Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-07-08

' tHOuSht pSihNp ~ was HihC " iCtuil
to the city. She had come to Scran
ford, weary with a round of fashion
able life, tired Of fattery, dancing
flirting, and she found rest and quie
under Mrs. Tollman's motherly care
She was rich-richer far than tn,
landlady had any idea of; but she haC
no near relatives, hiring a secont
cousin to keep her lovely home, and
play propriety. Society constituted
itself her amateur guardian. and ly
ing back in her cushioned chair in tht
sunset glow, wondered indolently
what society would say about John
Furber.
1t would grant him rare perfection
of manly beauty OF face and form,
and forgive the evident traces ofdissi
patton, fit was known he was the son
of a rich man, educated at college,
idle by profession. But in what holy
horror it would turn away with up
lifted hands when it was known he
was disinherited, with no home but q
room in the house of a widowed aunt
eking out her narrow income by tax
ing boarders. 1t would smile at hi:
biting sarcasms, his brilliant ccnver
sation, his cynical sneers, if he was
reinstatad in his fathers favor, but
how rude this would be in a poor man.
Leonie, from thinking of society:
opinion quite unconsciously glided
into considering her own. This dark
browed man had made a fair portion
of her summer pleasure for three
months, had been her cavalier in
many country walks, drives and sails
had quoted poetry under shade trees,
sungin a superb baritone upon MUIR
muring waters, looked into her eyes on
a moonlit porch, and whispered deli
ltcly worded fattery. No more
than many other men had done. A
beauty and rich, Miss Cameron had
looked upon more than one languish-
ing snitor and forgotten him when
her amusements wearied her. Scar
cely firt, for she encouraged nc
downright love-making, but beauti
full, fascinating young woman, who
wounded hearts with merely careless
grace.
Musing in the sunset, it was i'm.
pressed upon her heart that unconsci-
ously she had poisoned Il life that was
already sinking. There were capa-
bililies for better things than dissipa-
ton and suicide in JOHN Furber, and
she shivered at the thought he might t
be upon Il dangerous precipice, wait
ing for the clasp Of her hand to draw
him back, or its repulse throw him
over. She passed in review her host
of male friends, and found none who
had wakened such keen pleasure as
John Furber had given her. She
tried to recall one to mind whose
grasp of intellect had dwarted her
own is he had done, who had met
her fairly in so many arguments and
worsted her, and she could only re-
member soft hattery, Of her wonder
ful mind. Finally lifting her eyes
witha soft sigh, she saw hm leaning
against tree opposite the low window,
looking at her. \ vivid flush stained
her checks, as he said
"What can YOU be thinking? You
have not stirred for half an hour -
Only that your eyes are open, should
have thought you were asleep"
"Your powers of observation are
marvellous she answered, lightly,
II Was dreaming"
"Of WHAT"
The world in general, my world
in particular. 1t is almost time re-
turned there.
She was prepared for some polite
show Of regret, but not for the ghast-
lychange in his face. She shuddercd,
remembering bis aupt's words.
Going away. Why, Of course,
you would be soon," he said trying
to speak carelessly, while her eyes
hnngrilv devoured his face, and his
white, parched lips were dra Sn as if
in sharp physical pain.
II have been here three months" "
she said, feeling her own heart ache
at his misery.
"Yes, yes. You will 90, certainly"
"And YOU" she said very gently
-"you will be in the city, | presume.
| shall be glad TO welcome you to my
house"
"No," he said harshly; 81 will not
take such advantage Of your kind
ness. lam man your friends will
tell you to shun, Miss Cameron-a
man who has wasted life till it is too
late to take up the threads again
You do not know, perhaps, that my
aunt keeps me here from charity"
81 know you have offended your
father she answered, "but you are a
man scarcely thirty, and it is coward
ly to talk of despair at your age"
Herwords cut him like a whiPilash.
The dark blood mounted to his fore.
head as he repeated.
Il might fight the world yet, but, "
and here his tone was bitter, and yet
strangely pathetic, "the battle Is
scarcely worth winning. What would
1 gain? Money, | do not value it
Position? | have thrown it behind
me. | have played the fool, and |
must take a FOOLS wages"
81 will not have you so" she said,
reused to an earnestness she never
had intended to betray.
you shall not throw away your
life."
A hope sprang to his eyes, new
there, lighting them to dazzling radi
ance.