Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-12-12
& Iupular gtory.
THE ELOPENIENT.

Five years had elapsed since Lydia's
disappearance. But she looked older
even than that. The agony of that
day, the horrible night afterwards, the
constant fear of discovery, and lastly,
the struggle for bread combined with
the never ending heart ache, had be-
gun to eat wrinkles in her still fair
face.
In all this time she had never heard
of her husband, nor of her early home.
She was too proud to return to her
father. 81 will starve first" she often
said, clenching her hands.
Whether Leonard was alive or dead,
whether be had remained in Italy or
had gone home, she did not know
Sometimes she said to herself, moaning
on her pillow at night, "He is with
Mrs. Dorchester;" and the thought
went through her heart with actual
physical pain, like the stab of knife.
She and her faithful Dorcas were
settled in Paris now, in an obscure
corner, as the least likely place to be
discovered. She earned scanty liv-
ing, and it was of the scantiest, by col
oring photographs. into the more
fashionable parts of Paris she never
ventured, except when she had to go
to the shops to sell her sketches, or to
get orders. On one of those occasions,
at the head of the Rue de la Paix, she
came suddenly face to face with Mrs.
Dorchester. She turned and fled i'm
mediately, regardless of her errand,
fed down side streets and close alleys;
fed across the Seine, and only stopped
to breathe when she had reached her
humble lodging, in one of the mostse-
cluded parts of the Luxembourg quar-
ter. But hardly had she closed the
door, hardly had she begun to tell
Dorcas that they must fly from Paris,
when Mrs. Dorchester, unannounced,
forced herself into the room.
q have followed You, said the lat
ter, unceremoniously, as Lydia rose,
angrily. 81 will speak, Mrs. Drake. .
aHave the goodness to leave my
room," answered Lydia, tottering to
her feet. 81 do not know you nor the
name by which you have addressed
me"
ssYou have been mad long enough, !"
sternly exclaimed her visitor, sitting
down. ssTry to come back to your
senses. | shall not 60 until I have ex-
planned. A few words will do it
Your husband and I, instead of being
what you thought, were trying to keep
great misfortune from you, or if that
could not be done, to break it to you
carefully"
There was an air of truth about the
speaker, that staggered Lydia. She
sank nerveless into the chair.
81 must tell the whole story in or
: der to exculpate ourselves" said Mrs.
Dorchester. 'Your father got into
difficulties, forged my husband Is name
to a large amount, and was on the point
of exposure when Mr.. Dorchester died.
The affairs then came into my hands
to SETTLE"
Lydia sat leaning both elbows on the
table before her, her face supported on
her hands, listening and looking as if
at her doomster.
81 could have presented your father,
but it would have sent him to die in
gao" continued Mrs. Dorchester, "and
would have publicly disgraced all his
family. You knew by name as the
wife of my cousin, with whom 1 had
been brought up in the country as a
child, and whom / loved as brother
las brother, nothing more, she add
ed, emphatically. "Besides, I was a
woman, and I hope not cruel one
So | refused to prosecute, suffered the
loss of the money, and hushed the mat
ter up"
A groan burst from Lydia.
Mrs. Dorchester went on: ssthen
came abroad. AtLausanne I met your
husband unexpectedly. He had re-
ceiyed some hints about your father,
and he insisted on knowing the truth.
He then said you ought to be told.-
But / replied that it would only pain
you Heedlessly; if you continued to live
abroad you might never hear the story.
He answered that it would come to
your ears, sooner or later. This is why
you saw US talking 50 much together,
and why on several occasions he sought
private interviews with me. One even
ing be nearly won my consent. But
hardly had he gone, before ! repented