The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-05-02

| It was more than WestbOurnc did. lie
) looked from JAe to the other, and in the wo.
/ mans pale face, from which the chestnut
1 hair was braided smoothly away, he failed to
find that freshness and brlliancy which were
the most obvious if not the deepest charac'
, teristics of the child And it has already
been said that Harvey Westbourne's artistic
PERCEPTION was of the surface
But the coloring, the whole tone and style
are 50 different" he said incredulously.
which makes the resemblance more re-
!, markable," quietly rejoined IIawlcy.
Westbourne shrugged his shoulders, and
made another movement to put away the sub
ject of discussion, when Miss Doyle again
interposcd.
Has that sketch special value for you,
I Nj Westbourne?"
i None whatever" he answered, quickly.
1T IS the mcrest chance that it was not discov.
cred long ago"
"ln that case, shall venture to ask you for
lit. | have taken fancy TO the face" she
went on, meeting his look of surprise, from
vanity, suppose" and she smiled The idea
of Nellys picture in Cora Doyle's possession
was not at all an agreeable one to Nestbourne,
but he had no possible pretext for refusal. 30
he was Obliged to content himself with regret
ing that she had not chosen some better speci.
men of his work.
| However, 1t is your work." she rejoined,
with smile ana accent that seemed to say
that was sufficient At least that was Leon
ard Hawley's Interpretation. With jealous
pang he felt himself an intruder at that mo.
ment, and soon rose and left them to them
selves.
There was rather long silence after he
had gone Miss Doyle seemed to have fallen
into a reveric and Westbournc sat and watch
cd her.
How should like to know what you are
thinking OFF, he said, at length softly. At
that she raised her eyes to his, and he saw
that there were tears in them. He caught
her hand in his saying he scarcely knew
what, but she drew it away, and smiled as
she looked into his agtated face,
You would like TO know what was think.
ing Of you say? Wen, will take you AZ
your word; and then, if you find the story
trcscme, the fault will not be mine. | told
y0n haG taken fancy TO that face she
continued, abruptly, pointing 10 the sketch
before them. At brough up associations.
There WAS once, Mr. Westbourne, mere
child like that, rs innocent might say as
ignorant, for She took everything Tor what ii
seemed. Well, she had 10 learn better, of
course, and some one was found 10 teach her
the lesson, and generous enough 10 ask Moth
ing but her LIES happiness in payment He
was a man Of the world, attractive, gifted,
who did not need half the pains he took 10
charm away the heart of Il poor country girl.
He went away, at last, promising to think of
her always, to write to her, and to return TO
her soon, She was silly little rustic, as
tell you, quite ignorant of the fashions of the
world and she actually believed all his prom
ises"
You know herr" inyoluntarily interrupt
OIL Eoctbnttp,n i,is
rightly comprehcnded,
Have you heard my story before, Mr..
Wcstbourne ~ she retorted; then, with a bit
ter smile, pointing to the picture, "do you re-
eOguize me at last, or shall | repeat To you
The pretty words you said to Nelly while you
drew that of hGrS--thc sweetest face in the
world, YOU called it then, though only acct
dent has spared it too long: STAY, Mr. West
bourne a, he was about 10 speak, "since you
asked for my story, pray allow me to finish
it; il Will not be long enough to try your pa
tCnCe When Corneiia Morris had learned
your lesson to the end, she hoped and believ-
cd she should die. But you were right to tell
her hearts do not break so easily; they only
bleed till they become so happily callOus rs |
10 lose all feeling. No, Nelly did not die
the ouly creatures she had lei to care for her
were taken away; but Nelly lived on---I will |
nor tire YOU with the story OF Der adoption
..o ,iah-- oi nanIe, AOr u. tAc routine VI
days and years that passed till she met you
again Yes, Mr.. NestbOurne," she contln-
ued, breaking abruptly from the cold and
tone N which she had been speak
ing, "OnCC more | came face to face with the
man who had made my life the empty thing
it was, who had taught me a lesson no time |
can ever unlearn You did not know me; it |
was not strange; suffering had not killed me,
but il had WIthCred and hardened me into
very different woman from the fresh, bright
child you made your study. Nevertheless, !
he old -cHtiMcnal comedy seemed likely to |
be PLAYED oyer Ngain-let me finish, please
YOU can protest, il YOU like, atterWard-and | |
said to myself; Let MIN go his way; will
neither help nor hinder, and IT, this time, it !
his own punishment And | should have
carried my purpose through to the end, Mr., |
Wcstbo.. nc, only t0Night the look in that
trusting hilI, face brought me back some.
hing OF The old soitnCss-tEc old weakness, |
If YOU will" she added with smile half
sad hall scCurntul. Let Us leave the past |
alone now, and say quits for the future"
There WAS IL long silence. Westbourne
broke II at last.
"Cora-Ncly," he began, in an agitatcd
rOicc, Il do not know how to express all the
the regret--I hardly darc-bul
have seen the tears in your cyes--if you
AN still think tcndorly OF the old days, is ii
lot possible that"
Il understand you quietly interposed
Miss Doyle, as he besitated. DO not imag,
me- then, Mr.. Wcstbournc, that, If | still cared
Tor you, | should have let you see them, or
,po6cn to you as have done. No, my tears
we're only for those old days, for poor decciv-
ID Nellie; douby deceived, forsthe man she
'ancied she loved never existed"
Harry Wesbourne changed colors as he
heard and cOmprehended the last slowly
spoken words. He bowed his face on his
land IN painful silence rs there no hope, |
hen ," he said, at last, unsteadily.
"How should there be! You yourself kill
al love and hope long ago, and could not
make them live again if would-not if |
would she repeated with a sigh. She took
up the picture and regarded it with long