The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-11-15

PiVSVSuhVhi nc was soiclteu by one OF the
most eminent members Of that bar to ac.
cept a partnership with him, and as the
position was in every way desirable, he
acquiesced, For four or five months he
received lsabel's letters regularly, and in
the meantime had visited her frequently.
The time for the wedding had not been
liked, as her parents were not anxious to
lose their daughter, and the lovers were
too happy in the present TO imagine there
were any shadows in the future. Such
was the position of affairs two months pre-
yious to the opening Of our story, and dur
ing all these long days Isabel had been
sorely troubled and perplexed at not having
received single line from Paul. What
could it mean? Surely he must be i'll,
for she could not bear to entertain the idea
that he was false but in u conversation.
with friend he casually mentioned having
seen Paul few days previous, in the
streets of B. She was frequently
tempted to write again, but her woman S
pride forbade, and If he could be so false
and cruel, why she would forget him.
And Paul, how was it with him as this
first shadow fell across the radiant sky of
cloves young dream?" He could have
written again without compromising him
self; but no, his pride, and on this char
acteristic Charles Davenport relied as his
most efficient ally, forbade importantly.
In the meantime rumor wss coupling the
names Of Davenport and Isabel Murray,
and Paul heard it. The morning after
the party Charlie called at the Murray
house where he found Flora Rivers in the
parlor. He Immediately inquired for Isa-
bel, when Flora told him she was indispos-
ed, indeed, had not been her usual Joyous
self for some time, at the same time hint
ing her suspicious that something was
wrong between her and Paul.
You surprise me, Miss Flora Charles
answered, 'and yet that talleys with some
thing friend of mine was speaking of last
night, which was that our gallant Paul is
devoted in his attentions to Eustacia Grey,
the niece of one of his partners She has
just returned from Paris, and Lathrnp pro-
nounces her perfect Venus and very &C.
complished, beside possessing wonderful
powers of fascination. OF course it may
only be rumor, and Wouldn't tell Isabel
for worlds. Still some friend might deli
cately hint the matter to her." and he
looked meaningly at Flora
"Surely, yes, if such is the case; al.
though mere rumor. | think she ought
to know it and yet, perhaps, she has dis.
carded him, as am confident she hasn't
heard from him for months. There GER
tainly is some mystery about it, for they
seemed to love each other devotedly."
Mrs. Murray now entered and the con.
versation abruptly ended Charles ar
ranged for party to the opera that even
ing and leaving compliments and regrets
for Isabel bade the ladies good morning,
promising to call at eight o'clock. Flora
soon left the room anxious to carry ia
Isabel the news of the detection of her
lover, which she did by adroitly leading
the conversation to the subject. For a
minute Isabel seemed nearly stunned by
what seemed to be a certainty of Paul's
treachery; but she controlled her emotion
and quietly remarked she would wait fol
Pauls defense before dismissing him
But when alone and pondering on all the
circumstances, his failure to write, his not
having visited her, and now this report Of
his devotion to another, were all to her
"proofs as strong as holy writ" that he
took this method to break what he once
termed "rosy fettcrs.' She would write to
him and tell him he was free that they
could be nothing more to each other, and
it was in accordance with this resolution
that she penned the letter we found Paul
Clifford reading in his Office at the COM
mencement of our story. And then her
world seemed to have come to an end
The saddest part of life is, that we find
our beautiful idols clay and our sweetest
dreams illusions. And, though Time, the
great consoler, brings healing on his wing,
life never wears again the Colour de rose
and we are never so entirely trustful aud
lenient.
Three days aiterward Isabel received a
package containing her letters, photograph
and ring, together with brief, cool but
courteous note from Paul. He attempted
no defense for she had made no accusation
and if it was her pleasure to dismiss him
so cavalierly he would not demand an ex.
PLANTATION. He told her she was free
expressed his ardent wishes for her happi-
ness, and said farewell forever T. So the
dream was over and each thought the Other
false, and from this criterion Judged all
men and all women. And the plotter who
had wrought this misery smiled triumph
antly to himself at what he deemed his
success, and thought there was now no
obstacle to prevent his winning the heiress
of Murray Hall.
For awhile Isabel shrank from contact
with society, but her good sense and kindly
heart triumphed, for she could but see
how grieved her mother was by the change
in her darling. She exerted herself brave.
ly, and told her mother her engagement
was broken; she herself had cancelled it
and after that Pauls name was mentioned
no more among them. Six months after
wards Charles Davenport proposed to Isa-
bel, and received kind but decided mo. .
And he knew now his scheme had ended
in defeat, and while he had no hope Of ever
gaining her for his own, his pleasure at
knowing he had separated her forever from
Paul, and that there was no possibility Of
their ever being reconciled. was almost