsome face wore a
distressed look as be paced up and down the
floor.
Scan ever win her lover" he thought
anxiously, cor is she always to be as icy
and reserved as she is now. Oh, Corinne!
If you could know! If you could know"
She was coldly polite at the supper-table.
Laurence endeavored to anticipate her wish
es. She spoke but rarely.
Three weeks dragged their slow lengths
by, and Everard's suspense was beginning
to be unendurable.
GLOW will it end?" he thought. "Wife
and no wife. For the second time | have
loved without return. Oh, my proud Cor
inne, you are avengedW.IIe heard Corinnes
step in the hall and opened the door. She