The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-08-24
1 Written for the sunday llerold.l
MlLDRED'S FATE.
CHATTER II CONTINUED.


Jennie Hilton was again in her owl
home, but she had promised to return
IN season for Mildred's wedding, th
following spring. Mildrcd's Uncle, a
first, hesitatcd about giving her to ON,
who was almost stranger, but she wa
50 intent upon having her own way
that he yielded reluctant consent
and a magnificent trousseau was beint
prepared for the future Countess. Nil
dred was perfectly happy in her "tri
umph,' as she termed her fascination
Of the Count. She had returned all Of
Iiarold's letters, and spoke Of asking
him to wait with Jennie at her we'd
ding, but Jennie objected to the ar
rangement, and another was chosen in
his stead.
One evening, in February, she sal
with her lover before the fire in her
uncIe'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
ofine, Count leonardo she answered;
81 would love you quite as dearly, nay,
more entirely, If you had nothing but
yourself to recommendyou.N
She held her hand towards him, and
he took her white fingers, and cast his
eyes upon the diamond symbol oftheir
betrothal--that downward glance con-
oealing sinister light that shone in
his dark eye.
Perhaps / shall test your devotion
10 myself some day" he said, with an
accent on the pronoun that was UNI
mistakeable.
She glanced up quickly into his face,
but saw nothing save smile upon his
features that she did not quite like or
understand.
"You will always find me as true as
steel,n shercplies, with the same rosy
lips that had plighted fale faith to
Harold in other days.
"Did you ever love another, Mil
dred?" asked Leonard, leaning back
upon the sofa and looking into her up
raised eyes. She waited for a moment,
as though gathering strength to utter
the falsehood then said, "Never, you
are my first, and will be my last, love. "
81 ought to be very proud of my
rose that has doomed for me alone, "
he said, and again that sinister CLEAN
sent II chill to her heart. She was al
most glad when he rose to bid her good
night, and, for the first time since their
betrothal, she let him go without urg-
ing him to stay, "just a little while
longer"
When he was gone that unpleasant
smile of his returned TO her again and
again, and she could not divine why it
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
ardl walked leisurely to his lodgings,
and, admitting himself with latch
key, went up at once to his room. He
was startled by findingit occupied, and
he staggered backward almost in hor-
ror, as the intruder rose and confront
ed him. 4e
"Whut brought you here?" he asked,
with ashen lips, sinking slowly into
the nearest chair
'fHard times" replied the othrr,
looking coolly into his face, and thrust
ing his bands into his own pockets.
81 swear ] have no more money!
said Leonard; "Tgave you all 1 could
raise not three months since, and you
promised not to trouble me again for a
year,
Cant help that" retorted the other
doggedly. 81 hear you are going to
marry an heiress, and | must have my
share of the rino, you know. If you
don't come down handsomely I'll
peach. Do the fair thing by me, and
NUNS TIE word. That means bust
ness, Jim, and you had better shell
out" He threw himself on a sofa as
he concluded, and leered disgustlngly
ct bis companion, .gt